Journal Description
Journalism and Media
Journalism and Media
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on journalism and the media, published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within ESCI (Web of Science), Scopus and other databases.
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 27.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names are published annually in the journal.
Latest Articles
Photoprotection and Skin Cancer on X/Twitter: Analysis of Misinformation, Communication Challenges, and Attitudes in the Spanish Community
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 432-443; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010028 - 21 Mar 2024
Abstract
This paper delves into the challenges faced by scientists to effectively communicate regarding photoprotection and skin cancer as a result of the pervasive, harmful effects of disinforming messages. In order to do so, the Spanish population’s understanding of photoprotection and skin cancer is
[...] Read more.
This paper delves into the challenges faced by scientists to effectively communicate regarding photoprotection and skin cancer as a result of the pervasive, harmful effects of disinforming messages. In order to do so, the Spanish population’s understanding of photoprotection and skin cancer is examined. This paper is as an extension of the COMUNICANCER initiative, the ultimate goal of which is to establish protocols for producing and disseminating accurate content that raises the awareness of skin cancer-related dangers, as well as transferring knowledge on health prevention. Therefore, we have monitored the prevalence of misinformation and lack of information regarding sun photoprotection in Spain, aiming to reflect, ultimately, on the added difficulties faced by the scholarly community to disseminate accurate content in today’s communication environment, which has become even more complex due to the distorting influence of disinformation. Employing a quantitative methodology, the research involved a comprehensive analysis of 2498 Spanish-language tweets related to skin cancer and photoprotection collected between August 2021 and August 2022. The study proves that scientists face a social media landscape, particularly on X/Twitter, where there is not only a lack of comprehensive information on the various dimensions of skin cancer, its prevention, and treatment, but which also serves as a breeding ground for the dissemination of inaccurate and misleading information regarding sun-related health risks and preventive measures. This leads to an urgent need to develop strategies aimed at fostering comprehensive and accurate information dissemination, especially regarding health information, due to the critical effect this can have on people and public health systems.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
More Inclusive and Wider Sources: A Comparative Analysis of Data and Political Journalists on Twitter (Now X) in Germany
by
Benedict Witzenberger and Jürgen Pfeffer
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 412-431; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010027 - 21 Mar 2024
Abstract
Women are underrepresented in many areas of journalistic newsrooms. In this paper, we examine if this established effect persists in the new forms of journalistic communication, namely social media networks. We use mentions, retweets, and hashtags as measures of journalistic amplification and legitimation.
[...] Read more.
Women are underrepresented in many areas of journalistic newsrooms. In this paper, we examine if this established effect persists in the new forms of journalistic communication, namely social media networks. We use mentions, retweets, and hashtags as measures of journalistic amplification and legitimation. Furthermore, we compare two groups of journalists in different stages of development: political and data journalists in Germany in 2021. Our results show that journalists identified as women tend to favor other women journalists in mentions and retweets on Twitter (now called X), compared to men. While both professions are dominated by men, with a high share of tweets authored by men, women mention and retweet other women more than their male colleagues. Female data journalists also leverage different sources than men. In addition, we found data journalists to be more inclusive of non-member sources in their networks compared to political journalists.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data Journalism: The Power of Data in Media and Communication)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Peace Journalism Training for Journalists as a Contribution to PVE in the New Afghanistan
by
Jake Alexander Lynch and Matt Freear
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 397-411; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010026 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
This article presents and discusses results from an exercise in comparative content analysis of news articles about issues of conflict produced by Afghan journalists before and after participating in an internationally sponsored training and mentorship programme in Peace Journalism. The programme was part
[...] Read more.
This article presents and discusses results from an exercise in comparative content analysis of news articles about issues of conflict produced by Afghan journalists before and after participating in an internationally sponsored training and mentorship programme in Peace Journalism. The programme was part of a Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) project, intended to create community resources for resilience, in the information sphere, towards conflict issues contributing to recruitment by non-state armed groups such as Islamic State–Khorasan Province (IS–KP). Peace Journalism is familiar as the basis for media development aid in contexts of conflict; however, its use in an intervention aimed specifically at PVE is relatively new. The results showed that the programme was effective, it is argued, in terms of benefits transferred to and applied by participating journalists. A sample of articles after the training showed a markedly higher Peace Journalism quotient than a baseline sample of articles by the same journalists before it. This suggested that the training and mentorship had successfully stimulated and enabled journalistic agency, taking account of constraints imposed by media structures and wider political and social contexts. The latter have become steadily more onerous under the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) government, in power since August 2021, according to international monitoring organisations. Implications are considered, in light of the findings, for future media development aid to Afghanistan.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Critical Discourse Analysis on Parental Language Ideologies of Bilingual and Multilingual Child-Rearing and Language Education Using Facebook and Internet Forums
by
Yeshan Qian
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 382-396; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010025 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
This study examines the computer-mediated discussion topics of parents who raise bilingual and multilingual children in four active Facebook and Internet forums, and investigates how the language ideologies embedded in the multiple languages being used in these forums are expressed. In this study,
[...] Read more.
