Advantages and disadvantages of having a lab in media organizations

Abstract

At the current crossroads of the media and journalism, innovation is emerging not only as a "nice thing to have", but as an urgent and peremptory need. In this context, innovation labs are seen as a structured and somewhat privileged space. However, a review of the academic and professional literature on the subject also reveals voices that are critical of these spaces. Given this situation, we ask ourselves what their ad-vantages and disadvantages are. To answer this question, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 experts in the field for two reasons. Firstly, because they themselves are linked to a lab. Secondly, because they are highly qualified ex-perts in journalistic innovation in its various forms, and academic experts as well. The results confirm that these laboratories offer considerable advantages, along with disadvantages, which can potentially cause operational problems. The latter do not invalidate the model, but they do force media outlets to use it in a reflexive way. This confirms the instrumental nature of these spaces, but also the fact that they are not really necessary, and their presence is not sufficient.