There is no doubt, journalism faces challenging times. Since the turn of the millennium, the financial health of the news industry is failing, mainstream audiences are on the decline, and professional authority, credibility and autonomy are eroding. The outlook is bleak and it's understandable that many are pessimistic. But this book argues that we have to rethink journalism fundamentally.

Rather than just focus on the symptoms of the 'crisis of journalism', this collection tries to understand the structural transformation journalism is undergoing. It explores how the news media attempts to combat decreasing levels of trust, how emerging forms of news affect the established journalistic field, and how participatory culture creates new dialogues between journalists and audiences. Crucially, it does not treat these developments as distinct transformations. Instead, it considers how their interrelation accounts for both the tribulations of the news media and the need for contemporary journalism to redefine itself.

Reviews

'Rethinking Journalism is a significant collection of essays, by distinguished scholars of journalism studies, which focuses on the structural changes which are transforming every aspect of journalism. The "rethink" on offer here is fundamental, thought-provoking, but also eloquent. Reviewers risk running short of superlatives.'Bob Franklin, Cardiff University, UK
'Avoiding hyperbolic prophecies of either salvation or doom for the news media, the well-informed insights in this outstanding collection repeatedly bring us back to the fundamental importance of trust in sustaining the social relevance of journalism. As structures are transformed and social roles transposed, the grounded context provided by these top journalism studies scholars is much needed and most welcome.'Jane B. Singer, University of Iowa, USA

'..the anthology....is indeed packed with valuable arguments and intricate insights from a very qualified range of American and European scholars. Rethinking or not, this is a highly valuable collection if one wishes a broad overview of the current debates within academia on the state of journalism.' Henrik Bodker, Digital Journalism

"Rethinking Journalism delivers on its title - it offers a sound argument for the need to redefine journalism at its core: What makes something 'journalism' in today's changing media landscape? If we unchain journalism from its paradigms, what should the emerging structure look like? Each chapter presents a different vision and although consensus may not be possible, the book offers a starting point from which we can begin to build an invigorated news sphere with trust and truth at its core." - Amber Hinsley, Journalism

Book Information
ISBN 9780415697026
Author Chris Peters
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 418g