Media Convergence of Newspapers: A Content Analysis of the Business and Financial Times' Print and Web-Based Content

Abstract

Advances in technology, consumer demands, and the revisions in rules governing media ownership, have deeply influenced the media industry in the last 15 years. These developments have led to profound changes and uncertainty about the future of news media. The channels of news media have changed. The traditional route of receiving news via newspapers has evolved into a more digital path, leaving many to question the future of the print publication. This study evaluated the print and Web-based content of the Business and Financial Times. The researcher adds to the field of research on news media by analysing the online and print content of the publication, creating a new way to categorise and evaluate the subject matter by placing it into four categories: repetition, adaptation, representation, and uniqueness. The researcher sought to answer research questions, discovering how each medium demonstrates elements of media convergence. The study revealed that newspaper does not effectively reflect the epitolnes of media convergence. The framework used for evaluating the articles shows the ineffectiveness of media convergence which is seen throughout the data presented and analysed. The research conducted on this newspaper for this study did not display appreciably. the ideals of nledia convergence. Further, though highly rated and respected in the media sphere in Ghana with a stellar reputation and credibility the study found that the newspaper nlainly uses its Web-based content purely to supplement and or complelnent the dominant print for infonnational purposes. It is a predetennined perception these days that everything. that appears in print will also appear online. However, this study proved otherwise, and shows the paper is yet to fully exploit the benefits a catalyst like its website offers in its attelnpts at convergence.