Outside influences: Extramedia forces and the newsworthiness conceptions of online newspaper journalists

This article examines the influence of extramedia (outside) forces on the newsworthiness conceptions of U.S. online and print daily newspaper journalists. A national survey (N=655) found that while extramedia forces exerted only a moderate influence overall, they were more influential on the online group. Online daily newspaper journalists rated Audience Research, Advertisers, Public Opinion Polls, Wire Service Budgets and Prestige Publications are significantly more influential than did print daily newspaper journalists. The findings suggest that journalists in the online environment are reconceptualizing their gate-keeping roles.

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