Exploring Gamification in Online Journalism: Perspectives from Media Owners Through Interviews
The integration of gamification in online journalism and communication is an emerging trend aimed at enhancing user engagement and interactivity. As a digital marketing strategy, gamification involves incorporating game-like elements into non-game contexts, such as news websites, to motivate user participation and increase retention. This study explores the topic of gamification within the context of online journalism, advances in digital journalism, and the impact of technology in media and journalism, focusing on the perspectives of media owners through in-depth interviews. By exploring how media owners perceive and implement gamification elements in online journalism, this research aims to uncover valuable insights into the integration of game mechanics to enhance user engagement and content delivery. The methodology involved conducting interviews and analyzing the data qualitatively to identify key themes and patterns, shedding light on the challenges, opportunities, and best practices associated with gamification in the digital news landscape. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of gamification in shaping the future of online journalism and offers practical recommendations for media organizations looking to leverage gamified strategies for audience interaction and retention.
Authors
- Stelios Tsafarakis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5535-4787)
- Ioanna Kostarella (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9625-7510)
- Maria I. Klouvidaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3378-4318)
- Νίκος Αντωνόπουλος (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3502-7812)
Institutions
- Ionian University (GR)
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
- Technical University of Crete (GR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journalism and Media
- Published
- 2025-09-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6030151
- Primary Topic
- Educational Games and Gamification
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00