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How Digital News Enhances the Quality of European Journalism
The Digital News Initiative is an European organisation designed by Google to support high quality journalism through innovation and technology. It covers an "Innovations Fund" worth Euros 150m, which in next year issued grants to 460 projects in nine countries across Europe. These are mostly in the field of environment, health, education and also Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese languages. The fund is supposed to support new technologies that make improvements in the quality of news. If a project implements its plans and meets other requirements, then it receives a prize, known as the "elia".

In the last few years, several high-profile stories were related to the impact of digital news initiative and the role of the internet in providing a platform for delivering it. One of the examples was the railway accident in Italy, where a coach was hit by a train. The public was informed immediately via the social media. A crucial aspect was the involvement of the media, with the authorities making clear that they would not be taking any further risks.

This positive example can be applied to newsrooms all over Europe. Many papers and news agencies have welcomed the participation of digital news initiative, because it means that they have an additional source of information to draw on that may not otherwise have been available. Moreover, many publishers have welcomed the innovation that digital news Journalism brings. They argue that their role as publishers is to be a platform for information delivery, which should not be limited to merely publishing content.

Another example is the new digital news feature of DMOZ. This website offers access to another set of stories written in collaboration with journalists from around the globe, covering different areas and sectors. This is in fact the first-ever publication of this type, covering not just one but multiple topics. Publishers have been eager to have the opportunity to take advantage of the innovative platform. They believe that the resulting stories will not only add value to their business but will also provide them with new business opportunities.

There is a growing interest in the role of innovation in journalism. There is also a growing willingness for publishers to participate in the innovation process, as evidenced by the presence of the DMOZ hub. Many newspapers are keen to ensure that they remain relevant, both to readers and to their buyers. In a world where the internet is the dominant medium of communication, it is important for the industry to consider all avenues for survival, and one such avenue is digital news.

Digital news has a distinct advantage compared to traditional forms of journalism. For instance, it is easier for people in non-English speaking countries to read stories about Europe, especially regarding events in their own country. It also provides a window for readers to get insights about the wider EU scene, contributing to the understanding of the policy-making process. This means not only better informed decision-making about trade and policies, but also more informed decisions about national and regional policies, in terms of finance, technology and other areas.

The European Journalism Forum estimated in 2021 that there is a loss of over EUR 250 million to the European publishing industry as a result of the increasing digitalization of the news. The Forum's research found that nearly half of the journalists in the industry are still operating in print. While this is not surprising given the success of online publishing, it highlights the need for media organisations to consider how they can adapt their activities to digital transformation and fully utilise digital opportunities to enhance their distribution services. The results of the study show that there is still a gap between the way in which digital information is being disseminated, and the fact that many people do not access news digitally, or only consume news electronically through social media platforms. An integrated strategy is therefore required to bridge this gap.

Digital news has the potential to significantly enhance the distribution of accurate and current information to targeted audiences across Europe and beyond, thereby enhancing the performance and profitability of the traditional media. However, it has been suggested that digital news could have a negative impact on traditional media as well, due to the increased pressure to filter content through stringent editors' guidelines. This could hinder newspapers from providing a credible platform for independent journalists and whistle blowers. Concern has also been expressed by members of the editorial board of state-owned media companies, who worry that digital technologies will alter the balance between the public and the media, pushing the latter into a position where it will compete directly with them. swot that a shift towards digital news may take five years, with some media companies already making moves towards becoming solely digital media houses.
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