The Online Communities & the sense of belonging in Digital Journalism

Abstract

In recent years, the landscape of traditional journalism has undergone significant transformation due to the rise of the Internet and the advent of Web 2.0. This transformation has led to the emergence of novel modes of communication and interaction, facilitating greater participation of reader-users in the news production process. These new communication avenues, often referred to as "online communities," have gradually gained prominence, reshaped established patterns of digital communication, and altered the dynamics of information consumption, production, and distribution. Scientific inquiry into these online communities, which often accompany news websites as an additional feature, focuses on the shared interests that unite members worldwide, transcending geographical boundaries. In Greek literature, there is limited exploration of successful Greek-speaking online communities that have arisen through news platforms. This study aims to shed light in this area through a case study that was conducted via a semi-structured interview with the creator of the highly acclaimed column "A, Mpa" on LiFO and founder of the feminist-oriented platform "Womanlandia," which actively encourages reader participation in commenting and selecting article themes. This research focuses on initially understanding the landscape through the insights of the interviewee. Analysis revealed that user-generated comments play a vital and organic role in shaping articles. Additionally, the article format can be described as "alternative," as there is a deliberate effort to balance news content with reader commentary, aiming to establish a community-driven platform featuring diverse articles. This approach sets initiatives like "Womanlandia" apart from traditional media companies.