With the growth of the Internet and social media, the way news is both produced and consumed has changed rapidly in recent years.

Demand for traditional print and broadcast media is continually decreasing, with the knock-on effect that for many outlets, the financial resources required to maintain foreign bureaus, high-quality editorial staff and specialist journalists are all decreasing.

And with digital-only outlets increasingly reliant on click-based advertising systems to generate revenue, the incentive for journalists to pursue “viral friendly” stories is increasing, even among what would traditionally have been viewed as reputable media outlets.[/p