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Amidst "alternative facts" and "post-truth" politics, news journalism is more important and complex than ever. This book examines journalism's evolution within digital media's ecosystem where lies often spread faster than truth, and consumers expect conversations, not lectures.
Tthe 2016 U.S. presidential election delivered a stunning result, but the news media's breathless coverage of it was no surprise. News networks turned debates into primetime entertainment, reporters spent more time covering poll results than public policy issues, and the cozy relationship between journalists and political insiders helped ensure intrigue and ratings, even as it eroded journalism's role as democracy's "Fourth Estate." Against this sobering backdrop, a broadcast news veteran and a millennial newshound consider how journalism can regain the public's trust by learning from pioneers both within and beyond the profession. Connecting the dots between faux news, "fake news," and real news, coauthors Madison and DeJarnette provide an unflinching analysis of where mainstream journalism went wrong-and what the next generation of reporters can do to make it right.
The significance of Donald Trump's presidency is not lost on the authors, but
Reimagining Journalism in a Post-Truth World is not a post-mortem of the 2016 presidential election, nor is it a how-to guide for reporting on Trump's White House. Instead, this accessible and engaging book offers a broader perspective on contemporary journalism, pairing lively anecdotes with insightful analysis of long-term trends and challenges. Drawing on their expertise in media innovation and entrepreneurship, the authors explore how comedians like John Oliver, Trevor Noah, and Samantha Bee are breaking (and reshaping) the rules of political journalism; how legacy media outlets like
The Boston Globe,
The Washington Post, and
The New York Times are retooling for the digital age; and how newcomers like Vice, Hearken, and
De Correspondent are innovating new models for reporting and storytelling. Anyone seeking to make sense of modern journalism and its intersections with democracy will want to read this book.
List of contents
ForewordFrank SesnoPreface
Acknowledgments
Introduction How Journalism Became a Dirty Word
Chapter 1 Reimagining Truth: Comedians, Fake News, and the Fate of "Objectivity"
Chapter 2 Reimagining Trust: Engaged Journalism, Open Reporting, and Listening to the Public
Chapter 3 Reimagining Reach:
VICE, Snapchat, and Journalism's Quest for Digital-Native News Consumers
Chapter 4 Reimagining Revenue: Paywalls, Crowdfunding, and the End of the Advertising Age
Chapter 5 Reimagining What's Next: Enduring Questions for the Future of Journalism
NotesIndex
About the author
Ed Madison, PhD, is assistant professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication in Eugene, OR.
Ben DeJarnette is an engagement strategist and freelance journalist.
