Käyttäjät kommentoinnin keskiössä: Verkkouutisten kommentoijien käytännöt, motiivit ja asenteet

This book looks at the online news commenting phenomenon from the user’s point of view. This work is based on a unique and comprehensive examination of users commenting on online news in the Finnish context. An extensive qualitative analysis of open-ended survey questions, semi-structured interviews and group discussions draws an overall picture of the different practices, motives and attitudes of the users.

The analysis shows that online news commenting as a phenomenon is a complex and layered formation of all these sectors. Users who comment on online news form a heterogeneous and multivoiced group of people with different practices, goals, and perceptions, for example, about other commenters, and about the meaning of commenting.

Further, the analysis makes visible, among other things, the possible meaning of facts, truth and reasoning for the users. Some users evaluate their own actions, other users and journalism mainly based on such rational criteria. Interestingly, the study also reveals that users’ practices, motives and attitudes can relate to their attitudes towards media and journalism.

The research and the results are in the field of media studies. However, the analysis utilizes social psychology -based understanding of individuals as participants in social interactions and society: Each user-based interaction brings together the users as individuals and personalities, individual motives and attitudes, public discussions, and the actual online news.