This study examines the computer-mediated discussion topics of parents who raise bilingual and multilingual children in four active Facebook and Internet forums, and investigates how the language ideologies embedded in the multiple languages being used in these forums are expressed. In this study, 179 data points, including users’ posts and thread comments, were collected to identify the most frequently discussed topics as part of my description of the database, in order to identify parental ideologies by using values analysis. The five most-discussed topics were selected to make a critical discourse analysis on the narratives to understand the language ideologies regarding the use of multiple languages, and regarding what users of the groups are saying specifically about the languages when analyzing metalinguistic discourses. This study found the most recurrent language ideologies that parents expressed on these online forums were supporting bilingualism/multilingualism, and claim that bilingualism/multilingualism is advantageous. Parents also demonstrate language ideologies supporting keeping languages separate, such as following the one parent one language (OPOL) method, using the minority language at home, and so on. A detailed values analysis with illustrative sample messages from the online posts and comments also more specifically shows the recurrent language ideologies identified, and parents’ views underlying their narratives on their posts and thread comments.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)
Open AccessArticle
Digital Shifts and Ethno-Political Dynamics: Examining Event and Actor Designation in the Cameroon Boko Haram Terrorism Conflict through Print and Online Platforms
by
Willy Stephane Abondo Ndo
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 359-381; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010024 - 14 Mar 2024
Abstract
This study examines how the issue of ethnic identity is approached in Cameroon within the context of combating Boko Haram terrorism, considering the influence of the rise of social media on journalistic practices. The advent of these platforms has fundamentally altered the landscape
[...] Read more.
This study examines how the issue of ethnic identity is approached in Cameroon within the context of combating Boko Haram terrorism, considering the influence of the rise of social media on journalistic practices. The advent of these platforms has fundamentally altered the landscape of media coverage, challenging the traditional monopoly of journalists in shaping the narrative of news. How does this technological shift affect the discourse, especially in the designation of events and actors in the reporting of Boko Haram terrorism in Cameroon, whether in traditional print media or on online platforms like Facebook? Do these designations in print media and Facebook discussion forums indicate shifts in the dynamics of the Cameroonian media sphere (censorship, government repression, etc.), resulting from the emergence of new voices in digital discursive spaces? This study employs a dual analysis, integrating a critical examination of media discourse with a sociological study of journalistic production. The scrutiny of media discourse is based on the investigation of 497 articles published between 1st January and 30 June 2015, sourced from seven Cameroonian newspapers. The online corpus encompasses 450 written publications from three Facebook forums. We aim to establish a dialectical relationship between newspaper discourse, online content, and the sociological foundations shaping their production. The observed quality of designations in the studied forums unveils a surge in hate speech within the ethno-political landscape of Cameroon. While this phenomenon remained manageable through the intervention of state regulatory bodies in traditional media, the unrestrained nature of online content, coupled with the absence of state control, has facilitated the rise of inter-ethnic discursive hatred in politics. In conclusion, this study underscores the challenges stemming from the evolution of journalistic practices in a technological landscape and emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory frameworks to counteract the upswing in hate speech and inter-ethnic tensions within political discourse.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Journalism in Africa: New Trends)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Linguistic Analysis of News Title Strategies in Media Frame—A Case Study of “The Mueller Investigation” in the News Titles of The New York Times and Fox News
by
Hairuo Wang
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 342-358; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010023 - 13 Mar 2024
Abstract
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation had been investigating the relationship between Russian agents and members of Trump’s presidential campaign since July 2016 out of suspicions that the President-elect worked with Russia to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which became
[...] Read more.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation had been investigating the relationship between Russian agents and members of Trump’s presidential campaign since July 2016 out of suspicions that the President-elect worked with Russia to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which became a major news event in American media. The headlines from news media outlets illustrate the strategic use of language to shape opinions and frames. Conducted with the tools of System Functional Linguistics, in particular, the appraisal and ideation resources, based on the framing theory of Journalism Studies, this research aims to answer the two research questions: (1) What frames did The New York Times and Fox News construct in their coverage of the Mueller investigation? (2) What linguistic strategies did The New York Times and Fox News use respectively to construct their frames? It was found that The New York Times uses fewer evaluative tools than Fox News, but the expression of attitudes draws on the context in which they are presented and evaluation is expressed in a more sophisticated and refined manner. Fox News is more straightforward without hiding its own opinion and biases. This research is important in further understanding of the American media and their linguistic strategies in forming manipulative frames.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Brazilian Digital Journalism: Historical Context and Innovative Processes
by
Moisés Costa Pinto and Suzana Oliveira Barbosa
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 325-341; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010022 - 12 Mar 2024
Abstract
This article investigates the historical uses and types of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and resources in Brazilian journalistic products. It is a work anchored in critically analyzing the literature on the subject, mapping and observing cases, seeking to identify uses and innovative processes,
[...] Read more.
