News companies 'face a moral challenge'

6th March 2008

Online news providers have been urged to acknowledge the ethical challenges they face as the medium shifts further towards the digital sphere.

More people are turning to the internet for current affairs information, posing a profound and "complex" challenge to the companies that disseminate news, according to the co-founder of iFOCOS.

Andrew Nachison said that news firms must invest in up-to-date technology in order to meet user demand for cyber content, but he claimed that their task stretched beyond this.

"They need to invest in journalism that makes a difference in people's lives. That's a moral and leadership challenge - and a business opportunity for whoever can meet it," he said.

A survey of US residents commissioned by iFOCOS by Zogby International found that 48 per cent of respondents use the internet as their main source of current affairs information, with this figure rising to 55 per cent for the 18 to25-year-old group.

Meanwhile, a BBC website revamp saw the news provider enhance its customisation options with a focus on locally-tailored content.