Understanding 'good' and 'bad' Twitter practices in alternative media: an analysis of online political media in the UK (2015-2018)

Thomas, Richard, McDowell-Naylor, Declan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5300-9127 and Cushion, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7164-8283 2024. Understanding 'good' and 'bad' Twitter practices in alternative media: an analysis of online political media in the UK (2015-2018). Journalism Practice 18 (3) , pp. 683-702. 10.1080/17512786.2022.2050469

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Abstract

Alternative Online Political Media (AOPM) have become increasingly important within international news landscapes, but their social media practices have received limited academic attention. Our large-scale content analysis (N = 14807) offers the first comprehensive study of how APOM in the UK use Twitter. Drawing on a pertinent model of social media use that enhances notions of “good” and “bad” journalism, and through our own sentiment analysis, we find Twitter norms closely aligned with those of legacy media, including a relatively limited online interaction with audiences. We conclude that while AOPM follow many social media logics consistent with mainstream news sites and add to the wider realm of political analysis, their highly partisan content means that their Twitter use cannot be considered balanced, neutral or objective.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Journalism, Media and Culture
Publisher:	Routledge
ISSN:	1751-2794
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 March 2022
Date of Acceptance:	2 March 2022
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2024 15:13
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/148591

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