This article investigates the historical uses and types of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and resources in Brazilian journalistic products. It is a work anchored in critically analyzing the literature on the subject, mapping and observing cases, seeking to identify uses and innovative processes, and analyzing AI projects for journalism. A search was carried out in web repositories, specifically Google, Google Scholar, and Scopus, using the terms: “inteligência artificial” + “jornalismo”, “bot + jornalismo”, “Geração de linguagem natural [NLG] + jornalismo”, “aprendizado de máquina [machine learning] + jornalismo”, and “algoritmos + jornalismo”. The corpus analysis (N = 45) includes the evaluation of the impacts of AI on the production and distribution of news in the context of Brazilian digital journalism. We try to answer questions about the uses of databases, approximation with platforms, uses of shared codes, connections with other Ais, and sources of funding, and whether they are backend or frontend initiatives. In a parallel investigation, we try to identify if Brazilian newsrooms are officially using ChatGPT, a generative AI. The findings point to advances in using low-cost and low-impact AI, with the predominance of bots. The great availability of this kind of AI in web repositories is believed to facilitate native digital media to incorporate innovative processes in using these technologies.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Journalism, Media, and Artificial Intelligence: Let Us Define the Journey)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Innovation in Digital Media beyond Technology: The Audience-Centered Approach and Pending Challenges
by
Sara Pérez-Seijo and Alba Silva-Rodríguez
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 311-324; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010021 - 06 Mar 2024
Abstract
In the digital scenario, where news media organizations face technological disruption, innovation has been identified as key to the survival of journalism. While legacy media, rooted in a traditional mindset, have reacted more slowly to the changes that have occurred, digital native media
[...] Read more.
In the digital scenario, where news media organizations face technological disruption, innovation has been identified as key to the survival of journalism. While legacy media, rooted in a traditional mindset, have reacted more slowly to the changes that have occurred, digital native media have been better able to engage with audiences and adapt to new distribution platforms. Given this scenario, this article examined the perception of experts in the field of communication and journalism—both journalists and scholars—regarding the approach to journalistic innovation in digital media (N = 11). Specifically, this research sought to identify areas where the need for innovation is perceived to be greater and to determine the pending challenges in this process of digital innovation. To address these purposes, a descriptive qualitative methodology was applied, using the focus group technique. The findings revealed that an audience-centered approach to innovation is proposed to escape technological determinism and respond effectively to the needs and demands of audiences. This perspective requires embracing diversity in content, advocating for new formats and narratives, and adapting to consumption patterns on new platforms. There is a perception of incremental innovation in digital media, focusing on the introduction of small improvements and calling for a slowdown in processes for greater effectiveness. However, the experts noted a lack of pedagogy within organizations, of collaboration with key sectors of the industry, of investment in human capital, of qualitative audience measurement methods, and even of innovation in business models.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Roles of Journalism and Disruptive Media: A Challenging Future)
Open AccessArticle
Together against “the Truth Gap”: A Proposal to Fight Invisibility and Misinformation Affecting Women
by
Beatriz Martínez Rodríguez
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 298-310; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010020 - 05 Mar 2024
Abstract
In 2020, the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) marked its silver anniversary by releasing its sixth report on the representation of women in the global media landscape, and in 2021, the NGO Plan International unveiled the tenth edition of its report “State of
[...] Read more.
