Researching Journalists, Journalists' Research, Journalism as Research

Abstract

An effective free press has been considered an essential feature of enlightened civil society since the 18th century. An independent ‘fourth estate’ has been considered a key component of Western, liberal democracy, ensuring an informed citizenry and acting as a watchdog against the abuses of government or other entrenched interests. Yet how relevant are such Enlightenment ideals in a 21st century media landscape dominated by trans-national media conglomerates where the rise of online resources, the blogosphere and Web 2.0 are widely seen as leading to the decline of both the power and the prestige of the traditional news media? This seminar brings together both information and journalism researchers, educators and practitioners to provide insights into the changing nature of journalists’ professional practice. Topics covered will include: journalists’ use of personal sources to add credibility to their story and add human interest to engage the reader; the impact of the new digital environments and technologies on journalists’ information discovery and analysis; the impact of new digital social networking sites on journalistic practice; and journalism as research.