The Flow of Digital News in a Network of Sources, Authorities, and Hubs

Matthew S. Weber, Peter Monge
2011 Journal of Communication  
This article presents an analysis of the flow of information in a network of online news sites. Social network theory and research on hyperlinked networks of Web pages are used to develop a model of information flow among Web sites. Kleinberg's authority-hub model is extended by introducing sources of information in the network. Significant support was found for a Source-Authority-Hub model, which shows the source, directionality, routing, and destination of news information flow through a
more » ... rk of authorities and hubs. This model demonstrates the ability of key Web sites to control the flow of news and information. Applications of the model to over-time data have the potential to predict future changes in the online news industry. Information flows and networks The study of communication networks and information flow is well established in the field of organizational communication. Communication networks have been utilized to study social relations, information exchange, and organizational networks since the 1970s (Monge & Contractor, 2003; Wigand, 1988) . For example, Rice's (1982) longitudinal study of information flows within and between workgroups found that information flows clustered into distinct patterns, and demonstrates that complex communication networks can be deconstructed into clearly delineated clusters representing the patterns of information movement. From a similar perspective, Rogers (1985) and Rogers & Kincaid (1981) showed that ideas and information diffuse at varying rates in distinct patterns through networks of individuals and organizations, dependent on the information communicated, the maturity of the network, and the frequency of communication. More recently, this line of research has been expanded to the study of hyperlink networks. For instance, Schumate and Lipp's (2008) research showed that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) utilize hyperlink networks to drive collective action toward a common social cause. Other work has demonstrated that organizations cluster together via their hyperlink affiliations in diverse contexts
doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2011.01596.x fatcat:fgjlckqjq5bpdkiapkotimbjxu