An actor-network perspective on changing work practices

Communication technologies as actants in newswork

Bibliographic Data

ID7477595
AuthorsU Plesner (0000-0001-5248-3276, Roskilde University)
Year2009
Volume10
Issue5
Pages604-626
Publication date2009-09-16
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1464-8849 • E-ISSN: 1741-3001
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1464884909106535
OpenAlexW2022812956
LanguageEN
Citations received45
References cited19

New information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as email and the internet have altered the work practices of journalists. This article introduces Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as a framework for analyzing the relation between new ICTs and changing practices in newswork. It argues that ANT offers an exciting new perspective on ‘holistic’ studies of mass mediation practices, because it calls for a focus on heterogeneous actors: people, ideals, symbolic constructions, and material elements are seen as equally important elements to analyze. The article offers empirical examples of how ICTs have become elements of specific actor-networks, and argues that, at this point, the new aspect of them is their seamlessness. It is argued that while including materiality — technology — in analyses of journalism practices we should refrain from essentializing the ‘effects’ of ICT. Rather, technology should be treated analytically as an actant tightly integrated in networks with other actants, without being assigned particular forces or consequences

Actor–network theory · Aesthetics · Epistemology · ICTS · Information and Communications Technology · Knowledge management · Materiality (auditing · Mediation · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Public relations · Relation (database · Social science · Sociology · The Internet · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Information Systems Theories and Implementation · Media Studies and Communication · Social Media and Politics

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