A former daily journalist is asking current regional journalists for help with research she is conducting.

Rebecca Whittington, ex-head of news at the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post, is studying part-time for a PhD looking at the impacts of digital reporting tools on regional newspapers in the UK.

As part of her research, Rebecca, pictured, has collected regional newspaper job advertisements over the past four years, and plans to analyse them for the prevalence of digital and traditional skill keywords.

She is now looking for 100 participants to complete a confidential and anonymous survey on what skills and tools are being used by journalists working in regional newsrooms.

Rebecca told HTFP: “I’m now in the final stages of my fieldwork, which essentially is cross referencing the skills and tools highlighted in the advertisements and takes some inspiration from initial findings from my fieldwork to see if journalists working throughout the UK are using similar skills and tools.

“The survey is open to all journalists currently working for regional daily and weekly newspapers and their affiliated online platforms. It has been completed so far by journalists working for a number of publishers – including the big three and a variety of smaller groups or independent titles. I have had responses from people ranging from trainee reporters through to group editor level.”

“However, for this element of my research to be viable – e.g. for the figures to count as well as the feedback and reasoning given by individual participants – I need to get at least 100 participants. I totally understand how precious time is for working journalists – but if anyone thinks they can spare 20 minutes in their day or evening to complete the survey I would be hugely grateful.

“Some people might be put off because they are worried that their responses will be made public – but I want to reassure participants that responses will be made anonymous prior to analysis and nobody will be identified in the resulting research project.”

Anybody willing to take part or interested to know more about the project can get in touch with Rebecca on Twitter at @RebeccaWMedia, by email at [email protected] or on Facebook via Rebecca Whittington Media.