Beyond the fourth estate: democracy, deliberation and journalism theory
Author(s)
Stockwell, Stephen
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
1999
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In seeking the foundations on which a theory of journalism might be constructed, it is useful to avoid the minutiae of the professional vocation versus cultural studies debate raging in the field and instead visit some recent work in political science and sociology on the central role of deliberation and discursive practices informing, fostering and extending democracy. This new
work in democratic theory invites a reconsideration of explanations of journalism in terms of the 'fourth estate' and a new focus on journalism as a set of work practices that offer citizens not only a 'watchdog' but also, and more importantly, access ...
View more >In seeking the foundations on which a theory of journalism might be constructed, it is useful to avoid the minutiae of the professional vocation versus cultural studies debate raging in the field and instead visit some recent work in political science and sociology on the central role of deliberation and discursive practices informing, fostering and extending democracy. This new work in democratic theory invites a reconsideration of explanations of journalism in terms of the 'fourth estate' and a new focus on journalism as a set of work practices that offer citizens not only a 'watchdog' but also, and more importantly, access to the deliberative processes of currently existing democracy (as both audiences and sources) and thus provides journalism with a theoretical purpose in the constant and continuing work of recreating democracy.
View less >
View more >In seeking the foundations on which a theory of journalism might be constructed, it is useful to avoid the minutiae of the professional vocation versus cultural studies debate raging in the field and instead visit some recent work in political science and sociology on the central role of deliberation and discursive practices informing, fostering and extending democracy. This new work in democratic theory invites a reconsideration of explanations of journalism in terms of the 'fourth estate' and a new focus on journalism as a set of work practices that offer citizens not only a 'watchdog' but also, and more importantly, access to the deliberative processes of currently existing democracy (as both audiences and sources) and thus provides journalism with a theoretical purpose in the constant and continuing work of recreating democracy.
View less >
Journal Title
Australian Journalism Review
Volume
21
Issue
1
Publisher URI
Subject
Journalism and Professional Writing
Communication and Media Studies