SCImago Media Rankings (SMR): situation and evolution of the digital reputation of the media worldwide

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of the first global ranking that assesses the status and evolution of the media according to their digital reputation. We analyzed 4,541 general information digital newspapers, both legacy and native, published in 200 countries and in more than 80 languages. Methodologically, we applied a new Digital Reputation Indicator (DRI) as a composite evaluation and measurement tool, weighting web metrics from globally recognized, balanced, and validated sources such as Semrush, Ahrefs, and Majestic. This establishes the foundations of the SCImago Media Rankings (SMR) as a balanced watchdog resource for analysis of the digital transformation of the media and as an international catalog of journalistic websites, with a consensus-based and homologous classification and typification that can be applied to different countries. The main conclusion of the first three quarterly waves, carried out between September 2022 and March 2023, is that there is a direct relationship between the degree of socioeconomic and cultural development of the countries and the digital reputation achieved by their media outlets in the ranking. Additionally, the influence of language is notable as a determining factor in the positioning of the media in the ranking. The top positions are occupied by reference digital newspapers located in Western countries of the Northern Hemisphere, especially those in the English language.