The Legacy of the Sociology of News Paradigm

Continuities, Changes, and Ironies

Bibliographic Data

ID7162247
AuthorsRisto Kunelius (0000-0003-3511-3710, Media and Communication Studies, University of Helsinki), Silvio Waisbord (0000-0003-0026-7111, George Washington University, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume26
Issue16
Pages2075-2091
Publication date2025-12-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-670X • E-ISSN: 1469-9699
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1461670x.2023.2192296
OpenAlexW4364381582
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited43

The sociology of news (SoN) paradigm laid out the foundations for journalism studies, a growing, dynamic, global and multidisciplinary field of inquiry. It is opportune to reassess its validity and influence, especially considering massive transformations in news and journalism, as well as recent trends in academic scholarship. In this paper, we argue that the SoN remains influential, despite major transformations in the journalism industry and the ways publics engage with news in the digital era. The classic SoN tradition built a theoretical and conceptual scaffolding and produced rich empirical studies that remain relevant. However, at a time of niche scholarship and middle-range theorizing, SoN does not hold the paradigmatic status it had in the past. Furthermore, radical changes in the information landscape and contemporary political trends make it necessary to revisit its original arguments and contributions

Epistemology · Journalism · Media studies · Multidisciplinary approach · Political science · Politics · Publics · Scholarship · Social science · Sociology · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Public Relations and Crisis Communication · Social Media and Politics

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