Journalistic Legitimacy Revisited

Abstract

Journalism in general-Anglo-American journalism in particularhas undergone a number of profound changes within and outside the newsroom. This paper explores whether these changes have weakened the basis of journalistic legitimacy, or have offered new grounds for journalistic legitimacy, and, in each case, to what extent. It is argued that a number of factors, including the financial difficulties of news media, the decentralisation of public communication as facilitated by the internet, the dual dilemmas faced by both objective and partisan journalism, and the belligerent public discourse about journalism are delegitimising journalism. However the relegitimatisation of journalism can be found in the efforts of news organisationsnot only leading news organisations such as the Guardian and the New York Times but also regional and local ones such as the Trinity Mirror group and the Palm Beach Postin adopting and possessing digital and technological tools and skills, and in defending their journalism. The relegitimation of journalism reiterates and reinforces the historically shaped essence of journalism that reflects a continuity of legacy journalism; and this is an organisational and occupational response to, and boundary defence against, the trend of delegitimation of journalism in the digital era.

Legitimating a platform: evidence of journalists’ role in transferring authority to Twitter

“…It comes instead from continuous effort and repetition of journalistic forms, practices, and discourses (Carlson, 2017;Zelizer, 1992). Journalists begin to have authority when their norms come to be accepted by audiences (Robinson, 2007) and are seen as meeting professional standards (Tong, 2018). That is, to the extent journalists have a reputation for truthtelling, they have authority (Karlsson, 2011).…”

Fighting an indestructible monster

“…Beyond "liberal" bias, a novel source for delegitimation represents technological change (Tong 2018;Lischka 2020). In the digital environment, public service norms of journalistic knowledge production may not have changed, but the loss of epistemic authority can be ascribed to the loss of public spheres as journalism's sovereign territory.…”

“…Instead, Broersma (2019) emphasizes that legitimacy can be claimed based on agreed-on normative principles and their translation into news. Tong (2018) suggests that a digital, technology-and data-savvy image of journalism focusing on a democratic mission will provide legitimacy. These suggestions are in line with the concept of legitimacy being ascribed by one's constituencies based on what they consider appropriate (Bitektine and Haack 2015).…”

Consumo de noticias y percepción de fake news entre estudiantes de Comunicación de Brasil, España y Portugal

“…Varios autores plantean que la noticia es algo que el individuo o los individuos hacen, un instrumento construido social, cultural, política, económica e ideológicamente (Harcup & O'Neill, 2017;Tong, 2017;Schudson, 2011Schudson, , 2001Deuze, 2005;Sousa, 2002;Zelizer, 1992Zelizer, , 1990Eason, 1986;Tuchman, 1983). El monopolio referido anteriormente se entiende como una combinación entre el agente periodista, que decide lo que es noticia, y el vehículo periodístico, que monopoliza el acceso del público a la información.…”