"Our Company is in Survival Mode": Metajournalistic Discourse on COVID-19's Impact on U.S. Community Newspapers

This study explores how U.S. reporters, columnists, editors, and state newspaper associations explained to their audiences the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalism. Our examination of news articles and columns found an emphasis on explaining the industry's financial struggles in the 20...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournalism practice Vol. 16; no. 10; pp. 1965 - 1983
Main Authors Finneman, Teri, Thomas, Ryan J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Routledge 26.11.2022
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
coronavirus
COVID-19
Democracy
Industrywide conditions
Journalism
Media coverage
metajournalistic discourse
Pandemics
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:This study explores how U.S. reporters, columnists, editors, and state newspaper associations explained to their audiences the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalism. Our examination of news articles and columns found an emphasis on explaining the industry's financial struggles in the 2000s, the strain of the pandemic on journalistic routines, the historical legacies of newspapers, and journalism's role in democracy. We also found that state newspaper associations served as morale boosters for member newspapers to remind them of their essential community role, provided advice on innovation, played an advocacy and lobbying role in support of newspapers. The findings of this study illustrate the discursive strategies that journalists use as they appeal to readers to keep journalism alive.
ISSN:1751-2786
1751-2794
DOI:10.1080/17512786.2021.1888149