1st Edition
Responsible Journalism in Conflicted Societies Trust and Public Service Across New and Old Divides
Setting out multiple perspectives from media and journalism scholars, this collection addresses the implications that today’s technological, socio-political, and economic conditions have for relations between journalists, sources, audiences, and wider publics.
Applying an inclusive concept of ‘conflicted societies’ that goes beyond those affected by violent conflict to include traditionally ‘stable’ but increasingly polarised democracies, such as the UK and the USA, contributors engage with longstanding questions and new challenges surrounding concepts of responsibility, trust, public service, and public interest in journalism. The unique span of studies offers international scope, including societies often overlooked in media and journalism studies, such as Northern Ireland, Turkey, Cyprus, Pakistan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. Chapters also feature contemporary case studies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as a route into understanding the pertinent issue of fake news, and the ‘local turn’ in journalism.
Responsible Journalism in Conflicted Societies is not only a valuable resource for those studying conflict reporting and international journalism but will also appeal to scholars working at the intersection of media, journalism, communication, peace, conflict, and security studies.
Thematic Introduction
Jake Lynch and Charis Rice
Section I: Responsibility and Viability in Journalism – The Turn to Local News
1. Trust and Ethics in Local Journalism: A Distinctive Orientation Towards Responsible Journalism and Ethical Practices
Julie Firmstone, John Steel, Martin Conboy, Charlotte Elliott-Harvey, Carl Fox, Jane Mulderrig, Joe Saunders, and Paul Wragg
2. Community Journalism as Responsible Journalism
Karin Wahl-Jorgensen
3. Where’s the Fake News in Hyperlocal Media? Trust Amongst Citizen Journalists and Participatory Audiences in Local Facebook Pages
Jerome Turner and David Harte
Section II: Reform Agendas in Study of News About Conflict and Peace
4. Peace Journalism Revisited: Challenging the One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Cecilia Arregui
5. Constructive Information Practices After Training: Feasibility, Aspects, and Effects in Peace Journalism Media Production
Jake Lynch and Giuliana Tiripelli
6. The Matter of Journalists’ Social Psychological Processes in Divided and Conflicted Society
Huri Yontucu and Metin Ersoy
7. Peace Journalism in a Non-Western Context: A Theoretical Perspective
Shabir Hussain
8. Journalism in Times of Pandemic: Ethical and Responsible Reporting in Transitional Societies
Fabíola Ortiz dos Santos
Section III: The People Formerly Known as Audiences – New Roles and Relationships with Publics
9. Trust in Media: Relevance, Responsibility, and Epistemic Needs in Divided Societies
Charis Rice and Maureen Taylor
10. Responsible Journalism and Personalized News Communication: A Potential Route Toward More Relevant and Accountable News
Burton St John III and Kirsten Johnson
11. Trust in News in the Context of Political Polarization. A Case Study of Turkey
Cigdem Bozdag and Suncem Kocer
12. Objectivity as a Post-truth Excuse in Dystopian Realities
Robin Blom
13. Edification and Awareness: Educating the Public to Become More Media Literate Citizens
Judith Roberts
Biography
Jake Lynch is Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, Australia, and was a Leverhulme Visiting Professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, UK, in 2020.
Charis Rice is Assistant Professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, UK.