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4. Epistemologies of Journalism

  • Stephen J. A. Ward
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Journalism
This chapter is in the book Journalism

Abstract

This chapter takes the pulse of contemporary journalism epistemology in light of a fundamental shift from realist to social constructivist epistemologies in the mid-20th century. The first section sketches, historically, how journalists have tended to adopt a common sense realism and empiricism, consistent with realist epistemology. In the early 1900s, this informal approach evolved into a formal, dominant doctrine - professional news objectivity. This flawed epistemology became a doctrine to be overcome. The second section outlines the emergence of several kinds of constructivist epistemologies for journalism, as alternatives to news objectivity. The final and third section re-imagines the idea of epistemology of journalism by incorporating insights from both the realist and constructionist models.

Abstract

This chapter takes the pulse of contemporary journalism epistemology in light of a fundamental shift from realist to social constructivist epistemologies in the mid-20th century. The first section sketches, historically, how journalists have tended to adopt a common sense realism and empiricism, consistent with realist epistemology. In the early 1900s, this informal approach evolved into a formal, dominant doctrine - professional news objectivity. This flawed epistemology became a doctrine to be overcome. The second section outlines the emergence of several kinds of constructivist epistemologies for journalism, as alternatives to news objectivity. The final and third section re-imagines the idea of epistemology of journalism by incorporating insights from both the realist and constructionist models.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Contents xi
  5. 1. Journalism 1
  6. 2. Journalism history 19
  7. I Foundations of the Field
  8. 3. Roles of Journalists 43
  9. 4. Epistemologies of Journalism 63
  10. 5. Journalism Ethics 83
  11. II. Conceptualizing the Field
  12. 6. Journalism as Practice 105
  13. 7. Journalism as Institution 125
  14. 8. Journalism as Public Sphere 149
  15. 9. Journalism as Memory 169
  16. III. Theorizing the Field
  17. 10. Journalism as Agenda Setting 189
  18. 11. Journalism as Framing 205
  19. 12. Journalism as Gatekeeping 235
  20. IV. Journalism via the Disciplines
  21. 13. The Sociology of Journalism 257
  22. 14. The Economics of Journalism and News Provision 281
  23. 15 Politics and Policies of Journalism and Free Press 297
  24. 16. The Technology of Journalism 321
  25. 17. Journalism and Geography 335
  26. V. The Journalism Ecology
  27. 18. Entrepreneurial Journalism 355
  28. 19. Mapping the Citizen News Landscape: Blurring Boundaries, Promises, Perils, and Beyond 373
  29. 20. Advocacy Journalism 391
  30. 21. Documentary Journalism 415
  31. 22. Lifestyle Journalism 433
  32. VI. The Issues of Journalism
  33. 23. Journalism, War, and Peace 453
  34. 24. Journalism, Censorship, and Press Freedom 473
  35. 25. Journalism, Pluralism, and Diversity 493
  36. 26. Journalism, Gender, and Race 511
  37. 27. Journalism, Audiences and Community Engagement 531
  38. VII. Conclusion
  39. 28. Journalism and Change 555
  40. 29. The Future of Journalism Scholarship 575
  41. Biographical sketches 587
  42. Index 591
https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501500084-004

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Contents xi
  5. 1. Journalism 1
  6. 2. Journalism history 19
  7. I Foundations of the Field
  8. 3. Roles of Journalists 43
  9. 4. Epistemologies of Journalism 63
  10. 5. Journalism Ethics 83
  11. II. Conceptualizing the Field
  12. 6. Journalism as Practice 105
  13. 7. Journalism as Institution 125
  14. 8. Journalism as Public Sphere 149
  15. 9. Journalism as Memory 169
  16. III. Theorizing the Field
  17. 10. Journalism as Agenda Setting 189
  18. 11. Journalism as Framing 205
  19. 12. Journalism as Gatekeeping 235
  20. IV. Journalism via the Disciplines
  21. 13. The Sociology of Journalism 257
  22. 14. The Economics of Journalism and News Provision 281
  23. 15 Politics and Policies of Journalism and Free Press 297
  24. 16. The Technology of Journalism 321
  25. 17. Journalism and Geography 335
  26. V. The Journalism Ecology
  27. 18. Entrepreneurial Journalism 355
  28. 19. Mapping the Citizen News Landscape: Blurring Boundaries, Promises, Perils, and Beyond 373
  29. 20. Advocacy Journalism 391
  30. 21. Documentary Journalism 415
  31. 22. Lifestyle Journalism 433
  32. VI. The Issues of Journalism
  33. 23. Journalism, War, and Peace 453
  34. 24. Journalism, Censorship, and Press Freedom 473
  35. 25. Journalism, Pluralism, and Diversity 493
  36. 26. Journalism, Gender, and Race 511
  37. 27. Journalism, Audiences and Community Engagement 531
  38. VII. Conclusion
  39. 28. Journalism and Change 555
  40. 29. The Future of Journalism Scholarship 575
  41. Biographical sketches 587
  42. Index 591
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