GIS in journalism

News as it is traditionally understood is currently undergoing a profound change. The customary elements of newsworthiness—conflict, impact, timeliness and uniqueness—are being superseded by a demand for hyper-local news. Audiences now demand both more content and customized content. The clarion call in the words of one media consumer is, “I want what I want when I want it.” Customers are no longer satisfied with their parents’ newspapers and network newscasts.

If audience needs are to be served, location becomes the key factor in hyper-local news. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) represent an important way to categorize, organize, and disseminate data into news content for an increasingly demanding audience.

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