Transmediality in Independent Journalisminvestigates mainstream journalism and its escape routes to independence through transmedia strategies. Within the scope of the latest debates in Turkey, the author argues that the function of transmediality in Turkish journalism is gradually shifting from being only a commercial entity to becoming a political system for social change, a survival mechanism for independent journalists to reach out to diverse audiences, and gain back the public trust.

Bringing a fresh perspective to recent studies on cultures of transmediality along with an in-depth analysis of three contemporary Turkish cases, the book:

• Builds upon questions of whether transmedia storytelling can offer a support system to construct an alternative news media world in a political context such as Turkey’s
• Examines how transmedia storytelling can reach places the mainstream news media can’t control
• Explores whether transmedia storytelling can sustain the survival of an independent journalist in Turkey’s political context

Looking beyond the case of Turkey, this study will be an important addition to the literature on rethinking journalistic form and practice, teaching transmedia strategies, and social communication. It will be of great benefit to students and scholars of journalism studies, transmedia studies, and media and communication studies.

Design thinking is not an alien concept to the field of transmedia storytelling. However, the distinction between fictional and non-fictional approaches to transmedia production indicates that there is an insufficiency in existing production methods, especially when transmedia news stories are taken into consideration. The lack of journalism perspective in existing transmedia production approaches calls for reconsideration of these methods. Therefore, this research proposes a toolkit which draws out the significance of design thinking for the practice of transmedia journalism that rests upon a complex, collective and human-centred production. The toolkit is later evaluated by a one-day workshop on the grounds of collectivity in process, sensibility to content, creativity in outcome and simplicity in design. Consequently, the research shows that the proposed design thinking toolkit serves as an effective comprehension, cooperation, adaptation, distinction and education tool for the field of transmedia journalism.

Source: Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, Volume 11, Number 1, 1 April 2020, pp. 25-36(12)

Publisher: Intellect

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc_00003_1

Co-Authors: Sesigür, Onur; Haydari, Nazan

Source: Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, Volume 11, Number 1, 1 April 2020, pp. 3-13(11)

Publisher: Intellect

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc_00001_2

Guest Editors: Dilek Gürsoy, Onur Sesigür, Nazan Haydari

The shift in perception towards the media and information reveals major concerns about the over-production and consumption of news. News consumers are eager to follow the content that is of great interest to them, and they don’t hesitate to participate one way or another through any means they prefer. Journalists are also fighting with time more than ever to offer instant news to consumers, who have an insatiable thirst for knowledge, whether it be factual or false. Transmedia journalism, with its emphasis on participation and interactivity, is a timely approach to news production and distribution in the 21st-century. Teaching transmedia news story production, on the other hand, is a process that holds many challenges. This case study outlines the development of the Transmedia Journalism Design Thinking Toolkit to overcome of these difficulties by 1) simplifying a complex process, 2) building empathy to boost creativity and innovation, and 3) working as an interdisciplinary team.

Gürsoy, D. (2023). Method case study: The transmedia journalism design thinking toolkit. In K. Straker & C. Wrigley (Eds.), Research Handbook on Design Thinking (pp. 281–293). Edward Elgar Publishing.