No news agency operates in Iceland, and use of agency material is, therefore, primarily for foreign news coverage. Most interviewees acknowledged the importance of news agencies (Reuters, AP, etc.) in the working process, but did say that they increasingly rely more on other sources and media outlets. Several interviewees discussed this in relation to it being much easier to access information online than before. None of the media outlets have permanent foreign correspondents. The importance of news agencies was particularly emphasised by the broadcast journalists, and the smaller outlets seem to use them the least. The public broadcaster participates in a network organised by Nordic PBS broadcasters and in the European Broadcasting Union network.
Concerning public relations material, interviewees mentioned that it was certainly used more than before. However, it does not usually change how they used sources in their work. Some interviewees mentioned that public relations material does clearly find its way to the main online news websites, but in general, journalists said it does not change how they work.
Content exchange with partners and other media has increased in recent years. For example, one online-only news company regularly produces news and current affairs programmes for a small private television channel and publishes content in collaboration with a weekly newspaper. The public broadcaster has collaborated on several occasions with private media organisations on investigative projects. Icelandic news media have also worked with international news media on larger investigative stories, such as the Panama Papers. Individual journalists are active within international journalism networks such as the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
