«Journalism and Algorithms»: Call for papers DCIN Journal [Deadline: July 30, 2021]

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The journal Documentación de las Ciencias de la Información (DCIN), according to its interest in analysing issues related to Information Science and the Media, dedicates this next issue to Journalism and algorithms.

Research questions which the monograph seeks to answer:

  • What are the relationships between algorithms and news production (“journalist robot”) and what is the current outlook and future prospects in this regard?
  • What influence do algorithms have on the recommendations of news on social networks and other digital platforms and what consequences do they have for journalism?
  • How do algorithms influence the spread of false news, hoaxes, etc., and in general misinformation and what measures could be taken against this phenomenon?
  • What are its dimensions and in what way can the effects of SEO be analyzed, understood or conceived when applied to journalism?

The above are examples of possible research questions. Other research questions will be equally appropriate as long as they refer to the thematic axes that we indicate below.

[In addition, as usual in the journal, there is a miscellaneous section where articles related to documentation in the media will be included].

Issues:

We consider that algorithms in journalism intervene, at least, in the following dimensions, which are not exhaustive:

  • News production: more and more media have software – often called “journalist robot” – which selects and combines data creating this way news on diverse topics such as sports results or financial information and others, and which as well analyzes, filters and combines information originating from users (User Generated Content)
  • Distribution, filtering, aggregation and recommendation in social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and also in Google News, Bing News, Microsoft News and in other services produced by digital platforms.
  • Visibility in digital platforms and SEO: the media, including those which have recently implemented payment walls, have relied to a greater or lesser extent on SEO for the visibility of their production, and therefore, for the attraction of traffic and with it readers who may become eventually subscribers.

All the elements indicated, and others that will undoubtedly appear in the proposals of the authors who wish to participate with the submission of their manuscripts, have highlighted a broad and enormously complex relationship between journalism and the power of the algorithms that are now more convenient than ever to conduct an inquiry into, which is exactly what we intend with this monographic issue.

Preparing your Paper:

Specific Guidelines:

  • The maximum number of words per article will not exceed 5,000 words, which will also include tables, graphs, etc.
  • Articles outside the evaluation platform are not accepted.

For online submissions to the platform, please use this link:

And submit your article adjusted to the predefined template.

The content of the journal appears in the following databases:

  • Web of Science Core Collection (WoS-ESCI)
  • Integrated Classification of Scientific Journals (CIRC);
  • Dialnet, E-Magazines;
  • Index Copernicus;
  • ISOC – Librarianship and Documentation;
  • IN-RECS;
  • Latindex; Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA);
  • MIAR
  • RESH.

Key dates:

  • Start of receipt of articles: March 15, 2021
  • Deadline for submission of proposals: July 30, 2021.
  • Definitive communication of acceptance of articles: October 15, 2021.
  • Publication Date: December 15, 2021

Guest editors:

  • Lluís Codina (UPF)
    lluis.codina@upf.edu
  • Cristòfol Rovira (UPF)
    cristofol.rovira@upf.edu
  • Carlos Lopezosa (UPF)
    carlos.lopezosa@upf.edu