News After Trump: Journalism's Crisis of Relevance in a Changed Media Culture

The book News After Trump examines the resentment, wariness, cynicism, and hatred toward the press that has been simmering for years, and rethinks the relevance of journalism by recognizing the limits of objectivity and the way it positions certain actors as authority figures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Donald Trump, a prominent figure in recent years, has emerged as a vocal critic of the media, often portrayed as a threat to its integrity. However, his relentless attacks stem from a complex mix of resentment, wariness, cynicism, and even hatred toward the press. In a time when journalism held a central position in reporting and interpreting significant events, there was a general consensus-based news environment. However, the collapse of this environment has sparked a moment of reckoning within and outside journalism, particularly as professional news outlets struggle to remain solvent.

Alternative voices, both within and outside the industry, compete for attention and often criticize the work and motivations of journalists. At the same time, a growing number of journalists are questioning their core norms and practices, raising concerns about the relevance of journalism as an institutional form of knowledge production.

In his book, "News After Trump," author James Curran delves into the struggles over journalism in the post-Trump era. He examines the relationship between Trump and the press, conducting extensive interviews with journalists and analyzing news events, editorials, social media, and trade-press discussions. Through this comprehensive account, Curran rethinks the relevance of journalism by recognizing the limits of objectivity and the ways in which journalism positions certain actors as authority figures while rendering the less socially powerful invisible or flawed.

One of the central themes of the book is the ethos of detachment that has characterized much of journalism in recent years. Curran argues that this detachment has prevented vital questions about how journalism connects to its audiences, how it creates enduring value in people's lives, and how diversity needs to be understood and addressed. He suggests that journalism must move beyond a narrow focus on facts and statistics and strive to engage with its audiences on a deeper level, providing context, perspective, and empathy.

Curran also challenges the notion that journalism is solely about reporting the truth. He recognizes that truth is subjective and contextual, and that journalists must navigate a complex web of biases, perspectives, and agendas. He argues that journalists must be more transparent about their processes and sources, and that they must be willing to challenge their own assumptions and biases.

Furthermore, Curran explores the role of social media in shaping the public's perception of journalism and the media. He argues that social media has created a platform for alternative voices and perspectives, but it has also contributed to the spread of misinformation and fake news. He suggests that journalists must be more vigilant in verifying their sources and fact-checking their reporting, and that they must engage with their audiences on social media in a more meaningful and substantive way.

In conclusion, "News After Trump" is a thought-provoking and timely book that offers a critical examination of the struggles over journalism in the post-Trump era. Through an extensive accounting of Trump's relationship with the press and in-depth interviews with journalists and textual analysis of news events, editorials, social media, and trade-press discussions, Curran rethinks the relevance of journalism by recognizing the limits of objectivity and the ways in which journalism positions certain actors as authority figures while rendering the less socially powerful invisible or flawed. The book challenges the notion that journalism is solely about reporting the truth and encourages journalists to engage with their audiences on a deeper level, providing context, perspective, and empathy. It also highlights the role of social media in shaping the public's perception of journalism and the media and calls for journalists to be more vigilant in verifying their sources and fact-checking their reporting. By doing so, journalism can play a vital role in shaping a more informed and engaged public in a rapidly changing media landscape.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 237 x 238 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197550359