Constructive Journalism as an Adaptation to a Changing Media Environment

Bibliographic Data

ID7500928
AuthorsAlexander Mäder (0000-0003-0651-2579, Hochschule der Medien (Stuttgart Media University), Stuttgart, Germany, corresponding author), Lars Rinsdorf (0000-0002-1037-1126, Hochschule der Medien (Stuttgart Media University), Stuttgart, Germany)
Year2022
Volume24
Issue3
Pages329-346
Publication date2022-12-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-670X • E-ISSN: 1469-9699
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1461670x.2022.2159859
OpenAlexW4313418634
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited42

How can constructive journalism subscribe to established standards of journalism and still offer something new to the field? This paper explores the possibility that constructive journalism looks for better ways to implement the standards in a changing media environment. A case in point is the partial loss of the gatekeeper role in digital journalism. Here, journalism tries to show that it is still relevant by always finding something to criticize. But this may cause readers to turn away because, even though the news informs them about important points of disagreement, it does not outline how the debate might move on. Constructive journalism can be taken to suggest that journalists should evaluate the merits of the arguments involved so that readers can better assess the situation. This would not require journalists to give up on a negative focus in news, but to broaden their view: They should not confine their reporting to those in power but reflect the productive discourse which is often hidden in digital media

Adaptation (eye · Constructive · Epistemology · Field (mathematics · Focus (optics · Journalism · Media studies · Point (geometry · Political science · Process (computing · Public relations · Sociology · Technical Journalism · Computer Science · Media Influence and Politics · Media Studies and Communication · Psychology · Social Media and Politics

Tools

Open DOI