News with a View: Essays on the Eclipse of Objectivity in Modern Journalism

by Burton St. John III (Editor), Kirsten A. Johnson (Editor)

Overview

Modern mainstream journalism faces a very real disturbance of its foundational premise that credible news is gathered and articulated from an objective stance. This volume offers new examinations of how the traditional notion of objectivity is changing as professional journalists grapple with a rapidly evolving news terrain--one that has become increasingly crowded by those with no journalistic credentials. Examining historical antecedents, current dilemmas, international aspects, and theoretical considerations, contributors make the case that the journalist's impulse to hold onto objectivity, and to ignore the increasing subjectivities to which citizens are attuned, actually contributes to the news media's disconnect from today's news consumer. Revealing how traditional journalism needs to incorporate "post-objective" stances, these essays stimulate further thought and conversation about news with a view in both theory and practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786465897
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	03/29/2012
Pages:	274
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Burton St. John III is a professor of public relations at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He has authored and edited books on journalism, public relations, and propaganda. He has also published in the Journal of Communication Management, Journal of Mass Media Ethics, Journalism Studies, Public Relations Review, and Journalism Practice. Kirsten A. Johnson, an associate professor and chair of the department of communications at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, teaches broadcast news writing and television production. She has published in Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly and Learning, Media, and Technology.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Challenges for Journalism in a Post Objective Age Burton St. John III Kirsten A. Johnson 1

Part I Historical Perspectives 9

1 "Gagged, Mincing Neutrality": Horace Greeley on Advocacy Journalism in the Early Years of the Penny Press Daxton R. "Chip" Stewart 11

2 The Pride and Reward of Falisfication: Post Objectivity as Post Responsibility Aaron Barlow 26

3 A New Model of Objectivity: Investigative Reporting in the Twentieth Century Gerry Lanosga 42

Part II Contemporary Examinations 59

4 Conversational Journalism and Journalist Audience Relations: New Rules, New Voices Doreen Marchionni 61

5 The Sociality of News Sociology: Examining User Participation and News Selection Practices in Social Media News Sites Sharon Meraz 78

6 Why Contribute? Motivations and Role Conceptions among Citizen Journalists Deborah S. Chung Seungahn Nah 97

7 Morality, the News Media, and the Public: An Examination of Comment Forums on U.S. Daily Newspaper Websites Serena Carpenter Robin Blom 116

Part III Global Considerations 133

8 Post Objectivity and Regional Russian Journalism Wilson Lowrey Elina Erzikova 135

9 Journalism from the Perspective of "We": How Group Membership Shapes the Role of the Community Journalist John A. Hatcher 153

10 Engagement as an Emerging Norm in International News Agency Work John Jirik 170

Part IV Objectivity and Theory 187

11 Why Objectivity Is Impossible in Networked Journalism and What This Means for the Future of News David Michael Ryfe 189

12 Disrespecting the Doxa: The Daily Show Critique of CNN's Struggle to Balance Detachment and Connectedness Burton St. John III 205

13 Gatekeeping in the Digital Age: A New Model for a Post Objective World Kirsten A. Johnson 222

14 Contemporary News Production and Consumption: Implications for Selective Exposure, Group Polarization, and Credibility Ethan Hartsell Miriam J. Metzger Andrew J. Flanagin 238

About the Contributors 259

Index 263

Editorial Reviews

Recommended”—Choice; “essays examine how the traditional idea of objectivity is changing in journalism as professional journalists deal with the changing news environment”—Reference & Research Book News.

From the Publisher

"essays examine how the traditional idea of objectivity is changing in journalism as professional journalists deal with the changing news environment"

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