Journalism and Media

19 pages, 1909 KB

Open AccessReview

Communication and Its Impact on Patient Experience as a Cornerstone of the Digitalisation of Healthcare Business Processes: A Scoping Review

by Ana Ibáñez-Hernández, Juan-José López-García and Carmen Quiles-Soler

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010024 - 3 Feb 2026

Abstract

Digital transformation (DT) has become increasingly prominent the healthcare scene, incorporating digital innovations into all healthcare processes in a new eHealth 4.0 model. In this paradigm, communication becomes a key process for making decisions and strengthening links with healthcare stakeholders. This study aims [...] Read more.

Digital transformation (DT) has become increasingly prominent the healthcare scene, incorporating digital innovations into all healthcare processes in a new eHealth 4.0 model. In this paradigm, communication becomes a key process for making decisions and strengthening links with healthcare stakeholders. This study aims to explore the nature of scientific production and the relevance that academia assigns to both communication processes and the impact of DT on patient (user) experience in healthcare contexts. To this end, a scoping review of the scientific literature was conducted in Scopus using the PRISMA-ScR protocol, resulting in 163 records published between 2015 and October 2025, which were subsequently analysed with VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) to explore the results, enabling a bibliometric and thematic exploration of the most influential publications. The findings reveal a growing body of scientific output, with special emphasis on the organisational transformation derived from technological innovations, which contrasts with the limited interest of academia in communication approaches and in patient experience, as well as in the way trust and satisfaction are reconfiguring the relationships among the actors in the system. These results suggest the need to redesign business processes from a more human and empathetic perspective, linked in terms of equity to the 2030 Agenda, and to promote policies fostering digital, media and health literacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communication in Startups: Competitive Strategies for Differentiation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

43 pages, 2391 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Media and Women Politicians in Southern Africa: A Systematic Review

by Tigere Paidamoyo Muringa and James Ndlovu

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010023 - 30 Jan 2026

Viewed by 92

Abstract

Gendered media framing continues to restrict women’s political representation in Southern Africa, where news narratives often emphasise emotion and personality over policy and competence. This systematic review analysed empirical and grey literature (2000–2025) on the portrayal of women politicians in South Africa, Zimbabwe, [...] Read more.

Gendered media framing continues to restrict women’s political representation in Southern Africa, where news narratives often emphasise emotion and personality over policy and competence. This systematic review analysed empirical and grey literature (2000–2025) on the portrayal of women politicians in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, and Namibia. Following PRISMA 2020 standards, 1384 records were identified from academic databases and regional repositories, with 73 records meeting the inclusion criteria. The studies were thematically analysed using feminist media theory. The review uncovers enduring stereotypes—such as motherhood, moral virtue, and emotionality—while leadership competence remains marginalised. Coverage frequently reinforces the “political glass cliff,” portraying women as suitable only during crises. Nonetheless, some evidence of resistance journalism and feminist digital counter-narratives is emerging, driven by NGOs like Gender Links and Media Monitoring Africa. Despite methodological diversity, most studies emphasise qualitative textual analysis and highlight limited audience or production research. Major limitations include reliance on English-language and secondary data, which restrict regional generalisability. Overall, the findings underscore that symbolic exclusion persists across Southern African media, emphasising the need for gender-sensitive newsroom frameworks and transformative reporting practices. This review received no external funding and is not registered in PROSPERO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sociality and Digitality: An Exploration of New Forms of Digital Social Connection and Belonging in Africa)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 2494 KB

Open AccessArticle

Event-Driven and Structural Dynamics of Media Framing in Platform Politics: A Time-Series Analysis of South Korean News Coverage of TikTok (2020–2024)

by Shaopeng Che, Min Zhu, Junqing Xu, Yongkang Hou, Xuan Huang and Lee Miller

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010022 - 30 Jan 2026

Viewed by 92

Abstract

This study examines the longitudinal evolution of media framing of TikTok in South Korean news coverage from 2020 to 2024. As a global digital platform increasingly embedded in geopolitical and regulatory controversies, TikTok provides an instructive case for understanding how media frames shift [...] Read more.

