Search

In the last decade there have been several debates about the relevance of online news comments. While some question the hate speech that is verified in these spaces, others highlight the possibility of exchanging opinions. This paper proposes a methodological tool to measure the quality of online news comments, using a sample of 300 comments on highly visible websites in Portugal (Público; Sapo), Spain (El País; 20 Minutos) and Brazil (UOL; Folha S. Paulo). The results determine that commentators tend to use a little personal argumentation (82.3%), although relevant to the discussion in question (60.3%), with few grammatical errors (14.7%) or aggressive interventions (31.7%). Following the Online Comment Policy Evaluation Model (Known in Spanish as MPONC), it is concluded that websites with quality comment moderation systems attract more relevant and timely interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines databases of female experts as tools to promote gender parity in the sources consulted and cited by journalists. To do this, we conducted a search of databases available online (n = 88) and carried out in-depth interviews with people in charge of these databases (n = 4) as well as a survey among female scientific researchers included in the database of the Association of Women Researchers and Technologists of Spain (AMIT) (n = 919). The main results reflect the great potential of these tools but indicate that, to be effective, they require fluid communication with the media and a design that allows their incorporation into the regular routines of journalists. In Spain, their impact is still low and, as in the rest of the world, there is great fragmentation of resources accompanied by very weak interaction among the different initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines databases of female experts as tools to promote gender parity in the sources consulted and cited by journalists. To do this, we conducted a search of databases available online (n = 88) and carried out in-depth interviews with people in charge of these databases (n = 4) as well as a survey among female scientific researchers included in the database of the Association of Women Researchers and Technologists of Spain (AMIT) (n = 919). The main results reflect the great potential of these tools but indicate that, to be effective, they require fluid communication with the media and a design that allows their incorporation into the regular routines of journalists. In Spain, their impact is still low and, as in the rest of the world, there is great fragmentation of resources accompanied by very weak interaction among the different initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mainstream media all over the world have been regulating the behavior of their journalists in social media, fearing these new forms of communications might damage the credibility of their institutions. Those who have not yet done so face with concern this unstoppable challenge and are now outlining their own guidelines for social media policies. In an effort to inspire the design of these new policies, this paper aims to approach the recurring topics in the policies already written by leading media such as AP, American Society of News Editors (ASNE), BBC, Bloomberg, Charlotte observer, Freedom communication, Los Angeles times, NPR, Orlando sentinel, Politico, Reuters, Rockford register star, Saint Louis post-dispatch, Source media group, The Denver post, The guardian, The journal gazette, The Manhattan Mercury, The New York times, The Roanoke times, The Wall Street journal y The Washington post. A qualitative content analysis of 22 of these policies has been conducted to identify these topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]