In 2020, the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) marked its silver anniversary by releasing its sixth report on the representation of women in the global media landscape, and in 2021, the NGO Plan International unveiled the tenth edition of its report “State of the World’s Girls: The Truth Gap”. The study focused on how misinformation impacts equal opportunities for girls, adolescents, and young women worldwide, and proposed strategies to combat the “truth gap”. These examples showcase the collective efforts made in recent decades by professionals, academia, institutions, NGOs, and activists to enhance the state of information globally. The aspiration is ambitious, aiming to make information more transparent, accessible, and inclusive, fostering equality, truth-seeking, and the visibility of women, young people, and rural populations. However, the findings from the GMMP reports, as well as the analysis conducted by Plan International and numerous other works, underscore that despite evident social changes worldwide—particularly in the educational, labor, and social realms for women—access to truthful and high-quality information remains elusive. Simultaneously, studies reveal a declining public trust, especially among young people, in traditional media, a shift to alternative information sources, and a deterioration in the quality benchmarks of the journalism profession. Journalism, a pursuit of truth from sources to the public, has historically been and should remain a pillar upholding democracy and freedom. This article employs a qualitative case study methodology to analyze the best practices proposed across various domains to safeguard information quality. Special attention is given to initiatives that aim to involve women and young people in the collective effort against misinformation.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Roles of Journalism and Disruptive Media: A Challenging Future)
Open AccessArticle
Social Media Metrics as Predictors of Publishers’ Website Traffic
by
Ioannis Angelou, Vasileios Katsaras, Dimitris Kourkouridis and Andreas Veglis
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 281-297; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010019 - 04 Mar 2024
Abstract
The relationship between legacy media and social media has become a crucial topic in the discussions about new media. The debate intensified after Facebook announced a reduction in news posts in user timelines in 2018. In the era of the “Like economy”, social
[...] Read more.
The relationship between legacy media and social media has become a crucial topic in the discussions about new media. The debate intensified after Facebook announced a reduction in news posts in user timelines in 2018. In the era of the “Like economy”, social media holds significant economic value, prompting media outlets to adopt a “let’s try and see” approach to reach new audiences and increase their online advertising share. The present study, based on a large-scale survey of 50 publishers’ websites, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts, deepens our understanding of the relationship between legacy and social media as indicators of audience feedback. Through the lens of network gatekeeping and reciprocal journalism theories, it contributes to the development of new evaluation tools that predict publishers’ website traffic based on social media metrics. Results show that Facebook and Twitter metrics can predict publishers’ website traffic indicators at a rate exceeding 60%. This study underscores the importance of social media metrics in evaluating media practices and the need to shift research toward specific indicators to understand the relationship between legacy and social media.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Situationship between Broadcasting and Streaming Platforms: Exploring the New Landscape of Media Usage)
Open AccessArticle
Influence of Radio Messages on the Awareness and Adoption of Malaria Preventive Measures among Rural Dwellers in South-West Nigeria
by
Felix Olajide Talabi and Lydia Oko-Epelle
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 271-280; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010018 - 03 Mar 2024
Abstract
This paper examined the influence of radio messages on the awareness and adoption of malaria preventive measures among rural dwellers in South-west Nigeria. The study investigated the participants’ frequency of exposure to radio messages on malaria preventive measures, message adoption, and attitudes towards
[...] Read more.
This paper examined the influence of radio messages on the awareness and adoption of malaria preventive measures among rural dwellers in South-west Nigeria. The study investigated the participants’ frequency of exposure to radio messages on malaria preventive measures, message adoption, and attitudes towards adopting measures. We used a multiple-stage sampling technique to select 48 participants from Aye North, Orile-Oshodi, Ofada, Owobaale/kasumu, Isale Oba II, and Ilepa II. The findings showed that the participants were exposed to messages on malaria preventive measures through radio broadcasts; however, exposure did not necessarily influence message adoption. Instead, a positive attitude towards the message influenced adoption. The study concluded that there is a need for radio stations to engage people’s participation daily in health-related issues to achieve the desired change in health behaviour. The authors recommend that radio stations provide time to create daily health messages that influence people’s engagement to achieve the desired change in health behaviour.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Knowledge and Use of the 2011 Freedom of Information Act among Journalists in Nigeria
by
Ogemdi Uchenna Eze
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 255-270; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010017 - 23 Feb 2024
Abstract
This study examined the knowledge and use of the 2011 Freedom of Information Act among journalists in Nigeria. The hierarchy of influences model provided the theoretical lens, which guided the study. Through a survey of 313 Nigerian journalists, the study found that there
[...] Read more.
