Journalism and Society

Journalism and Society

Contact person: Dharma Adhikari | Email: Dharma.Adhikari@xjtlu.edu.cn

Members: Dharma AdhikariTabe BergmanXianwen KuangZixiu LiuSheau Wen OngXiaoling Zhang

 

Introduction

The Journalism and Society research cluster serves as a collaborative hub for advancing innovative research in journalism and its intersections with various domains of society. Our focus encompasses key areas such as journalism, public relations, strategic communication, as well as digital and social media, and technology. We aim to understand the dynamic relationship between journalism and society: how journalism evolves to shape society, and conversely, how societal forces influence journalistic practices.

We employ a range of methodological approaches, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods, including content analysis, interviews, surveys, focus groups, and ethnographies. Our research spans the spectrums of production, dissemination, reception, and impact. We actively encourage collaboration within the group and beyond, across different disciplines, fostering shared learning. We aim to maximise growth and development opportunities for our members, for instance, by providing mentoring and peer support in pursuing research resources or training opportunities, participating in conferences and seminars, applying for government and industry funding, facilitating peer reviews, and incorporating research-led teaching.

 

Within the cluster, the key research interests include:

  • Journalism and social change
  • News decision-making, production, and the craft
  • Professionalism, ethics, and law
  • Global, regional, and intercultural journalism
  • Political economy of media
  • Historical inquiries into journalism
  • Journalism, propaganda, and public relations
  • Representations, diversity, gender, and inclusion
  • News discourses
  • News reception and media effects
  • The intersection of journalism, technology, and democracy
  • Digital and augmented journalism
  • Participatory, user-generated, and open-source journalism
  • News credibility, misinformation, fact-checking, and media literacy
  • Journalism pedagogies