This study examines the longitudinal evolution of media framing of TikTok in South Korean news coverage from 2020 to 2024. As a global digital platform increasingly embedded in geopolitical and regulatory controversies, TikTok provides an instructive case for understanding how media frames shift over time in response to external political pressures. Moving beyond static framing analyses and Western-centric perspectives, this study conceptualizes framing as a dynamic process shaped by both short-term events and longer-term structural change. Using 5660 TikTok-related news articles from the BIGKinds database, we apply large language model-assisted frame classification and construct a frame shift index (FSI) to measure temporal changes in dominant frames. Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis is employed to test short-term framing responses to discrete international political and policy events, while the Bai–Perron breakpoint test (BPT) is used to identify long-term structural breaks. The results show that significant frame shifts are closely associated with transnational policy disputes and international political conflicts. While ITS reveals clear event-driven short-term framing adjustments, BPT identifies a statistically significant structural breakpoint in late 2022, indicating a longer-term reorganization of media narratives under sustained geopolitical and regulatory pressures. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 656 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Emotional Well-Being in Journalists: Conceptualization, Experiences, and Strategies in the Literature (2010–2025)

by Susana Herrera Damas and José M. Valero-Pastor

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010021 - 28 Jan 2026

Viewed by 114

Abstract

This systematic review examines how emotional well-being in journalism has been de-fined, experienced, and supported between 2010 and 2025. It draws on 15 peer-reviewed empirical studies identified in Web of Science and Scopus and evaluated using PRISMA 2020 and the MMAT. The review [...] Read more.

This systematic review examines how emotional well-being in journalism has been de-fined, experienced, and supported between 2010 and 2025. It draws on 15 peer-reviewed empirical studies identified in Web of Science and Scopus and evaluated using PRISMA 2020 and the MMAT. The review addresses three main gaps in the field: unclear definitions, limited synthesis of risk and protective factors, and scarce assessment of support interventions. Across studies, emotional distress emerges from structural pressures, such as overwork, trauma exposure, online harassment, job precarity, and the erosion of collegial networks. These pressures, rather than inherent traits of journalistic work, shape vulnerability. Protective factors include social support, editorial autonomy, professional experience, purpose-driven motivation, and practices like mindfulness or digital disconnection. Yet their impact is often limited by weak organizational infrastructures. Vulnerability is higher among women, freelancers, and early career journalists, although intersectional analyses remain rare. Sectoral and organizational responses—peer networks, resilience programs, trauma-informed training, and emerging digital safety policies—show promise but remain fragmented. The review concludes that emotional well-being should be framed as an ethical and structural responsibility within journalism, and that sustainable progress requires systemic measures that foster psychological safety and professional dignity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in the Headlines)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 318 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

‘What the Hell Can Journalism Even Do?’: Metajournalistic Discourse Through Podcast Performance

by Sarah Elizabeth Witmer

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010020 - 28 Jan 2026

Viewed by 151

Abstract

This study positions the podcast Question Everything as an innovative case of metanarrative podcast journalism amid the growing crisis of distrust in news media. Through in-depth interviews with host Brian Reed and producer Zach St. Louis, along with textual analysis of all 27 [...] Read more.

This study positions the podcast Question Everything as an innovative case of metanarrative podcast journalism amid the growing crisis of distrust in news media. Through in-depth interviews with host Brian Reed and producer Zach St. Louis, along with textual analysis of all 27 episodes of the first season, this study examines how self-reflexive narrative storytelling both critiques and reimagines journalism. The dual-method approach explores not only what the podcast says about journalism, but also how the performance of podcasting becomes a mode of journalistic epistemology. Grounded in Metajournalistic Discourse Theory, findings demonstrate how Question Everything challenges traditional definitions of journalism, enacting metajournalistic discourse through four mechanisms: (1) inviting and exploring criticism, (2) performing transparency in the editing process, (3) experimenting with epistemology, and (4) embracing uncertainty and ambiguity. This paper argues that podcasts like Question Everything enact a performative mode of journalism that reconfigures how audiences make sense of truth, credibility, and authority. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Journalism in the Age of Podcasts: Perspectives, Possibilities, Boundaries)

