The rigour and impact of high-quality media research are intrinsically linked to methodology. In studies that adopt a case study approach, the selection of sources to define the object of study is also a crucial factor.
In this context, the SCImago Media Rankings (SMR) emerge as a promising starting point with vast research potential on a global scale. This project initially set out to construct the first global map of general news outlets (including both print newspapers with digital versions and digital-native publications). It now extends this framework to incorporate a worldwide selection of leading sports and financial media.
Researchers can also utilise country, regional, and language filters when conducting their studies. Additionally, efforts are underway to integrate a global sample of audiovisual news media, including major television networks.
As a reflection of the research opportunities presented by the SMR, it is worth highlighting the valuable work undertaken by Mari Vállez, Juan José Boté-Vericad, Javier Guallar, and Marco Bastos. Their study examines the publication strategies of five leading media organisations—those ranking highest in digital reputation according to the SMR—during the acquisition of Twitter (now X) by entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The full article is available via the following link. However, we present below a translated summary of the research:
This study analyses the publication strategies of traditional media outlets on Twitter following the platform’s acquisition by Elon Musk. We employ the SCImago Media Rankings to identify the news organisations with the largest online audiences, namely The Guardian, The New York Times, USA Today, The Independent, and The Washington Post. Data were gathered via Twitter’s Academic API v2 and the SEMrush platform in early 2023, covering the entirety of 2022. The dataset includes website audits that monitor domain traffic, with the aggregated data subsequently processed using R packages and Atlas.ti.
Our analysis reveals that a stronger presence on Twitter correlates with a significant increase in social traffic, as evidenced by The Independent. This contrasts sharply with other media outlets. These differences persist regardless of the thematic focus of coverage—predominantly centred on the Russia-Ukraine war—or the compositional characteristics of their posts, which largely omit typical Twitter elements such as hashtags and @ mentions. We conclude by discussing the communication strategies employed by news organisations on Twitter following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2022.
This research was published in July 2024 in the specialist journal Journalism Studies, under the Taylor & Francis imprint, following a rigorous peer-review process.
