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"The Journalism Manifesto" by Barbie Zelizer, Pablo J. Boczkowski, and C. W. Anderson is a book that critiques and offers solutions for the future of journalism. The authors address the challenges faced by journalism in the current global political climate, particularly in response to the presidency of Donald Trump. They argue for reform and revolution in journalism, challenging the illusions of autonomy, centrality, cohesion, and permanence that have hindered its progress. The book examines the role of elites, norms, and audiences in journalism, and concludes with a discussion on whether reform or revolution is the more relevant solution. This thought-provoking and accessible book is recommended for journalism studies scholars and can be used in journalism courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. [Extracted from the article]

Science journalism is a critical way for the public to learn about and benefit from scientific findings. Such journalism shapes the public's view of the current state of science and legitimizes experts. Journalists can only cite and quote a limited number of sources, who they may discover in their research, including recommendations by other scientists. Biases in either process may influence who is identified and ultimately included as a source. To examine potential biases in science journalism, we analyzed 22,001 non-research articles published by Nature and compared these with Nature-published research articles with respect to predicted gender and name origin. We extracted cited authors' names and those of quoted speakers. While citations and quotations within a piece do not reflect the entire information-gathering process, they can provide insight into the demographics of visible sources. We then predicted gender and name origin of the cited authors and speakers. We compared articles with a comparator set made up of first and last authors within primary research articles in Nature and a subset of Springer Nature articles in the same time period. In our analysis, we found a skew toward quoting men in Nature science journalism. However, quotation is trending toward equal representation at a faster rate than authorship rates in academic publishing. Gender disparity in Nature quotes was dependent on the article type. We found a significant over-representation of names with predicted Celtic/English origin and under-representation of names with a predicted East Asian origin in both in extracted quotes and journal citations but dampened in citations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lines between journalism and public relations (PR) have become increasingly blurred with the rise of organizational media. Within this landscape, certain publications mimic journalistic formats while concurrently serving as PR instruments to promote organizational interests. These hybrid endeavors are commonly known as "brand journalism." This paper presents the findings of a quantitative survey conducted among brand journalists in Germany, focusing on the perceptions of their roles and ethical orientations. We compare their responses to those of German journalists surveyed as part of the Worlds of Journalism research project. The data suggests that brand journalists largely align with journalists in terms of their professional roles and ethical orientations, with only a few noteworthy distinctions. One such distinction is that brand journalists tend to perceive their role less as critical observers who scrutinize political leaders and businesses. In essence, our study underscores the remarkable resemblance in role concepts between brand journalists and journalists, offering insights into the convergence of organizational media with modern journalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile technology is part and parcel of the news today, perhaps to such a degree that it is hard to imagine news without it. This technology has affected those platforms on which news is being produced, for example, but also the array of actors that are involved in its manufacturing through mobile technology, thereby illustrating news as an ongoing information construction process in which professionals and other participants join hands. Stemming from a socio-technical emphasis in journalism this paper addresses the interplay between mobile news technology and social actors by focusing on three leading Israeli WhatsApp news groups ("People of Silence", "Field Security" and "Reports from the Ground") and the daily supply of materials delivered via these groups from their participating members. Based on a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with the groups' founders, supported by the groups' materials and messages data, findings show how these groups perform as unique pseudo-professional news groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second generation of web tools shook the journalist profession approximately two decades ago with the proactive incorporation of audiences into the media. Citizen journalism and user-generated content arose as an object of interest due to the democratising value of participation attributed to them, with empowered citizens who could emulate the professional and institutional practises of journalists. However, difficulties soon came to the surface, and audience participation in news media began to be limited. Within this context, this article conducts a critical review of studies on audience participation in news media based on a systematic literature review. The results indicate that, in general, audiences showed low interest in the creation of informative content and that their participation has grown increasingly problematic. In addition, journalists are reticent as they defend their professional role above all else, while company strategies have prioritised making participation profitable. For this reason, the idea of citizen journalism that offers user-created content through the media appears to be a thing of the past, with many characteristics that could define it as a failed innovation. Therefore, the text concludes that audience participation in the media could be defined as mediatised participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the liberal international order has been falling, the heteropolar order coupled with politics of uncertainty has been rising. In this context, illiberal regimes of status-seeking powers have realized the value of public diplomacy to promulgate their versions of the "reality." Those illiberal regimes' adoption of public diplomacy tools (incl. international public news agencies) has generated discussions on theoretical and practical approaches to the field at the intersection of political science/international relations, media, and communication studies. