The Global Diffusion of Data Journalism: A Comparative Study Between Indian and Western Newsrooms
Keywords:
data journalism, diffusion of innovations, gatekeeping, media convergence, Indian and Western newsroomsAbstract
This paper examines the spread of data journalism around the world, a comparative study of the Indian and Western newsrooms will be conducted based on how technology, cultural and organizational dynamics affect the process of adopting data journalism. The study will take the form of a descriptive and comparative mixed-method study that will require the combination of semi-structured interviews with journalists and editors and the content analysis of 200 data-driven stories that will be published between 2020 and 2025. Based on Diffusion of Innovations by Rogers, Gatekeeping Theory, and Media Convergence Theory, the research study exposes that western news houses like The Guardian, BBC, and The New York Times have been fully institutionalizing the concept of data journalism using the data desks, open-data access, and digital integration. By contrast, Indian media, such as The Hindu and NDTV, have an early adoption caused by a lack of data and infrastructure issues.
The results point to the fact that the spread of data journalism requires the organizational preparedness, open-data ecosystems, and digital convergence. The research suggests the formation of data teams, facilitation of the data-literacy training, reinforcement of open-data policies, and the inclusion of the data journalism education in the academic programs. Finally, data journalism represents an art cultural shift which reinvents journalism, increases transparency and accountability, and innovates in the media ecosystems of the world.
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