Push notification as a radio information strategy in the digital age

Abstract

Given the standardization of the smartphone as the dominant device for access to information in the digital environment, Spanish radio stations have assumed a presence on these devices in order to attract listeners and facilitate listening. One of the most visible and efficient utilities is the push notifications delivered through mobile apps. This paper analyzes the design, content, and structure of the alerts sent by the four main talk-radio networks in Spain -SER, COPE, Onda Cero, and RNE- during two non-consecutive periods during the 2016/17 season (January-February and March-April). This study proposes that push notifications have the potential to transfer radio´s immediacy and proximity into the smartphone. This article also discusses the journalistic models of the four radio stations analyzed.