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Outline

Title
Abstract
Key Takeaways
Figures
Method and Analysis
Data
Content Analysis of Code
Results
Overview of Data Collected
X_Train = NP.APPEND(X_TRAIN,[STORY_DATA])
Finding the News
Limitations
Future Research
Conclusion
References
All Topics
Business and Management
Business and Corporate Communications

Coding the News

Profile image of Allie KosterichAllie KosterichProfile image of Matthew WeberMatthew Weber

2017, Digital Journalism

https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2017.1366865
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21 pages

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Abstract

This article examines the role of code in the process of news distribution and the degree to which code and algorithms can filter and prioritize news, much as an editor would. The discussion focuses specifically on the context of mobile news applications that filter news for consumers. Given concerns raised by the intersection of computer science and journalism, analysis moves away from the common notion that code is replacing humans as producers of news and shifts toward the role of code in helping journalists order and communicate the news. Thus, the focus of this research is on code as technological actants, filtering news based on decisions imbued into the code by human actors. This article reports the results of an investigation of code contained in 59 open source mobile news apps and an analysis of the content of that code. Findings highlight the journalistic decisions made in code and contribute to discussion surrounding the relationship between algorithmic and traditional news values.

Key takeaways
sparkles

AI

  1. Algorithmic values in code significantly influence how news is filtered and distributed in mobile apps.
  2. The research analyzes 59 open source mobile news apps, revealing 134 instances of journalistic functions performed by code.
  3. Code acts as a boundary-spanning tool between programming and journalism, mediating content delivery decisions.
  4. Collaboration between journalists and programmers is essential for improving news app algorithms and maintaining journalistic integrity.
  5. Mobile news apps saw a 135% increase in traffic between 2014 and 2015, highlighting their growing importance in news distribution.
Figures (1)

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    berta garcia-orosa

    Comunicar

    The influence of algorithms on society is increasing due to their growing presence in all areas of daily life. Although we are not always aware of it, they sometimes usurp the identity of other social actors. The main purpose of this article is to address the meta-research on the field of artificial intelligence and communication from a holistic perspective that allows us to analyze the state of academic research, as well as the possible effects on these areas and on the democratic system. To this end, we carried out a systematized review of recent literature using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The subject analyzed is changing and novel: it includes the impact and interaction of algorithms, bots, automated processes, and artificial intelligence mechanisms in journalism and communication, as well as their effects on democracy. The results show expanding scientific production, mostly in English, based on theoretical discussion or focused on the perception of communication p...

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