Rethinking the Sociology of News

Rethinking the Sociology of News revisits one of journalism studies' most influential traditions at a moment of profound global change. Classic sociological approaches revealed how news is shaped by power, institutions, and professional routines, but they were largely conceived in stable media environments and grounded in Western contexts and assumptions that no longer fully capture the complexities of the contemporary landscape. Today, rapidly evolving digital media technologies, shifting political realities, and growing calls to decolonise knowledge demand a fresh perspective.

This volume responds by offering a rich set of empirical studies and theoretical reflections from across the globe. Contributors examine the shifting paradigmatic status of the sociology of news, emerging methodological challenges, and how journalism operates in diverse cultural and political settings, from the Global South to digital news ecosystems, highlighting voices, practices, and forms of knowledge often marginalised in mainstream research. The chapters examine issues such as trust in news, audience relationships, inequality, and emerging alternatives like co-operative media, while rethinking long-standing concepts such as objectivity, power, and journalistic norms. Accessible yet intellectually ambitious, this book reimagines the sociology of news for the twenty-first century, showing why it remains essential for understanding journalism's role in shaping public life in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It will be of interest to researchers and students in journalism studies, media sociology, communication studies, and cultural studies, as well as professionals working in media organisations and journalism education.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Journalism Studies.