The use of Internet in newsgathering among European science journalists

183

UNITED KINGDOM
Daily Mail
Daily Mirror
Daily Telegraph
Evening Standard
Financial Times
The Guardian
The Independent
The Observer
Reuters
Sunday Times
The Times

184

Appendix III

John Doe
3 Hoptzagt Strasse
78509 Berlin
Germany
22 Oct 2003

Survey of European Science Journalists

Dear John,

My name is Antonio Granado and I am a science journalist working for the
Portuguese newspaper Publico, currently doing PhD research at the University of
Leeds, in the UK, under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Lax.
My research will explore the changes the Internet has introduced in the
newsgathering routines of European science journalists. My first approach to this
problem is to conduct a survey of European science journalists in all the countries
of the EU, and I very much hope that you would be willing to participate in it.
The survey is completely Web-based and it will take you less than 10 minutes to
complete. As this is the first survey ever to include print and news agency
journalists from all the countries of the European Union, your participation would
be extremely valuable.
Please be reassured that the information you provide will be kept confidential and
anonymous. Individual responses will not be identifiable. All the gathered data will
be used for research purposes only and will be kept in secure locations at the
University of Leeds.
To participate in this survey please follow this link:
http://newmedia.leeds.ac.uk/sesj/xxxxxxxx
Thank you for taking the time to help me with my research.
Sincerely,

Antonio Granado

P.S. - More information about the project and my research interests can be found
at: http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~icsrlr/phd/.

185

Appendix IVa

1st NOTIFICATION – Sent on 2 December 2003

Dear science journalist,
Some days ago, you should have received a letter inviting you to participate in a
Survey of European Science Journalists, which is being conducted at the Institute
of Communications Studies at the University of Leeds, in the UK.
That same letter was sent to more than 200 journalists from more than 100 print
media and news agencies in all countries of the European Union.
A number of journalists have already responded to the survey. However, we
would like to have as many respondents as possible, as this is the first survey ever
to include science journalists throughout the EU, and can give us a good picture
about science journalism in this continent.
If you haven't done so, we would appreciate it if you would follow the link below
to answer the survey:
http://newmedia.leeds.ac.uk/sesj/index.cfm?user=XXXXXX
Thank you very much for your help in this project.

Antonio Granado
PhD student
Institute of Communications Studies
University of Leeds
LS2 9JT
UK

186

Appendix IVb

2^nd NOTIFICATION – Sent on 7 January 2004

Dear science journalist,
Last November, you received a letter inviting you to participate in a Survey of
European Science Journalists, which is being conducted at the Institute of
Communications Studies at the University of Leeds, in the UK.
That same letter was sent to more than 200 journalists from more than 100 print
media and news agencies in all countries of the European Union.
After a first e-mail, that you should have received in December, a number of
journalists have already responded to the survey. However, we would like to have
as many respondents as possible, as this is the first survey ever to include science
journalists throughout the EU, and can give us a good picture about science
journalism in this continent.
If you haven't done so, we would appreciate it if you would follow the link below
to answer the survey:
http://newmedia.leeds.ac.uk/sesj/index.cfm?user=XXXXXX
Thank you again very much for your help in this project.

Antonio Granado
PhD student
Institute of Communications Studies
University of Leeds
LS2 9JT
UK

187

Appendix IVc

3^rd NOTIFICATION – Sent on 27 January 2004

Dear science journalist,
Last November, you received a letter inviting you to participate in a Survey of
European Science Journalists, which is being conducted at the Institute of
Communications Studies at the University of Leeds, in the UK.
That same letter was sent to more than 200 journalists from more than 100 print
media and news agencies in all countries of the European Union.
After two e-mails, sent in December and January, a number of journalists have
already responded to the survey. However, we would like to have as many
respondents as possible, as this is the first survey ever to include science
journalists throughout the EU, and can give us a good picture about science
journalism in this continent.
If you haven't done so, we would appreciate it if you would follow the link below
to answer the survey:
http://newmedia.leeds.ac.uk/sesj/index.cfm?user=XXXXXX
Thank you again very much for your help in this project.

Antonio Granado
PhD student
Institute of Communications Studies
University of Leeds
LS2 9JT
UK

188

Appendix V

Interview questions

What are the main advantages of Internet in your work as a science journalist?
Probe: Why is it so?
Probe: Can you give me examples?
What are the main advantages of Internet in your work as a science journalist?
Probe: Why is it so?
Probe: Can you give me examples?
Has the Internet changed science journalism in your newspaper?
Probe: Why?
In what ways has it changed?
Probe: Can you give me examples of your daily experience?
For how long have you been using the Internet as a science journalist?
Do you think you are using it more or less than one year ago, when you answered
the survey?
Probe: Why do you think is so?
Can you imagine your daily work without the Internet?
Probe: Why?
Probe: Can you give me some examples?

189

Appendix VI

Interview request – first sent on 19^th April 2005

Dear journalist,
Approximately one year ago, you kindly answered a survey of European Science
Journalists I am conducting as part of my PhD project at the University of
Leeds.
In order to complete my study, I have now randomly chosen 15 journalists to
conduct a very short interview (10/15 minutes) about the use you make of
Internet in your job.
As you were one of the randomly chosen, would you be available for such an
interview? If yes, could you please provide me your direct phone number and
tell me what would be the most convenient time/day to call you?
Thank you very much for your help.
Antonio Granado

190

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