The methodology of journalism and its professional application in contemporary media are at a crossroads; ‘its institutional structures, its practices, its role and its perception by the public are all in flux’. On the one hand, journalism is an ancient academic ‘textual system’ that has a symbiotic relationship with history and law; ‘a hybrid, interdisciplinary mix of the humanities and the social sciences’. On the other hand, journalism is a profession evolving out of, and alongside communication advancements, ‘created by the industrial and bourgeois political revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries and fully institutionalised in the mass media’. These differences are realised in the convergence of different practises and conventions applied in the ‘third wave’ of the internet, where ‘every part of our lives will inevitably rely on an internet connection’.
Table of Contents
1. The Discipline of Journalism in Democracy
2. The Professionalization of Journalists in Media
3. Online Convergence and Divergence
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This essay explores the critical dialectic of journalism, examining its evolution from a fundamental democratic discipline to an institutionalized media profession, and investigating how these historically distinct yet related concepts are currently converging within the digital landscape of online news media.
- The historical methodology and democratic origins of journalism.
- The impact of professionalization and commercialization on journalistic practices.
- The democratizing and de-professionalizing influence of the internet.
- The rise of citizen journalism and new forms of news production.
- The tension between traditional media hierarchies and networked journalism.
Excerpt from the Book
The Discipline of Journalism in Democracy
Lamble (2004) set forth in documenting the methodology of journalism as a discipline, and what practises and conventions signalled its procreation. At the start of Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), he outlines what is now considered to be the first known practical expression of journalism:
I have made it a principle not to write down the first story that came my way, and not even to be guided by my own general impressions; either I was present myself at the events which I have described or else I heard of them from eye-witnesses whose reports I have checked with as much thoroughness as possible.
Not that even so the truth was easy to discover: different eye-witnesses give different accounts of the same events, speaking out of partiality for one side or the other or from imperfect memories. My work is not a piece of writing designed to meet the taste of an immediate public, but was done to last for ever.” (p. 48/I: 22)
Summary of Chapters
The Discipline of Journalism in Democracy: This chapter traces the origins of journalism as a discipline to classical history, emphasizing the importance of objective, evidence-based reporting and the pursuit of truth as the foundation of its democratic role.
The Professionalization of Journalists in Media: This section examines how journalism evolved into an institutionalized profession influenced by economic interests, market competition, and the shift toward mediated content consumption.
Online Convergence and Divergence: This final chapter analyzes how the digital era has disrupted traditional boundaries, allowing for new modes of production and the emergence of citizen journalism alongside professional media.
Keywords
Journalism, Democracy, Media Profession, Digital Age, Convergence, Divergence, Citizen Journalism, News Practices, Journalistic Conventions, Public Sphere, Media History, Networked Journalism, Objective Reporting, Information Mediation, Global Citizen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on the evolution of journalism, analyzing its shifting role from a democratic discipline to an institutionalized profession in the context of the digital media landscape.
What are the primary themes explored in the text?
Key themes include the historical methodology of journalism, the impact of commercialization, the democratization of news through the internet, and the changing identity of journalists.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to provide a contextual understanding of journalism’s democratic and professional origins to better assess how modern news practices are converging online.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The essay utilizes a literature-based analysis, drawing on historical documentation and contemporary media theories to examine the dialectic between journalism as a discipline and as an institution.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The body covers the historical foundation of journalism, the influence of mass-market commercialization on news production, and the subsequent transformation of these processes via digital and citizen-led news initiatives.
How would one characterize the essential keywords of this paper?
The keywords reflect the intersection of traditional journalistic values, media industry changes, and the technological disruptions brought by the internet.
How does the "Global Citizen" initiative serve as a case study in this text?
It is presented as an example of how modern platforms use technology and direct participation to bypass traditional media, successfully mobilizing citizens for global causes.
What does the text suggest about the future of professional journalism?
The text suggests that professional journalism is currently facing an identity crisis and must adapt to "networked journalism" while potentially diverging into new, unique news forms in the digital ecosystem.
- Quote paper
- Henry Appleyard (Author), 2016, Journalism in Democracy and in Media. Conceptualising News Practices and Conventions going into a Digital Age, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/358128