This study examined the knowledge and use of the 2011 Freedom of Information Act among journalists in Nigeria. The hierarchy of influences model provided the theoretical lens, which guided the study. Through a survey of 313 Nigerian journalists, the study found that there was a high level of knowledge of the Act among Nigerian journalists. Nigerian journalists perceived the Act as a useful journalistic tool, and they often used it for such purposes as confirming facts, writing controversial topics and to gain insight into the inner working of government. The study showed that, in the use of the Act in journalistic duties, Nigerian journalists were confronted with the challenges of non-integration of the provisions of the Act in the operations of government agencies, adversarial disposition of government institutions towards journalists and the pervasive culture of secrecy. The study established that knowledge of the Act positively correlated with its use. The implications of the findings were discussed.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Journalism in Africa: New Trends)
Open AccessArticle
“Putin’s War of Choice”: U.S. Propaganda and the Russia–Ukraine Invasion
by
Aaron Hyzen and Hilde Van den Bulck
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 233-254; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010016 - 21 Feb 2024
Abstract
The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 ignited propaganda efforts from the U.S. executive branch of government and the U.S. media, as the country tried to position itself towards the war not just in the eyes of its citizens but of
[...] Read more.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 ignited propaganda efforts from the U.S. executive branch of government and the U.S. media, as the country tried to position itself towards the war not just in the eyes of its citizens but of the entire world as part of its geopolitical power position. A comparative quantitative and qualitative analysis of official U.S. communications and U.S. partisan media coverage in the first week of the invasion aims to uncover how the U.S. government set the agenda and framed the events, and to what extent the media copied or diverged from this agenda-setting and framing. The results suggest a narrow focus and distinct framing on the part of the U.S. government, partly taken over by partisan media. The latter also touched on other topics that fit media logic and provided some counter-frames in line with their ideological positions, yet overall confirmed the dominant framing of the war as unjust, unprovoked and premeditated, as Putin’s choice, and the position of the U.S. as the leader of the free world and defender of democracy.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Mainstreaming and Weaponizing Satire in Nigerian Journalism Practice
by
Jude Nwakpoke Ogbodo, Emmanuel Chike Onwe, Blessing Ewa-Ibe and Emem Oshionebo
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 219-232; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010015 - 16 Feb 2024
Abstract
Satire has gained increased scholarly traction across journalism and related fields. The genre increases the entertainment value of journalism and broadens its appeal. Satirical news also serves as a catalyst to pique the curiosity of ordinarily disinterested audiences in news, particularly political news.
[...] Read more.
Satire has gained increased scholarly traction across journalism and related fields. The genre increases the entertainment value of journalism and broadens its appeal. Satirical news also serves as a catalyst to pique the curiosity of ordinarily disinterested audiences in news, particularly political news. However, there are some concerns emerging from the weaponization of satire in this contemporary period, which is characterised by the proliferation of fake news and misinformation. From the Nigerian context, there have been minimal empirical spotlights placed on satirical journalism. We employed semi-structured interviews to explore the views of Nigerian print satirical journalists and cartoonists. Our finding broadens scholarship in the evolving area of satirical journalism. It demonstrates how the mainstreaming and the weaponization of satire have changed the texture of satire in Nigerian journalism. Although ethical concerns are admitted, we argue that cartoonists and satirical journalists have a responsibility to adjust to the dynamic media ecology, where satire continuously provides insightful critique and entertaining commentaries.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satire and Journalism in Global Perspective)
Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
“Part of the Team”: In-House Sports Reporters Navigating the Journalistic Periphery
by
Gregory P. Perreault, Daniel Nölleke, Monica Crawford and Ella Hackett
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 203-218; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010014 - 16 Feb 2024
Abstract
In recent years, the sports communication landscape has seen changes in terms of who occupies the role of sports reporter. In-house reporters, or sports communicators employed by specific clubs, teams, or leagues, now contribute content to the sports media landscape. This study explores
[...] Read more.
