Jenkins Fandom Theory

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

New media has enabled a participatory culture for active media
Fans play a key role in production/reproduction/reception
Fans act as “textual poachers” by making something new of something existing.
Digital convergence is a culture rather than technological
“spreadable media”

Question 2

How does it relate to print news?

Answer 2

The Daily Mail and The Guardian rely on loyal readers who trust the outlet to create their own communities

Question 3

How does it relate to online news?

Answer 3

The websites of both outlets allow – and encourage – audiences to be participatory: sharing, commenting or liking content

Question 4

Usefulness

Answer 4

 Explains the evolution of news and the increasing online presence
 Explains why online news became so popular and why print news is threatened
 Explains rise in citizen journalism

Question 5

Limitations

Answer 5

 Overestimates power of audience – downplays power of media oligarchs to shape and control news
 More relevant to tv and film – where fan communities are more likely to occur