14 pages, 285 KB

Open AccessArticle

“Talk to Me as a Friend!”: How Teenagers Prefer Their Newsfluencers on Social Media

by Vasco Avides Moreira, Jonathan Hendrickx and Aljosha Karim Schapals

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010019 - 28 Jan 2026

Viewed by 271

Abstract

This study investigates how Portuguese teenagers (aged 13–18) perceive and prefer the communication characteristics of so-called “newsfluencers” on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Through 20 semi-structured interviews, the research explores how verbal and non-verbal traits shape adolescents’ engagement with [...] Read more.

This study investigates how Portuguese teenagers (aged 13–18) perceive and prefer the communication characteristics of so-called “newsfluencers” on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Through 20 semi-structured interviews, the research explores how verbal and non-verbal traits shape adolescents’ engagement with news in a media ecosystem increasingly dominated by digital intermediaries. Drawing on literature on brand journalism, the study categorizes preferences into four key elements: character, tone, language, and purpose. The findings reveal that teenagers favor newsfluencers who are inspiring and friendly (character), are honest and direct (tone), use simple and fun speech (language), and aim to educate and inform (purpose). Participants express a desire for journalists who “talk to me as a friend”, emphasizing authenticity, emotional proximity, and conversational clarity over traditional, formal modes of reporting. These insights suggest that effective youth-oriented journalism on social media must balance factual accuracy and emotional engagement, blending education with entertainment. The research contributes to emerging scholarship on social media journalism and youth news consumption by highlighting how relational and affective communication strategies can enhance young audiences’ trust, understanding, and participation in news. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Era of Influencer Journalism: Blurring the Lines Between Reporting and Branding)

17 pages, 1104 KB

Open AccessArticle

Disinformation and Journalistic Routines in Health Reporting: A Study of Professional Practices in the Coverage of Health Content Aimed at People over 74

by Mario Benito-Cabello, Gustavo Montes-Rodríguez and Casandra López-Marcos

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010018 - 28 Jan 2026

Viewed by 106

Abstract

This article analyses the professional routines of health journalists in Spain, and their role in tackling disinformation in health reporting targeted at people over the age of 74. It is based on the premise that this age group, being highly exposed to health [...] Read more.

This article analyses the professional routines of health journalists in Spain, and their role in tackling disinformation in health reporting targeted at people over the age of 74. It is based on the premise that this age group, being highly exposed to health issues and particularly vulnerable to health-related misinformation, requires content that is tailored, reliable and easy to understand. The research adopts an exploratory-descriptive approach through a self-administered questionnaire addressed to health journalists belonging to professional associations and working in both general and specialist media outlets. As this is an ongoing study, the preliminary results indicate that these professionals report applying rigorous verification mechanisms, which suggests a trend within the surveyed group towards the consolidation of practices against disinformation. The findings also reveal a preference for informative styles that avoid sensationalism and prioritise clarity, although there remains a tendency towards high-impact topics and those linked to media figures. In contrast, attention to the informational needs of older adults is limited and addressed only occasionally. The study concludes that, although the interviewed professionals consider that health journalism in Spain maintains high standards of rigor, it still faces the challenge of systematically adapting its communicative practices to the needs of vulnerable audiences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reimagining Journalism in the Era of Digital Innovation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 905 KB

Open AccessArticle

Freelance Journalism in the Emirati Media Ecosystem: Between Working Precarity, Forced Reality, and [Limited] Personal Choices

by Fatima Ahmed Alawadhi and Jairo Alfonso Lugo-Ocando

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010017 - 27 Jan 2026

Viewed by 277

Abstract

What are the working conditions of freelancers in national media organizations? To answer this question, this study investigates the working conditions of freelance journalists in the Emirati media ecosystem. It focuses on the labor situation of freelancers in the national media organizations while [...] Read more.

