Debating News Media: Politics, Identities, and Alternatives in the Greek Mediascape. (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nikolopoulou, Aikaterini; Psyllakou, Elena; Demertzis, Nicolas
• Is Part Of: Journalism studies. Volume 23:Number 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1114
• Page End: 1139
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: Media -- journalists -- audience -- pluralism -- participation -- discourse analysis; Journalism -- Periodicals; 070.4
• DOI: 10.1080/1461670X.2022.2074870
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-670X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Against the backdrop of intertwined crises, this study explores discursive interplays between news media, journalists, and the audience. Analyzing media texts, it sets as its epicentre something that rarely concerns the academic community, i.e., the way in which Media talk about themselves, exploring their reflexive function and the ways they configure their relation to state and party politics, as well as professional identities. Employing focus groups, our study sheds light on the dialogue between journalists and the audience, delving into their argumentative strategies and psycho-discursive practices. Furthermore, the combination of critical approaches to discourse analysis with the use of lexicometric techniques allows us to bring to the fore "unmapped" territories of the media landscape, enhancing our findings with higher levels of reliability. This interdisciplinary research design throws into sharp relief the antagonistic discourses as well as the contingency of meanings that are crucial to democracy, carving out the space to challenge normative perceptions of freedom of speech, pluralism, accountability and citizens' participation in the public debate. Therefore, the gap between the rules governing the Media and their operation in practice emerges, pointing to alternative ways of collectively reinventing the entire mediatic ecosystem.