The natural history of the news: An epigenetic study. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamilton, John Maxwell; Tworek, Heidi J. S.
• Is Part Of: Journalism. Volume 18:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 391
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Anglo-American journalism -- communication history -- history of news -- journalism -- journalism education -- journalism history -- objectivity -- professionalization -- Robert Park; Journalism -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 070.405
• DOI: 10.1177/1464884915625630
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-8849

Abstract

Scholars, editors, and reporters have tended to treat news and journalism as synonymous. This conception has privileged a particular kind of journalism often called the Anglo-American model. This study argues journalism has been a type of news reporting for a relatively brief period. Using the concept of epigenetics, the authors argue that journalism is usefully seen as a coating on the DNA of news, which has existed for centuries. Journalism emerged as a result of special factors. As powerful as the Anglo-American model was, it was never fully realized, nor could it become the regnant model throughout the world. Journalism will carry on, but along with many other types of news, all of which carry coatings from the past.