Abstract

The economic crisis and the rapid advances of information technology have led to reflection about how libraries should face the digital challenge and the need to adapt daily work routines and professional profiles. This paper considers whether libraries are restrained environments that can have an inhibiting effect on their profesional staff, harming their adaptation to the new digital environment. There are several reasons for this: technology dependence, a workplace model that gives priority to established structures, the rigidity of the structures involved in the decision-making process, and attachment to our traditional roles.

Abstract

Digital news media –and, together with them, the scholarly research on this phenomenon– are entering their third decade. Throughout the years, research on online journalism has progressed and diversified considerably. However, some areas could still achieve further development. The author proposes five ideas to give a boost to this research discipline in the next decade: 1) move towards a digital native research framework; 2) use advanced technologies in research; 3) focus on research that encourages innovation; 4) increase the amount of analytical research, instead of descriptive studies; and 5) investigate unexplored topics and areas.