Online journalism : a case study of interactivity of mainstream online news websites of the Maldives

Abstract

Internet has emerged as a hybrid-publishing platform. Thus, communication technologies are challenging the linear print journalism format with interactive devices turning online journalism into a rich media environment. While communication technologies have enabled publishers and media producers to use numerous interactive features in the constructed presentation of online news, few news websites in the Maldives are maximizing such features. This study, based on a content analysis of three mainstream news websites, develops an interactivity index and examines the interactive features of the news websites and analyses how news is presented and to what extent the various publications differ in their application of interactive devices in online journalism. The findings show that the news websites did not fully utilize and enhance interactive features in online journalism.