This document summarizes a research study comparing the use of Twitter by journalists in Catalan and Belgian media. The study found that while journalists in both regions use Twitter primarily to disseminate their own content, Catalan journalists use Twitter more extensively in their work routines. Specifically, the study observed journalists' Twitter behavior, interviewed them, and developed a model to analyze the official media Twitter accounts. The results showed Catalan journalists tweeted more often and used Twitter more for interaction and promotion, while Belgian journalists focused more on dissemination. Overall, the study concludes Twitter is mainly used for information distribution rather than conversation with audiences.

1. THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF TWITTER IN
THE INTERACTION WITH THE AUDIENCE.
Comparative Study between Catalan and Belgium Media
Susana Pérez-Soler and Josep Lluís Micó Sanz (URL)
School of Communication and International Relations Blanquerna
Universitat Ramon Llull
10th November 2016

2. This research is part of project "Información política, Twitter y democracia. El periodismo en el entorno de los
medios sociales" (Proyecto de I+D finançat pel Ministeri de Ciència i Innovació amb el codi CSO2014-52283-C2-2-P)
IP: Doctor Josep Lluís Micó

3. LITERATURE
REVIEW
PRACTICAL
RESERACH
METHODOLOGY
RESULTS
CONCLUSIONS

4. Internet alters the journalistic
production process in all areas
THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK

5. THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
The traditional separation between
producers and audiences disappears: the
roles can be easily exchanged

6. THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
Journalists should adopt new skills

7. When the Public Speaks, Do Journalists Listen?
Audience Participation through TwitterPRACTICAL RESERACH

8. - Two-weeks observation of the journalists at newsroom
- 24 in depth interviews to different roles, from editors in chief to
journalists and social networks managers
- Own model to study the official Twitter accounts: DIP
METHODOLOGY

9. - Diffusion
own content
- Interaction
pictures / videos
surveys
reviews
chats
- Promotion
offer subscribers
attracting new subscribers
gifts
METHODOLOGY: DIP

10. METHODOLOGY
A mix of methodology, quantitative and qualitative methods, allows comparing
what journalists says and what journalists do

11. Journalistic uses of Twitter in the process of production and distribution of news
- Production process
Search and documentation issues
Contact sources
- Distribution process
Dissemination of own content
Promotion of the media and the personal brand of journalist
Interaction with audiences
RESULTS

12. RESULTS
Twitter as a personalised news agency

13. RESULTS
Twitter as a tool to contact sources

14. RESULTS
93%
2% 5%
Difussion
Interaction
Promotion

15. 99%
0% 1%
Difussion
Interaction
Promotion
RESULTS

16. RESULTS
96%
3% 1%
Difussion
Interaction
Promotion

17. RESULTS
90%
2% 8%
Difussion
Interaction
Promotion

18. RESULTS
67%
22%
11%
Difussion
Interaction
Promotion

19. The myth of digital conversation
CONCLUSIONS

20. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
- In the production process, the search and documentation of issues is
the practice most consolidated.
- Journalists turn to official sources to cover expected events, while they
turn to Twitter and other social media to cover unexpected events.
- In the distribution process, the dissemination of own journalistic
contents through Twitter is the main use they give to this tool in the
four studied newsrooms.
- Promotion and interaction are less common uses.
CONCLUSIONS

21. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
- Catalan journalists use Twitter in their working routines much more
than Belgium journalists.
- Catalan Media tweet more than Belgium Media: 10 tweets per hour
in front of 2 or 3 tweets per hour, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS

22. New skills: listen to audiences is fundamental
for the survival of journalism
CONCLUSIONS

23. “ We are in an interregnum in which the old
ways of doing things do not work and new
ones are not yet invented ”
ZYGMUND BAUMAN

24. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Susana Pérez-Soler and Josep Lluís Micó Sanz (URL)
School of Communication and International Relations Blanquerna
Universitat Ramon Llull
10th November 2016
Contact details:
@susanaprezsoler
susanaps@blanquerna.url.edu