180. Name: Raul Ferrer Conill Title: Gamifying the News: Exploring the Introduction of Game Elements into Digital Journalism (the Guardian, Bleacher Report, the Times of India, and Al Jazeera) Institution: Karlstads Universitet Country: Sweden Date: 2018 Language: English Abstract: Crosswords, puzzles, and quizzes have always been present in newspapers. Digital journalism has only increased the trend of integrating game elements in news media, often blurring the boundaries between news and games. This dissertation explores how and why news organizations use gamification in digital news and analyzes the objectives behind its implementation in news production. Drawing on media sociology and new institutionalism, this study investigates the processes of popularization and professionalization of journalism to understand how different institutional logics of gamification and journalism interact. Methodologically, this qualitative multiple case study analyzes four diverse news organizations: the Guardian, Bleacher Report, the Times of India, and Al Jazeera. the researcher interviewed 56 media professionals and conducted game-system analysis of their respective gamified systems. The findings suggest that while news organizations often frame their motivations within the celebratory rhetoric of gamification, a deeper look into the material manifestations of gamified news systems tend to problematize the empowering claims of gamification. A complex interplay between the professional and commercial logics of journalism and the hedonic and utilitarian logics of gamification shapes how news organizations implement gamified systems.
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