Ideology as Resource in Entrepreneurial Journalism

Abstract

The emergence of a startup culture in the field of journalism is global: since the early years of the twenty-first century, new independent journalism companies have formed around the world. Although setting up one's own journalistic practice is not particularly novel in the news industry, the last couple of years have witnessed exponential growth in the startup space. In this context we chose to look more closely at one of the more successful recent online news startups: the French site Mediapart. We were interested in the factors involved in creating and running a journalism startup, and how the professionals involved give meaning to what they do in the fast-changing journalism field. We found that, although one of the main unique selling points of the journalism professed at Mediapart is that it challenges and provides an alternative to mainstream French press, at the heart of it is a strong traditional journalism ideology. While Mediapart has in many ways challenged and inspired the ways in which other French news organizations operate, it does not challenge our understanding of journalism, but rather reinforces a traditional and homogenous definition.

Journalistic innovation and digital society: An adaptation of journalism studies

“…The pedagogy that is needed considers innovation, entrepreneurship and technology as substantial elements of learning and not as stamps on a traditional teaching plan. It is necessary to understand innovation as a social process and not as the implementation of a technology or social network (Wagemans, Witschge, Deuze, 2016). In its connection with the industry, this subject has to catalyse innovation through the local and regional press, serve as a space for new narratives and the labs of the journalistic company, explore applications for journalistic purposes, promote connection with other disciplines existing at the University and promote the incubation of entrepreneurial projects, in the form of spinoffs.…”

Innovación periodística y sociedad digital: Una adaptación de los estudios de Periodismo

“…La pedagogía que se requiere considera la innovación, el emprendimiento y la tecnología como elementos sustanciales del aprendizaje y no como apostillas a un plan docente tradicional. Toca comprender la innovación como un proceso social y no como la implementación de una tecnología o red social (Wagemans, Witschge, Deuze, 2016). En su conexión con la industria, esta asignatura tiene que catalizar la innovación a través de la prensa local y regional, servir como espacio para las nuevas narrativas y los laboratorios de la empresa periodística, explorar las aplicaciones con fines periodísticos, fomentar la conexión con otras disciplinas existentes en la Universidad y promover la incubación de proyectos emprendedores, a la manera de spin-offs.…”

Travel Journalists and Professional Identity

“…These changes can be attributed in part to technological advances and the democratized ability to publish online. As a study on entrepreneurial news site Mediapart illustrates in France, traditional journalistic values are not incompatible with innovation and change (Wagemans, Witschge, and Deuze 2016). Researchers discuss how the site reinvented journalism in France by rethinking how founders finance its articles and videos.…”