What are the working conditions of freelancers in national media organizations? To answer this question, this study investigates the working conditions of freelance journalists in the Emirati media ecosystem. It focuses on the labor situation of freelancers in the national media organizations while exploring issues such as motivations for freelancing, their routines, contractual elements and income, professional challenges, and future opportunities. Self-determination theory (SDT) is used to analyze four dimensions of global freelance journalism. Additionally, SDT interprets the motivations of freelancers for adopting this profession, which are closely linked to their work conditions, the challenges they face, and their choices regarding self-determination in relation to future desires, opportunities, or the realities they must confront. The study uses semi-structured interviews with 15 journalists working in the U.A.E. and applies a thematic analysis to this data. The paper finds that comparatively, freelancers’ working conditions in the U.A.E. are as precarious as those of their Western peers, especially in contracts held with the national media organizations. The overall results also highlight other challenges encountered by freelancers in this profession. Finally, the paper offers a set of recommendations to enhance freelancing work conditions within the U.A.E. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 749 KB

Open AccessArticle

News Framing of Assisted Death Through Argument Structures in Portugal and the United Kingdom

by Bruno Frutuoso Costa

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010016 - 24 Jan 2026

Viewed by 326

Abstract

The news framing of assisted death in Portugal and the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2024 was analyzed across two dimensions. The first examined the overall frames through source positions and occupations. The second observed argumentative structures by coding argument characteristics: manifestation, origin, [...] Read more.

The news framing of assisted death in Portugal and the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2024 was analyzed across two dimensions. The first examined the overall frames through source positions and occupations. The second observed argumentative structures by coding argument characteristics: manifestation, origin, level, and evaluation. A total of 7464 structures were identified from 1731 published stories in Expresso, Público, The Guardian, and The Telegraph. The research utilized a methodological framework based on framing theory, creating direct connections between frame analysis and argumentative structures to improve the validity of valence and thematic framing mechanisms. The findings indicated significant differences between countries. The Portuguese news media showed a marked inclination to present concentrated opposing arguments with a higher argumentative density. In contrast, British newspapers displayed a greater diversity of arguments in favor of assisted death, along with a more cohesive representation among pro-assisted death sources. Three distinct argumentative profiles were identified, each showing different divisions between Portugal and the UK. These results reveal that argumentative structures in assisted death coverage reflect deeper systemic values and news media structures, positioning these quality newspapers as influential actors in representing arguments about moral legitimacy around bioethical issues. The study makes a valuable contribution by offering a comprehensive understanding of how these four newspapers frame arguments about assisted death while proposing an innovative analytical model applicable to comparative studies of other news media. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3539 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Governing the Digital Audience: Donald Trump’s Political Communication Across Platforms and Influence Networks

by Daniele Battista, Domenico Giordano and Emiliana Mangone

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010015 - 23 Jan 2026

Viewed by 485

Abstract

This article examines how the role of digital platforms is reshaping political communication and consensus-building in contemporary societies. It questions how algorithmic architectures are transforming the relationship between leadership, audiences, and power. Drawing on an empirical analysis of online interaction data, the study [...] Read more.

This article examines how the role of digital platforms is reshaping political communication and consensus-building in contemporary societies. It questions how algorithmic architectures are transforming the relationship between leadership, audiences, and power. Drawing on an empirical analysis of online interaction data, the study analyses Donald Trump’s political communication during the August 2025 summit with Putin in Alaska, presenting it as a paradigmatic example of networked leadership. The study focuses on the dynamics of mobilisation, polarisation, and identity construction within digital ecologies. The findings show that the leader’s centrality derives not only from traditional party structures, but also from the ability to coordinate heterogeneous communication flows as well as activate processes of affective and symbolic resonance. The article proposes a theoretical model that conceptualises Trump’s audience as a cognitive and emotional power device, highlighting the convergence of post-organisational populism, algorithmic mediatisation, and communicative governance. This leadership expresses forms of “algorithmic charisma” that redefine the modalities of political legitimacy. Methodologically, the study highlights the value of data-driven interpretive approaches, while also addressing their limitations related to algorithmic transparency and replicability. In conclusion, the article offers a critical reflection on emerging ecologies of consensus and the democratic implications of the ongoing “platformisation” of the public sphere. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 368 KB

