Key Aspects of Media Production

The production of information and entertainment differs from other industries in multiple ways. It relies on the interaction of highly specialized, idiosyncratic actors, it is under constant pressure to innovate, and it is confronted with a number of uncertainties and risks, which has consequences for the management of media production. This article provides an overview of the characteristics of procurement, innovation, and risk management in the media industry and of how they are evaluated in organizational theory. Special attention is paid to developments enhanced by digitization, such as (virtual) collaborative production, newsroom convergence, data-driven journalism, and process management in audiovisual production.