In-Between News: Where and how we talk about journalism in a fractured society

The relationship between journalism and the public is explored in Talking about Journalism, which emphasizes the ways in which we publicly discuss what journalism is and what it does. It reconsiders the parameters of this conversation by examining how journalists and the public talk about journalism online, in digital alternative media, and in (hyper)active audience forums and comment sections. The book brings forward theories of publics and counterpublics for our digital age and explores new frontiers in terms of where and how journalism is being defined and redefined.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc

Journalism, as a field of study, delves into the intricate relationship between journalism and the public, treating it as a dynamic and boundary-pushing interaction. It explores the continuous redefinition of journalism through public discourse, where the ways we perceive and discuss journalism shape its understanding and practices. Conceptually, journalism discourse revolves around metadiscourse, which refers to the conversations journalists engage in within news content about journalism itself. These metadiscourses serve as a means of constructing public meanings about journalism, its role, and its self-correction mechanisms when it deviates from its ideals.

The purpose of this book is to outline how examining metadiscourses enables us to observe the ongoing definition of journalism in the open, through the interactions between journalists and members of the public. It reconsiders the boundaries of this conversation, which historically occurred in print media, trade magazines, and similar spaces. Today, journalism discourse has expanded online, within digital alternative media, and in (hyper)active audience forums and comment sections. This expansion offers new avenues for understanding how journalism is defined in the very spaces where it is discussed and for witnessing the interplay between journalism, the public, and various counter-publics.

This title delves into unexplored territories regarding the location and methods of journalism's definition and redefinition. It does so while advancing theories of publics and counterpublics in the digital age. By exploring these dynamics, the book contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving nature of journalism and its impact on society.

ISBN-13: 9781433197581
Edition number: New ed