In recent years, the sports communication landscape has seen changes in terms of who occupies the role of sports reporter. In-house reporters, or sports communicators employed by specific clubs, teams, or leagues, now contribute content to the sports media landscape. This study explores the complicated relationship between in-house reporters’ self-perceived professional identities and in-houses reporters’ perceptions of their audiences through the lens of Bourdieusian field theory. As such, it sees in-house reporters as peripheral actors negotiating the boundaries of the sports journalism field. Through semi-structured interviews with 28 in-house sports reporters from the United States and Austria, our findings suggest that in-house reporters conceive of themselves both in relation to professional journalism and as members of the sports establishment. Furthermore, they note an ambiguous relationship to their audience, which is both reliant upon the reporters’ work, and, at times, highly critical of it.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Graduation Resources in News Discourse: Calls for the British Museum to Return Chinese Cultural Artefacts
by
Yau Ni Wan
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 189-202; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010013 - 01 Feb 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Using a discourse approach, this study examines online news and opinion pieces about calls for the British Museum to return Chinese artefacts. We examine the interpersonal meanings conveyed by the linguistic choices made in these texts. This study uses the appraisal system in
[...] Read more.
Using a discourse approach, this study examines online news and opinion pieces about calls for the British Museum to return Chinese artefacts. We examine the interpersonal meanings conveyed by the linguistic choices made in these texts. This study uses the appraisal system in the systemic functional linguistic (SFL) framework to examine how news discourse addresses the issue and constructs interpersonal meanings. Graduation resources, as a subcategory of appraisal system, can underpin the degree of meanings and perspectives, allowing writers to adjust the gradability of attitudinal meanings conveyed to readers. This research first examines how the writer’s voice is embedded in graduation resources, and later, how these graduation resources are used in online news articles calling for the return of the artefacts. This study also examines how online newspapers covered a short film by vloggers called “Escape from the British Museum”, which sparked massive social media reactions, offering new perspectives on how social media and traditional news organisations interact to construct meanings through language. The results show that quantification and fulfilment (completion) resources are the two most common subcategories of graduation resources. The findings shed light on the language strategies used in news and social media discourse, as well as the interpersonal meanings behind such requests for cultural heritage repatriation.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
The Age of the Expert—COVID-19, Expertise, and Conflicts of Interest in Austrian Media Reporting
by
Johannes Scherling and Anouschka Foltz
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 163-188; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010012 - 01 Feb 2024
Abstract
Background: Experts are a favorite source of information in the news media as they have the ability to provide balanced and authoritative comments on important issues. However, two factors cast doubt on the extent to which such experts can actually provide balanced information:
[...] Read more.
Background: Experts are a favorite source of information in the news media as they have the ability to provide balanced and authoritative comments on important issues. However, two factors cast doubt on the extent to which such experts can actually provide balanced information: conflicts of interest and areas of expertise. In this paper, we analyze the use of expert voices during the COVID pandemic in two Austrian broadsheet papers. Methods: We examine the use of reporting verbs employed to indicate the journalists’ stance towards the expert comments as well as the relationship of those comments to the experts’ fields of expertise and to any potential conflicts of interest. Results: Our analysis shows that the media uncritically reported experts that had considerable conflicts of interest, while others were permitted to comment on topics far outside their particular fields. Conclusions: In the absence of journalistic scrutiny, distance, and context, both of these practices are likely to have led audiences to take the experts’ comments at face value and therefore to have embraced unbalanced information that amplified official narratives, to the exclusion of alternative voices.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Role of Media and Journalism during COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges)
Open AccessArticle
Information Disorders in the Chilean and Spanish Press: A Comparison Using Thematic Modelling
by
Gema Alcolea-Díaz, Noelia Zurro-Antón and Luis Cárcamo-Ulloa
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 148-162; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010011 - 27 Jan 2024
Abstract
This article focuses on the role of information disorders in media coverage of cancer as a growing public health problem on both sides of the Atlantic. Taking the examples of Chile and Spain, we analysed news (n = 5522) published by major
[...] Read more.
