Challenging the News The Journalism of Alternative and Community Media

by Forde, Susan

• ISBN13: 9780230243569
• ISBN10: 0230243568
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-10-15
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

Community media journalists are, in essence, 'filling in the gaps' left by mainstream news outlets. Forde's extensive 10 year study now develops an understanding of the journalistic practices at work in independent and community news organisations. Challenging the Newsprovides an inside glimpse into alternative and independent media journalism in the UK, US and Australia and is the first work to focus on providing practice-based examples of alternative journalism. This book examines the nature of alternative and community media outlets, focusing on the news structures and journalistic practices at work to develop an understanding of the journalistic practices at work in independent and community news organisations. Specifically, this study looks at the role of the alternative journalist - how do they get their news ideas and what drives their decisions? What motivates them and how does this impact on the journalism they practice? Although up to date and topical, historical sections on the UK, US and Australian independent and alternative media also provide a useful comparative context.

Author Biography

SUSAN FORDE teaches Journalism at Griffith University, Australia, and continues to practice community and independent journalism on a freelance basis. Previously she worked for eight years in the independent press industry and was recently awarded her Ph.D. Her work on community media audience research has reached an international audience. She is co-author of two major monographs on community broadcasting.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Understanding Alternative and Independent Journalism
Defining Moments in the History of Alternative Journalism
Finding the Basis for Alternative and Independent Journalism
Looking for Answers: How Alternative Media Journalists Engage Their Audiences
Connecting with Democracy: The 'New' Alternative Media
Throwing Out the Bathwater (but not the baby): Objectivity, 'Professionalism' and the Economics of Alternative Journalism
The Global Policy Environment for Alternative and Community Media Forms
Concluding Thoughts: The Nature of Alternative Journalism
References