Home Social Sciences 25. Journalism, Pluralism, and Diversity
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

25. Journalism, Pluralism, and Diversity

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
How to publish with us
Journalism
This chapter is in the book Journalism

Abstract

The ideal that journalism should reflect different interests and values in society, and provide access to the widest possible range of voices is broadly shared among journalists, researchers, and other media critics. Despite their prominence in debates on journalism, the exact meaning of pluralism and diversity as either analytical or normative concepts in media and journalism studies remains contested. This chapter argues that different interpretations of these notions are inevitably tied to different normative ideas about the role of media organizations and journalism in society. The chapter discusses different uses and definitions of pluralism and diversity in journalism and media studies, including the different normative frameworks and levels of analysis associated with the notions. The main argument put forward is that core concerns in debates on journalism, pluralism, and diversity concern the role of journalism in the distribution of communicative power and voice in the public sphere.

Abstract

The ideal that journalism should reflect different interests and values in society, and provide access to the widest possible range of voices is broadly shared among journalists, researchers, and other media critics. Despite their prominence in debates on journalism, the exact meaning of pluralism and diversity as either analytical or normative concepts in media and journalism studies remains contested. This chapter argues that different interpretations of these notions are inevitably tied to different normative ideas about the role of media organizations and journalism in society. The chapter discusses different uses and definitions of pluralism and diversity in journalism and media studies, including the different normative frameworks and levels of analysis associated with the notions. The main argument put forward is that core concerns in debates on journalism, pluralism, and diversity concern the role of journalism in the distribution of communicative power and voice in the public sphere.

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/10.1515/9781501500084-025

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
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Winner of the OpenAthens UX Award 2026
Winner of the OpenAthens UX Award 2026
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 28.3.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781501500084-025/html
Scroll to top button