Remodeling the Hierarchy: An Organization-Centric Model of Influence for Media Sociology Research. (12th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferrucci, Patrick; Kuhn, Timothy
• Is Part Of: Journalism studies. Volume 23:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 525
• Page End: 543
• Publication Date: 2022-03-12
• Subjects: Media sociology -- journalism studies -- hierarchy of influences -- organizational culture -- influence -- theoretical essay; Journalism -- Periodicals; 070.4
• DOI: 10.1080/1461670X.2022.2032805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-670X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Primarily due to an influx of market models, the journalism industry recently experienced a fragmentation of professional culture and, therefore, professionalism. This theoretical essay proposes a new focus for understanding influence on journalistic practice. Studying influence in the twenty-first century requires a model that does not include a hierarchy and therefore does not implicitly validate a universal journalism culture. The theoretical article first explains the hierarchy of influences model, argues for its alteration, and then resituates that model's levels of analysis into a new model that more appropriately accounts for the growing agency of individual organizations. Finally, the paper envisions avenues for future research utilizing the new model.