Editors of Medijska istraživanja/Media Research have decided to devote a special issue (2011, Vol. 17, No. 1-2) to the following topics : International Journalistic Ideology in the Context of National Traditions of Journalism.
Interested authors should submit abstracts in the English language (200 to 250 words) to both editors ( melita.poler-kovacic (at)fdv.uni-lj.si & karmen.erjavec(at)fdv.uni-lj.si) by March 1st, 2011. The authors will be notified about whether their abstracts meet the criteria until March 15th, 2011.
In journalism studies literature, some of the most crucial journalistic themes—such as autonomy, ethics, and professional knowledge—have often been researched as the criteria of journalism professionalization and a part of a common (or at least dominant) journalistic ideology. Questions related to these topics have been posed within discussions about the wider crisis of journalism, i.e., the crisis of journalism’s foundations and goals, and its theory and practice. Although several authors have (optimistically) argued that some common or even universal grounds exist within journalism, others have pointed to differences and disagreements, which are reflected in different ways of understanding and practicing journalism in various parts of the world. Numerous research studies have confirmed so far that the systems and traditions of journalism vary, while others have been persistent in emphasizing commonalities. Changes in media environment, processes of globalization and multiculturalism, scaling down of national borders, moving news to the Internet, an increasingly international (multinational) audience, and other phenomena relevant to the present time point to the need for reflection about what (if anything) journalism and journalists around the world have in common. These changes make us reconsider some old questions about the meaning and definition of quality journalism, placing them in a new light. Considering the diversity of approaches to journalism, can we speak about a common (or a dominant) journalistic ideology and/or an international news culture ? Is journalism really so largely dependent on the broader (historical, social, and cultural) context that it is virtually senseless to search for universal values and common understandings of what constitutes journalism ? Does journalism, due to the new and the issues mentioned above, need to strive for universal and internationally accepted definitions of its constituent elements ? Should the lack of consensus on what journalism is (or should be) in all parts of the world be accepted as a fact and instead be accompanied by learning about other cultures, systems, and traditions of journalism by promoting understanding and respect for difference ?
Authors included in this special issue of Medijska istraživanja/Media Research should consider these questions as a starting-point for their research. It is strongly recommended that the authors proceed from journalistic traditions in their own countries, do original research, and then discuss it in a wider context of (presumably) international news culture and journalistic ideology. Comparative analyses are also very welcome as well as theoretical reflections about the issues described above.
The deadline for submission of full articles in the English language and up to 7000 words will be June 15st, 2011. After reading the submissions, the editors will decide which of them will be rejected immediately and which will be sent for review to two reviewers. The deadline for submitting final revised articles will be September 1st, 2011.