This article focuses on the role of information disorders in media coverage of cancer as a growing public health problem on both sides of the Atlantic. Taking the examples of Chile and Spain, we analysed news (n = 5522) published by major digital newspaper outlets in both countries between 2020 and 2022 to explore the elements of contextual information disorders, the over- and/or under-representation of mentions of sources and actors, and major latent topics in both journalistic systems. To achieve these objectives, we employed topic modelling and coherence techniques. The results revealed a high number of references to institutional, administrative, and political sources and actors, followed by mentions of issuers of strategic communication and, less frequently, patients’ associations. The discourses differed in their underlying topics, with risk factors and psycho-social factors being the most frequently addressed in the Spanish press and geo-political and institutional health contexts being the most frequently mentioned in the Chilean press. The topic of advances in research, however, was common in both journalistic systems. This article closes by identifying future challenges in health communication.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Roles of Journalism and Disruptive Media: A Challenging Future)
Open AccessArticle
What Is Denialism? An Examination and Classification of Definitional Approaches and Relevant Actors
by
Alexander Godulla, Daniel Seibert and Tim Klute
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 135-147; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010010 - 26 Jan 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Nowadays, virtually all discussions of social relevance involve actors negating the scientific consensus and disrupting the public discourse with so-called alternative facts. So far, this phenomenon, referred to as denialism, has encompassed different meanings and definitions that vary depending on the field of
[...] Read more.
Nowadays, virtually all discussions of social relevance involve actors negating the scientific consensus and disrupting the public discourse with so-called alternative facts. So far, this phenomenon, referred to as denialism, has encompassed different meanings and definitions that vary depending on the field of application, thereby making correct usage difficult. This paper therefore aims to develop an understanding of denialism by examining how the existing interdisciplinary literature is defining the term. Using an integrative systematic literature analysis, the interdisciplinary field of research is examined. This allows not only for the derivation of a definition of denialism but also for the identification and categorisation of denialist actors and the discussion of potential coping strategies. Finally, the definition integrated in this paper describes denialism from a communication studies point of view as a phenomenon that is characterised by the use of certain rhetorical tactics, a systematic and targeted approach, and an underlying motivation.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessEssay
Caricatures, Canards, and Guignols: Satirical Journalism in France from the French Revolution to Fifth Republic
by
Matthew Fraser
Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 123-134; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010009 - 25 Jan 2024
Abstract
The special status of satire in France is examined historically from the French Revolution to the Fifth Republic. It is argued that satire in France functions with a normative reference to the secular, universalist Jacobin values (hostile to church, aristocracy, and monarchy) that
[...] Read more.
The special status of satire in France is examined historically from the French Revolution to the Fifth Republic. It is argued that satire in France functions with a normative reference to the secular, universalist Jacobin values (hostile to church, aristocracy, and monarchy) that underpinned the foundation of the French Republic. Since the French Revolution, French journalistic satire has, in different ways, perpetrated what can broadly be categorized as either lèse majesté or blasphemy. Given France’s turbulent history over the past two centuries, satire has frequently been used as an instrument to reaffirm the Republic’s values vis-à-vis authoritarian regimes with different characteristics. The symbolic connection between satire and the French Republic’s founding mythology has conferred upon the idiom a special status that endures today. The Fifth Republic, however, has presented a unique challenge to satire because of its authoritarian institutional character with personal power in the hands of the head-of-state. Three case studies are examined: the newspapers Le Canard Enchaîné and Charlie Hebdo and the satirical television program Les Guignols de l’Info. Today satire has found expression on online social networks in the form of memes, gifs, and videos. This marks a shift from satire produced by journalistic elites to more diffused and socially distributed satirical mockery.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Satire and Journalism in Global Perspective)
Highly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Journalism and Media
Data Journalism: The Power of Data in Media and Communication
Guest Editors: Andreas Veglis, Charalampos BratsasDeadline: 31 March 2024
Special Issue in
Journalism and Media
Journalism in Africa: New Trends
Guest Editor: Folu OgundimuDeadline: 30 April 2024
Special Issue in
Journalism and Media
Journalism, Media, and Artificial Intelligence: Let Us Define the Journey
Guest Editors: Rashid Mehmood, João CanavilhasDeadline: 31 May 2024
Special Issue in
Journalism and Media
Media Literacy and Child Development: Exploring Prosocial and Educational Media for Healthy Media Practices
Guest Editors: Sara Pereira, Sarah PilaDeadline: 25 June 2024
Topical Collections
Topical Collection in
Journalism and Media
Role of Media and Journalism during COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges
Collection Editor: María Luisa Humanes