7. Journalism as Institution
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Wilson Lowrey
Abstract
Journalism has been theorized as an institution in multiple ways. Two prominent conceptualizations include journalism as an organizationally bound enterprise with routinized practices, subject to varying factors and forces in the environment; and journalism as a meso-level collective field, shaped by external forces but also capable of agency within a collective space that has negotiated boundaries, legitimacy, and an internal logic. Both represent attempts to accommodate agency and structure, and autonomy and constraint, in our explanations of news production. This chapter examines these perspectives and the literature in each area, exploring key concepts such as routines, agency and structure, bounded rationality, isomorphism, path dependence and loose coupling. The chapter also examines the role of power and social control in journalism’s institutional situation, as well as the argument that journalism is now post-institutional, particularly in an era of open and flexible digital networks. Finally the chapter takes up a third approach to conceptualizing institutions, one rooted in anthropological research - that institutions are grounded in a society’s foundational beliefs. According to this approach, a society’s meaningful “big thinking” must take place at the institutional level, for better or for worse. Thus, working on our institutions may be preferable to overturning them.
Abstract
Journalism has been theorized as an institution in multiple ways. Two prominent conceptualizations include journalism as an organizationally bound enterprise with routinized practices, subject to varying factors and forces in the environment; and journalism as a meso-level collective field, shaped by external forces but also capable of agency within a collective space that has negotiated boundaries, legitimacy, and an internal logic. Both represent attempts to accommodate agency and structure, and autonomy and constraint, in our explanations of news production. This chapter examines these perspectives and the literature in each area, exploring key concepts such as routines, agency and structure, bounded rationality, isomorphism, path dependence and loose coupling. The chapter also examines the role of power and social control in journalism’s institutional situation, as well as the argument that journalism is now post-institutional, particularly in an era of open and flexible digital networks. Finally the chapter takes up a third approach to conceptualizing institutions, one rooted in anthropological research - that institutions are grounded in a society’s foundational beliefs. According to this approach, a society’s meaningful “big thinking” must take place at the institutional level, for better or for worse. Thus, working on our institutions may be preferable to overturning them.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Contents xi
- 1. Journalism 1
- 2. Journalism history 19
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I Foundations of the Field
- 3. Roles of Journalists 43
- 4. Epistemologies of Journalism 63
- 5. Journalism Ethics 83
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II. Conceptualizing the Field
- 6. Journalism as Practice 105
- 7. Journalism as Institution 125
- 8. Journalism as Public Sphere 149
- 9. Journalism as Memory 169
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III. Theorizing the Field
- 10. Journalism as Agenda Setting 189
- 11. Journalism as Framing 205
- 12. Journalism as Gatekeeping 235
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IV. Journalism via the Disciplines
- 13. The Sociology of Journalism 257
- 14. The Economics of Journalism and News Provision 281
- 15 Politics and Policies of Journalism and Free Press 297
- 16. The Technology of Journalism 321
- 17. Journalism and Geography 335
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V. The Journalism Ecology
- 18. Entrepreneurial Journalism 355
- 19. Mapping the Citizen News Landscape: Blurring Boundaries, Promises, Perils, and Beyond 373
- 20. Advocacy Journalism 391
- 21. Documentary Journalism 415
- 22. Lifestyle Journalism 433
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VI. The Issues of Journalism
- 23. Journalism, War, and Peace 453
- 24. Journalism, Censorship, and Press Freedom 473
- 25. Journalism, Pluralism, and Diversity 493
- 26. Journalism, Gender, and Race 511
- 27. Journalism, Audiences and Community Engagement 531
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VII. Conclusion
- 28. Journalism and Change 555
- 29. The Future of Journalism Scholarship 575
- Biographical sketches 587
- Index 591
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Contents xi
- 1. Journalism 1
- 2. Journalism history 19
-
I Foundations of the Field
- 3. Roles of Journalists 43
- 4. Epistemologies of Journalism 63
- 5. Journalism Ethics 83
-
II. Conceptualizing the Field
- 6. Journalism as Practice 105
- 7. Journalism as Institution 125
- 8. Journalism as Public Sphere 149
- 9. Journalism as Memory 169
-
III. Theorizing the Field
- 10. Journalism as Agenda Setting 189
- 11. Journalism as Framing 205
- 12. Journalism as Gatekeeping 235
-
IV. Journalism via the Disciplines
- 13. The Sociology of Journalism 257
- 14. The Economics of Journalism and News Provision 281
- 15 Politics and Policies of Journalism and Free Press 297
- 16. The Technology of Journalism 321
- 17. Journalism and Geography 335
-
V. The Journalism Ecology
- 18. Entrepreneurial Journalism 355
- 19. Mapping the Citizen News Landscape: Blurring Boundaries, Promises, Perils, and Beyond 373
- 20. Advocacy Journalism 391
- 21. Documentary Journalism 415
- 22. Lifestyle Journalism 433
-
VI. The Issues of Journalism
- 23. Journalism, War, and Peace 453
- 24. Journalism, Censorship, and Press Freedom 473
- 25. Journalism, Pluralism, and Diversity 493
- 26. Journalism, Gender, and Race 511
- 27. Journalism, Audiences and Community Engagement 531
-
VII. Conclusion
- 28. Journalism and Change 555
- 29. The Future of Journalism Scholarship 575
- Biographical sketches 587
- Index 591
