ABSTRACT
Where does the news come from? In contemporary society, with complex, layered mechanisms for the production and distribution of news, this continues to be a relevant sociological question that demands an answer. As indicated by the influential German sociologist Max Weber (1998[1910]), who in 1910 called for a “survey of the press”, it is vital for social scientists to understand the ways in which the press functions, for the news media plays an influential role in not only informing the public about current events, but also as an essential communication medium that influences public perceptions (as argued by Lippmann, 2008). With vast transformations in the news media and advances in technology over the past decade, it is necessary for sociologists to continue their efforts to understand the workings of those who contribute to producing and sharing the news, particularly as content is increasingly fed and shaped by members of the public via acts of citizen journalism (i.e. the involvement of the public in the news production process).
