News agencies have great potential even amidst the tumult of media market changes, but they need to adapt quickly to stay relevant, writes the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism fellow Jairo Mejia, of the news agency EFE. Mejia went through contemporary literature on the topic and interviewed staff members at three news agencies to map the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry.

With the proliferation of mobile communication technology and social media, news agencies no longer hold a monopoly over the fastest mass communication of breaking news. This requires the news agencies take up new strategies of value creation, Mejia writes. This could include producing longer, more insightful pieces; curating social media content; and fostering more direct connection with the audience to build up a brand.

Mejia’s study was published as a RISJ fellowship paper in early March. It can be freely accessed here.