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to contribute to the emerging literature on public diplomacy of non-Western illiberal democracies. With the assumption that those regimes' illiberal democratic characteristics will be reflected in their public agencies' coverage styles (e.g., monologic, conflictive, and unbalanced), the article raises the following question: How do illiberal democracies utilize international public agencies as public diplomacy channels? To answer this question, it compares framing strategies (peace/war journalism) of the Russian TASS and the Turkish Anatolian Agency public agencies during the Syrian crisis. The findings reveal that those illiberal regimes' public agencies have reported the crisis as a state-centric monolog in conflict with the West by distrupting the global public good (i.e., peace). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of the recent attacks on democracy by a re-invigorated populist neo-fascism there is a pressing need to articulate a middle ground position in debates between the public sphere paradigm and its critiques. This requires an engagement with tensions between consensus and conflict, rationality and emotion, and the system and the lifeworld. Furthermore, there is also a need to scrutinize the role of hybrid media system in promoting populist neo-fascist discourses and actors, but also assert its normative task to combat it. Whereas conflict and power cannot be eradicated from the political, conflict is also a destructive force which requires a set of agreed upon ethico-political principles in order for a radical democracy to function. It is also argued that emotions need to be part of the democratic fight-back, but it is also suggested that a critical realist disposition combining epistemic relativism with judgmental rationality will be crucial to counter the relativism on steroids practiced by neo-fascist actors. Finally, the hybrid media system needs to be reconnected with the lifeworld, citizen interests and democratic values through a new regulatory framework, and the tradition of public journalism could provide inspiration for a democratic fightback from within the media system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science journalism in Global South is hindered by several factors, including the absence of local science stories, insufficiently trained science journalists, and a communication gap between communities of scientists and journalists. Drawing on observations from South Asian science journalism and employing the communities of practice framework, this essay proposes ideas for a multi-stakeholder collaboration that aims to bridge the gap between science and journalism in the Global South and to bring science journalism to the mainstream, through a shared goal, partnership, resources, literacy, mentoring and content production. We propose a sustainable institutional interfacing structure — a reciprocal and iterative Coalition for Science Journalism (CSJ) — between science advocacy organizations (SAOs) that produce science knowledge, professional media associations (PMAs) that promote professionalism, and media organizations (MOs) that disseminate information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of citizen journalism in Kazakhstan, utilizing quantitative and logical methods, drawing on both foreign and local insights. Findings reveal trust in mainstream media, concerns about bias and recognition of citizen journalism's value for diverse perspectives. Media professionals acknowledge its significance and express varied opinions on credibility and future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the postwar economic boom, the American market was flooded with amateur cameras. While designed primarily to record domestic life, these cameras have become so ubiquitous that today we expect almost any event, from a family vacation to an act of police brutality, to have been captured on film or video. These moments where everyday citizen becomes accidental journalist highlight the democratic possibility of vernacular cameras to capture unofficial and uncensored records of history. Yet citizen photojournalism is also part of a broader epistemological shift in our perception of history. Such images not only offer evidence of what happened, they also situate the viewer as a citizen witness to history and thus encourage a "first person" affective response. To examine this shift, I focus on the urtext of citizen photojournalism: Abraham Zapruder's home movie of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. In contrast to the standard journalistic or forensic camera image, the vernacular Zapruder film offers a more participatory relation to history, but one that is also more subjective. This essay will explore three distinct iterations of the Zapruder film: in the pages of Life magazine, in the irreverent and humorous 1975 performance/video artwork Eternal Frame , and in the experiential museum display of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Each instance engages with amateurs and their cameras in distinct and revealing ways and draws attention to our evolving perception of citizen photojournalism as both empirical evidence and an experiential framework for feeling history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural journalists are news professionals, but also citizens engaged in their communities. The function and purpose of local journalism and public relations have become interdependent as media and communication has become more digital. These relationships create some tensions and it is in this environment that rural journalists make daily choices to cover a story or run prepared content provided by an outside source. Through the lens of boundary work, this study explores how (N = 33) self-identifying rural journalists navigated this gray area and walked the line between creating authentic journalistic content and publishing public relations content. We found that in principle they identified stark boundaries between public relations and rural journalism based on journalistic norms, but in practice these journalists were often put in a position to engage in public relations work to support their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen journalism is growing very rapidly, along with many media that use citizen journalism as a source of news and information. In addition to mass media, citizen journalism uses social media as a platform to receive and disseminate new information. The @pulau.enggano account is an account that uses citizen journalism as a source of information. This