theglobeandmail.com
The Globe and Mail: Building Community and Engagement in a Digital Age
The Globe and Mail is combating news avoidance and building audience loyalty through interactive features like collaborative articles and live Q&As, while simultaneously managing challenges related to negative online commentary and moderation.
- What are the main challenges and opportunities for news organizations in fostering online community engagement, and how is The Globe and Mail addressing them?
- The Globe and Mail newspaper has implemented interactive features to foster audience engagement, such as collaborative articles and live Q&A sessions with reporters. These initiatives, exemplified by a popular ice cream article with over 80,000 online views, aim to build loyalty and trust. However, the platform continues to struggle with negative online commentary, necessitating ongoing moderation efforts.
- How do interactive features like collaborative articles and live Q&As impact reader loyalty and trust, and what are the implications for the future of journalism?
- The newspaper's efforts to increase reader engagement are part of a broader industry trend, as news organizations seek new ways to connect with audiences and combat news avoidance. This approach involves moving beyond traditional feedback methods, such as letters to the editor, to include interactive collaborations and real-time discussions. The success of these efforts is tied to fostering a sense of community and shared understanding of news events.
- What are the ethical considerations and potential pitfalls of using online communities to gather news and feedback, and how can these be mitigated to ensure journalistic integrity?
- The Globe's experience suggests a potential future where news consumption transcends passive information gathering, evolving into active participation and co-creation. The success of interactive features hinges on effective moderation to mitigate negative online behavior, while the overall trend reflects a response to declining trust in traditional media and an increase in news avoidance among certain demographics. This participatory model offers opportunities for journalists to directly address audience concerns and better explain their journalistic processes.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article is framed positively, emphasizing the successes of reader engagement initiatives while downplaying the challenges. The headline, if there was one, would likely focus on the positive aspects, potentially attracting readers with a biased perspective. The opening paragraph establishes a somewhat upbeat tone by first highlighting positive reader engagement initiatives and only later introducing the negative.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral, although some phrases might be considered subtly positive, such as "bright spots" and "waxed rhapsodic." These terms, while not overtly biased, contribute to a positive framing that might overshadow the negative aspects of online communities. More neutral alternatives could have been used.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the positive aspects of reader engagement and largely omits the negative consequences, such as the prevalence of abusive comments and the challenges of moderation. While acknowledging the existence of negative comments, the article doesn't delve into the resources or strategies employed to mitigate the issue, nor does it explore the potential long-term effects of such negativity on community engagement. The challenges of maintaining a civil online community are underrepresented.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between the destructive potential of online communities and their positive aspects. While acknowledging the negative side, the focus quickly shifts to highlight the benefits of reader engagement, potentially oversimplifying the complex reality of online interactions and the need for nuanced approaches to community moderation.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the importance of engaging audiences in the journalistic process and fostering online communities to enhance understanding and participation in news consumption. This directly relates to Quality Education by promoting media literacy, critical thinking, and informed engagement with information, thereby empowering citizens to participate more effectively in society.