404 Page Not Found: The Critical Importance Of Personal Digital Archiving In Journalism

This paper examines the critical issue of digital content preservation in modern journalism, focusing on the imperative of personal digital archiving practices among journalists. As news organizations transition from print to digital platforms, the ephemeral nature of online content poses significant challenges to the preservation of journalistic work and the maintenance of historical records. Through a comprehensive analysis of current preservation practices in newsrooms and an exploration of theoretical frameworks including digital preservation theory, information lifecycle management, and professional identity development, this study reveals widespread inadequacies in institutional archiving efforts. The research employs the SPOT (Simple Property-Oriented Threat) Model to evaluate preservation practices, highlighting the vulnerabilities of digital news content. Findings indicate a alarming trend of content volatility, with only a fraction of surveyed newsrooms fully preserving their news content. This study argues that personal digital archiving is not merely a contingency plan but a critical professional practice for modern journalists, essential for maintaining comprehensive portfolios, ensuring the longevity of their contributions to the public record, and safeguarding against the volatility of digital platforms. The thesis explores the technical, ethical, and practical dimensions of personal digital archiving in journalism, proposing recommendations for improving archiving practices. It concludes by emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift in how journalists approach the preservation of their work in the digital age, calling for further research into effective models for integrating preservation practices into digital news production workflows and the potential of emerging technologies in enhancing digital news preservation.