study aims to analyze the role of citizen journalism in generating information about @pulau.enggano accounts using a qualitative descriptive paradigm based on postpositivism. Data collection techniques were conducted by conducting in-depth interviews and observations of two key informants and five informants. The theory used in this study is Tony Rodgers' theory of the role and concept of citizen journalism initiation. This research found that the role of citizen journalism is very important to provide information about tourism on Enggano Island on the @pula.enggano Instagram account because it can help the team to get information easily, quickly and in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volume 48, issue 3 of the Journal of Communication Inquiry explores the theme of "Journalism Studies and the Power of Place." The issue contains eight peer-reviewed articles and one book review that delve into the influence of place on journalism. The articles cover topics such as rural news consumption, the impact of physical newspapers on readers, the role of education in shaping journalistic norms, the evolving discourse around the term "alt-right," the changing role of public broadcasting, the portrayal of journalism in film narratives, and the importance of community connections in effective journalism. The research presented emphasizes the need for journalism to engage with its local environment and develop responsive and responsible practices that support the communities it serves. [Extracted from the article]

The current increase in religiously motivated radicalism is a serious social problem in various countries. Through our qualitative research, which was based on the knowledge and experience of experts recorded during the focus group interview, it was possible to identify the most frequent causes of religious radicalism in Slovakia today. The Slovak Republic, a small post-communist country in the region of Eastern Europe, served as an empirical example for research purposes. Following the research findings, a second research objective was set, namely to present the possibilities and contribution of citizen journalism that can play a key role in tracking, documenting and sharing cases of religious radicalism. The research presents the causes of religious radicalism and the optimal possibilities of citizen journalism, which would adequately respond to contemporary religious radicalism with the use of online media. The activities of "people's journalists" appear not only as a trigger for public debate that takes place on social media, blogs, and independent journalistic platforms but also as a necessary voice calling for accountability and transparency of solutions concerning religious radicalism, which is inherently complex and a multifactorial process, often leading to extremism. This study attempts to answer the question of why civic engagement using online media is important in this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) have revitalized academic discourse on algorithmic systems, particularly on their potential, ethical considerations, risks, and regulatory challenges. Extensive research has examined how algorithms affect communication processes, focusing on their influence on news organizations, journalistic practices, public-media dynamics, media literacy, and combating disinformation and filter bubbles. An emergent strand of research defines and measures the multidimensional concept of algorithmic literacy. However limited research exists on the intersection of algorithmic literacy and journalism. This gap is particularly concerning given the pivotal role of journalism in shaping public discourse, informing citizens, upholding democratic values and contrasting disinformation. Understanding how journalists perceive and engage with algorithms is essential, as these technologies significantly influence their professional tasks, including content production and distribution. In Portugal, where newcomer journalists work in precarious conditions and digital media transformation is rapidly evolving, understanding how journalists interact with and perceive algorithms is vital. Our study, through a multi-phased approach, aims to fill this gap questioning how can algorithmic literacy, encompassing cognitive, attitudinal and behavioural dimensions, be effectively assessed among professional journalists? The exploratory results present a validated methodological tool, instrument based on a multidimensional analytical framework and specifically designed to measure algorithmic literacy levels and to assess journalists' experiences. Critical discussion addresses the methodological procedures and preliminary findings from the pre-test, offering insights into Portuguese journalists' understanding, perceptions, and competencies regarding algorithmic systems. By shedding light on the cognitive, affective, and behavioural aspects of journalists' engagement with algorithms, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the algorithmic literacy among journalists, which is essential to sustain the quality of their work and for an effective counteraction against disinformation. It also opens avenues for similar studies in other geographical or professional contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Beacons in the Darkness: Hope and Transformation Among America's Community Newspapers" by Dave Hoekstra is a book that explores the world of community newspapers in the United States. The author, a former columnist and critic, interviews editors and publishers from various small-town newspapers to shed light on their dedication and perseverance. While the book is not a manual on saving community journalism, it offers inspiring stories of individuals who have devoted their lives to covering local news. However, the book lacks organization and fails to provide critical analysis or practical solutions. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Avoiding the News: Reluctant Audiences for Journalism" by Benjamin Toff, Ruth Palmer, and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen explores the phenomenon of news avoidance and why a significant portion of the population chooses not to consume news. The authors define news avoiders as those who intentionally or unintentionally do not consume news produced by professional journalists. They find that news avoiders are more likely to be young, female, and from lower socioeconomic classes. The book argues that three key variables influence news avoidance: identities, ideologies, and infrastructures. The authors provide a framework for understanding news avoidance and call for change in journalism to meet the needs of these audiences. [Extracted from the article]