NewsMate: Expertise Management for Journalists

The paper describes the design of a system that is informed by an empirical study of radio journalists. When reporting news it is important to frame the problem and give an appropriate background so that an understandable and representative picture is provided. To frame the problem, or rather to shape how something is going to be reported, is done in continuous discussion among the journalists. However, the journalists often need to be at events where news is taking place away from the editorial staff and other journalist. We suggest a prototype application – the NewsMate – with the aim to supporting knowledge sharing and expertise location in both office and field situations. The guiding design principles for the NewsMate are positioned in short against existing systems and approaches.