Abstract

Journalists adopt new technologies amid the limitations and structure of their existing tools. This study uses organizational sociology and actor-network theory to examine the infrastructure supporting journalists’ newsgathering in two Rwandan newsrooms, highlighting the role of the messaging platform WhatsApp. The network, which includes editors, sources, reporters, weather, vehicles, drivers, moto-taxis, WhatsApp, and petty cash, encourages journalists to gather news from predictable events. In this newsgathering network, WhatsApp allows reporters and editors to coordinate with each other, gather news, and influence newsroom behaviour. However, the platform does not overcome physical limitations such as transportation problems, which contribute major obstacles to newsgathering, even at wealthy organizations. In this network, WhatsApp extends the communication capabilities of journalists but is moderated by existing social relationships and subject to physical constraints as a result of those relationships. This study shows how physical and social contexts influence newsgathering and production. It also reinforces the importance of context in understanding how new tools are adopted into news production networks.

摘要

记者在现有工具的局限性和结构中采用新技术。本研究使用组织社会学和行为者网络理论来检查支持记者在卢旺达两个新闻编辑室进行新闻采访的基础设施，突出了消息传递平台 WhatsApp 的作用。该网络包括编辑、消息来源、记者、天气、车辆、司机、摩托出租车、WhatsApp 和小额现金，鼓励记者从可预测的事件中收集新闻。在这个新闻采集网络中，WhatsApp 允许记者和编辑相互协调、采集新闻并影响新闻编辑室的行为。然而，该平台并没有克服交通问题等物理限制，这些限制是新闻采集的主要障碍，即使在富裕的组织中也是如此。在这个网络中，WhatsApp 扩展了记者的沟通能力，但受到现有社会关系的调节，并由于这些关系而受到身体限制。本研究展示了物理和社会环境如何影响新闻采集和制作。它还强调了上下文在理解新工具如何被采用到新闻制作网络中的重要性。