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The question “what is news?” has been a topic of scholarly examination for more than 60 years as researchers have sought to develop and revise the taxonomy of news values to inform journalism education and wider public debates on the subjectivity of journalists. However, these studies have focused on legacy print and broadcast media even when attempting to bring their findings into the digital era by examining online content. To date, there has been limited research, in the UK and internationally, on news values on digitally born news websites–platforms that only exist online such as Huffington Post, Buzzfeed News and LADbible, which are consumed by a third of the UK population at least once a week. A significant impediment is the complexity of mapping offline latent coding methods to fluid online content. Digital native websites are particularly problematic due to their varied appearance across platforms–desktop, tablet and mobile–and their multiple access points–via web browser, social media and App. Yet, content analysis has a rich history dating back to the clergy's examination of newspapers in the late 1600s and the method has proved to be an adaptable tool for measuring news output as each new media technology has emerged. This paper argues that it is imperative that researchers look beyond legacy media when studying digital news values due to the growing significance of digital native news websites in the marketplace. The secondary purpose of this methodological paper is to highlight the challenges of capturing and analysing news values on digital native news platforms and suggest how researchers can begin to tackle the complexities of liquid content analysis in this field.

Digital Journalism Studies: The Key Concepts provides an authoritative, research-based "first stop-must read" guide to the study of digital journalism. \ud This cutting-edge text offers a particular focus on developments in digital media technologies and their implications for all aspects of the working practices of journalists and the academic field of journalism studies, as well as the structures, funding and products of the journalism industries

A third of the UK's 300 undergraduate and postgraduate journalism courses are accredited by at least one of the main accreditation bodies (NCTJ, BJTC, PPA) illustrating the marketing value universities place on such schemes in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Yet questions continue to be raised amongst academics and practitioners over the ongoing value and relevance of such accreditation schemes in a diversifying industry which currently places great emphasis on digital skills. This exploratory research is the first independent study to date to examine the value of accreditation to employers via interviews with 14 editors representing all sectors of the industry. The findings depict a changing landscape where writing skills and digital skills are held in equal regard and work experience takes precedent over qualifications. It also reveals that accreditation is not a key factor in the employment of entry level journalists.

The traditional role of the journalist as gatekeeper is being undermined and challenged in the online world where anyone with an internet connection can publish to a global audience. As a consequence the role of the journalist is being constantly redefined as the “profession” no longer holds exclusive rights to the dissemination of news to the masses. This study seeks to explore how local British journalists perceive their role in the era of Web 2.0 and how willing they are to adapt. Through interviews and observation at two local British newspapers it was possible to gain a greater understanding of the modern role of the local journalist and their professional distinctions from the public. These NCTJ qualified journalists increasingly view themselves as verifiers of news who use their training and expertise to amplify news to the wider public. Despite some initial reluctance they are largely enthusiastic about technological and cultural adaptations to their role although some are still resisting this change. There is also evidence to suggest audiences play a role in secondary gatekeeping by influencing the selection and prominence of stories on newspaper websites. Furthermore the findings seek to inform educators of the continued relevance of the professional accreditation body, the NCTJ, to an industry persistently challenged by citizen journalism.

The digital landscape has had some of the most profound impacts on the\ud journalism profession. Social media has bridged the gap between journalists and\ud audiences. Online journalism has led to rounds of downsizing, slowed hiring\ud processes, and corporate mandates for immediate publication that challenge the\ud traditional perspectives of journalists. Added to this are several 21st century\ud controversies, such as the phone hacking scandal and criticism of journalism’s\ud responses to tragedies, it is evident that UK journalists face significant challenges to\ud their practice. This research aims to understand how journalists make sense of their\ud daily professional lives amid contemporary challenges to practice. Specifically, it\ud investigates what journalists believe they do on a daily basis, how they view their\ud readers, and how they defend themselves against allegations of unethical practice.\ud Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 journalists who\ud represented a broad cross-section of practitioners in the UK. These journalists came\ud from the national tabloid, regional, and freelance sectors of the UK journalism\ud landscape. A thematic analysis revealed that journalists still articulate knowledge\ud claims of their field based on traditional epistemic values attached to western\ud democratic ideals despite challenges from the digital landscape revealing a different\ud reality. Audiences have become commodified, which has furnished journalists with an\ud ambivalent outlook on their readers. Contrary to public perceptions of what is morally\ud challenging, journalists see assignments that push ethical boundaries as a normal part\ud of their practice.\ud The results highlighted three ways in which journalists make sense of their\ud practice in the contemporary era: judgment, which plays an important role in newsmaking\ud decisions, ethical practices, and storytelling; traditional epistemic views to\ud make articulated knowledge claims about practice, and; validation of practice, their\ud identity, and to emphasise the value they bring to journalism that is based on their\ud articulated knowledge, informed traditions, and shared repertoire of knowledge.