Bringing together the diverse perspectives of over 20 leading journalism scholars, this collection provides an original insight into the history of American journalism and issues that exist and have existed within the industry for decades.
The culture of journalism is in constant flux, with both individual journalists and the news industry as a whole regularly finding themselves at the center of controversy. While heightened in recent years, such controversy is not new and could in fact be considered a hallmark of the profession. With this in mind, this book presents original perspectives into issues and debates regarding the role of journalism in America, journalistic objectivity and ethics, diversity and representation, war and conflict reporting, local news, fake news, and hostility towards journalists. Each of the seven sections begins with a topical overview and ends with a short essay written by a leader in the field.
Issues in Contemporary American Journalism is recommended reading for anyone studying the history and evolution of journalism in the US at an advanced level.
Edited by:
Hans C. Schmidt
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Weight: 462g
ISBN: 9781032325514
ISBN 10: 1032325518
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 08 June 2023
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
List of Contributors Preface Introduction Hans C. Schmidt Part I: The Role of Journalism in America 1. A Brief History of Journalism in the United States Hans C. Schmidt 2. The Free Press: A Confusing History and Uncertain Future Gina Baleria 3. How Free and How Responsible? The 75th Anniversary of the Hutchins Commission Report Lois A. Boynton Essay: The Importance of Journalism Today Dane S. Claussen Part II: Rethinking Journalistic Objectivity and Ethics 4. Journalism Ethics: Dilemmas and Decisions Maggie Jones Patterson 5. Journalistic Objectivity: A Gold Standard or Myth? E. S. McIntyre 6. How Journalistic Objectivity Turns Matters of Science into Matters of Politics: A Closer Look at Climate Change and COVID-19 Reporting Jason Turcotte and Nicolas Hernandez Florez Essay: When Objectivity Isn’t Enough: A Case Study on Feminicidios, Violence Against Women, and Anti-Violence Activism Leandra H. Hernández Part III: Diversity and Representation in Journalism 7. African American Newspapers: The Voice of the Community Masudul Biswas 8. It’s Everybody’s Problem: Why Journalism’s Macho Culture Persists and How to Help Make it End Meg Heckman 9. Heroes and Villains? How US News Organizations are Shifting Their Representations of Protesters and Authorities Jennifer Brannock Cox Essay: The Uneven History of Diversity in Journalism Gwyneth Mellinger Part IV: War and Conflict Reporting in a Multidimensional World 10. The Complicated History of War and Conflict Reporting in the United States Hans C. Schmidt 11. Media, War, and the Propaganda of Pretext Oliver Boyd-Barrett 12. Challenges in Terrorism Coverage in the United States Yiyi Yang Essay: War Coverage: Perspectives from the Academy to the Field Sean Aday Part V: Challenges and Opportunities for Local News 13. Local News in Crisis Bill Reader 14. Public Access Television: An Untapped Resource for Local News Antoine Haywood and Victor Pickard 15. The Engaged Student Journalist: A Teaching Hospital Model for the 21st Century Allison M. Frisch and Gina Gayle Essay: Building Better Competitive News Environments John-Erik Koslosky Part VI: The Real Impact of Fake News 16. Understanding Fake News Today Larry J. King 17. The Return of Fake News J. D. Ponder 18. The Evolution of Fake News on Facebook: Truth Disagreements and a Loss of Common Knowledge Danielle R. Mehlman-Brightwell Essay: Inoculation Theory and Fake News Josh Compton Part VII: Journalistic Trust and Accuracy in an Era of Hostility and Partisanship 19. Hostility Toward the Press: Background and Steps Forward Kelsey Mesmer and Kaitlin Miller 20. Participatory Journalism: A New Approach for Increasing Public Trust and Engagement Mirjana Pantic 21. Of Sounder Mind: Considering the Well-Being of Professional Journalists Avery E. Holton and Valérie Bélair-Gagnon Essay: Predatory Publishing: What Every Science Journalist Needs to Know Amy Koerber Index
Hans C. Schmidt is an associate professor of communications at Penn State University, Brandywine, and holds a PhD in mass media and communication. He teaches journalism and media classes, and is author of numerous peer-reviewed academic journal articles. His scholarship is primarily focused on journalism, journalism education, and media literacy.
