New technology, new professional practices: A study on Romanian news media

Abstract

The article attempts to determine how the Internet has influenced the work practices of journalists in Romania, using data from a qualitative research, “The professional practices and constraints of the Romanian gatekeepers,” conducted between December 2010 and January 2011, involving a sample of 73 journalists from 67 local and national media outlets. The results of this research show that the Internet has become both a guide to public expectations and public criticism of the media. In addition, it also serves as a barometer of news consumption, which guides journalists to create the media agenda. The perverse effects of the introduction of Internet in journalistic practices are considered the creation of the Google reporters and copy-paste and office journalists.