PhD Webinar “News Agencies in Transition"


This is event took place on 21 May 2024.

The 2024 IAMCR Presidential PhD Research Webinar titled News Agencies in Transition: An Exploration of Their Status Quo, Challenges, and Future Prospects convened by Jasmin Surm from the University of Leeds, UK, provided an invaluable platform for PhD researchers to present their work, fostering rich scholarly dialogue and networking opportunities among news agency scholars from various generations.

The event commenced with a welcoming speech by IAMCR President Nico Carpentier, setting the tone for an insightful and thought-provoking session. This was followed by a keynote address delivered by Chris Paterson, who provided a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and the trajectory of the news agency research.

The webinar featured a series of compelling presentations that delved into various critical aspects of news agencies:

Barbara Ravbar from Charles University in Prague presented "Refugee Crisis through Media Lenses: Intersectionality of Race, Gender, and Xenophobia in Reporting of European News Agencies on the Ukrainian and Syrian Refugee Crisis," offering a nuanced analysis of media portrayals and the intersectionality of race, gender, and xenophobia.

Sina Thäsler-Kordonouri from Ludwig Maximilians University Munich explored "AI Integration in UK Newsrooms: An Investigation into the Use and Evaluation of News Agency Automated Journalism," examining the impact and evaluation of AI technologies in newsroom operations.

Jasmin Surm from the University of Leeds discussed "Windows to the World”, “Bridge Builders”, and “Your Eyes and Ears on the Ground”: Insights into News Agency Foreign Correspondents’ Cultural Identities and their Roles in Communicating Foreign Cultures," shedding light on the cultural identities of foreign correspondents and their crucial role in cross-cultural communication.

Following the presentations, a dynamic Q&A session allowed participants to engage with the presenters, sparking further discussions on the challenges and future pathways for news agencies.

The webinar concluded with closing remarks that encapsulated the key takeaways from the presentations and discussions, emphasising the importance of continued research and dialogue in navigating the evolving landscape of news agencies.