‘a huge culture change’ newsrooms at la presse and the montreal gazette reflect on the shift to...
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![Page 1: ‘A Huge Culture Change’ Newsrooms at La Presse and The Montreal Gazette Reflect on the Shift to Digital-First Lisa Lynch Concordia University](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062715/56649da85503460f94a94971/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
‘A Huge Culture Change’
Newsrooms at La Presse and The Montreal Gazette
Reflect on the Shift to Digital-First
Lisa Lynch Concordia University
![Page 2: ‘A Huge Culture Change’ Newsrooms at La Presse and The Montreal Gazette Reflect on the Shift to Digital-First Lisa Lynch Concordia University](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062715/56649da85503460f94a94971/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Initial Observations (2009)• In Montreal, Francophone journalists were
more often publicly critical of online news• Some Franco Montreal papers – like Le
Devoir – had no interest in moving online at all; bare-bones site, no archiving, etc.
• Was this a case of ‘digital divide?’
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Context• Anglo and Franco papers both have long
histories in the city• Anglo and Franco workers represented by
different communications unions; Francophone unions traditionally stronger
• Anglo papers compete with US papers and ‘national’ Canadian papers
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Questions• Do online staff at The Gazette and La
Presse differ in how they describe the benefits and disadvantages of online news?
• Will these differences change over time as both outlets refine their approach to online news?
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La Presse• Founded in 1884; now the flagship paper
of the Gesca Group• Closure crisis in 2009; shift to Ipad-first in
2013• La Presse+ is a gamble to ensure the
paper’s survival, relying on a market that is not mature
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“We arrived in a paper world where people really didn't know what the web was….”
But a successful integration within months, due toefforts of editors and careful logistical planning.
Interviews in 2010
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Re-envisioning La Presse as a tablet-first product…
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“There's a new generation in advertising agencies [deciding] where they put their ads, and it's definitely not in the print version. That's exactly why we moved tothe tablet.”
Interviews in 2013
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“In 2010, I worked for the dailies. If there was a fire, or anything, I made an article for the website, and I'd have to make an article for the next day's paper… Now, I have a lot of time, I drink coffee and brainstorm.”
Interviews in 2013
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“They are all young, hipsters. People who do 5 a 7 (cocktail hours). The new geek IPad, technology generation ... (who) think they're cooler than everyone else.”
Interviews in 2013
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The Montreal Gazette• Founded in 1778• Heyday in 1960s; still claims profitability but
connected to financially strapped chain• Since the 1960s has shifted from Southam to
FP to Hollinger to Canwest to Postmedia
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“We rush to get things up quickly and then there are mistakes and inaccuracies. I do find that the standards slip.”
A focus on the problems rather than successes
Interviews in 2010
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“I don't feel it's clear where things are right now or where they're going; it still feels like we're in an in-between stage. It's (also) not clear exactly what this revolution is supposed to be about…seems to me more or less similar to before.”
Interviews in 2010
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A centralized system for creating a chain-wide look….
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“I feel like if we had a better system, that could actually free us up to do more…if only the architecture were not so clunky.”
Interviews in 2013
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“We’re still mostly a print paper. We are doing more things online but the most dramatic things that have happened here has been the reduction in staff across the board”
Interviews in 2013
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Results• At La Presse, transition didn’t create an
unsustainable workload• Staff believed management had made an
investment in the future of La Presse as an institution.
• At The Gazette, push towards online resulted in overwork.
• Digital decisions reflected the priorities of the chain and not The Gazette.
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Limitations• La Presse going through unique
period of transition• Other Francophone papers
(Quebecor vs Le Devoir) not studied
• Ipad team not interviewed
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Conclusion
Rather than confirming initial ideas of a “digital divide,” interviews demonstrated the complex interplay between workplace conditions and attitudes towards online work.
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Longer version: [email protected]