Open AccessArticle

Media and International Relations: Serbian Media Narrative on the EU in Light of the “Lithium Crisis” in Serbia

by Siniša Atlagić, Filip Otović Višnjić, Neven Obradović and Nina Sajić

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010014 - 21 Jan 2026

Viewed by 169

Abstract

In this article, the authors address the Serbian media narrative about the EU’s communication on lithium mining in Serbia. In an effort to answer the question of how this narrative can influence the positioning of the EU on Serbia as a candidate country [...] Read more.

In this article, the authors address the Serbian media narrative about the EU’s communication on lithium mining in Serbia. In an effort to answer the question of how this narrative can influence the positioning of the EU on Serbia as a candidate country for EU membership, the authors have made a research based on a quantitative–qualitative analysis of media coverage, drawing on a sample of 192 articles (N = 192) published by four Serbian online news portals (RTS, N1, B92, and Blic). The analysis leads to two main conclusions: (1) It indicates an inversion in the general approach to foreign policy orientation across the analyzed media platforms. The customary discourses on Serbia’s foreign policy trajectory temporarily diverged from established patterns—specifically, the fervently pro-Western orientation characteristic of anti-government platforms and the ostensibly West-sceptical orientation typical of pro-government media. This reinforces the argument that the primary structuring line of media discourse in Serbia lies in the division between pro-regime and anti-regime orientations. (2) Media repositioning has exerted a pronounced negative effect on pro-European segments of the Serbian public, reactivating the thesis of “stabilocracy”, conceptualized as the dynamic relationship between authoritarian regimes in the Balkans and their external supporters. According to the authors, the EU’s inability to anticipate the drastic negative shift in public sentiment toward it—particularly among those segments of Serbian society that had been most supportive—or, alternatively, its decision to continue pursuing its own economic interests despite such awareness, underscores the profound flaws in the political communication it employed in this case. Full article

19 pages, 1580 KB

Open AccessArticle

Truth and Trust in the News: How Young People in Portugal and Finland Perceive Information Operations in the Media

by Niina Meriläinen and Ana Melro

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010013 - 20 Jan 2026

Viewed by 367

Abstract

This study explores how young people in Finland and Portugal perceive media trust and vulnerability to information operations in the digital era. While both groups rely heavily on digital platforms for news, they view online sources as less reliable due to disinformation and [...] Read more.

This study explores how young people in Finland and Portugal perceive media trust and vulnerability to information operations in the digital era. While both groups rely heavily on digital platforms for news, they view online sources as less reliable due to disinformation and fake news, especially on TikTok and Instagram. Trust and truth appear emotionally driven, with influencers and entertainment content often considered credible, increasing susceptibility to manipulation. Despite identifying as ‘digital natives’, participants rarely question source credibility or algorithmic influence, leaving them exposed to adversarial actors, such as Russia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Headlines to Hashtags: Journalism and Storytelling in the Age of Virality and Influence)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 318 KB

Open AccessArticle

Framing ASEAN in the Platform Age: Media Infrastructures and Geopolitical Narratives in East Asia

by Seval Yurtcicek Ozaydin

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010012 - 13 Jan 2026

Viewed by 427

Abstract

This study examines how Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is framed in Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean English-language mainstream media during four high-salience geopolitical events (2023–2025). Methodologically, it employs a qualitative comparative framing and discourse analysis of 28 systematically selected news articles [...] Read more.

This study examines how Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is framed in Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean English-language mainstream media during four high-salience geopolitical events (2023–2025). Methodologically, it employs a qualitative comparative framing and discourse analysis of 28 systematically selected news articles from leading outlets in each media system, coded using Entman’s four framing functions (problem definition, causal attribution, moral evaluation, and treatment recommendation) and supplemented by representational logics and explicitly stated platform-governance indicators. Drawing on framing theory, representation, platform governance, and critical geopolitics, the analysis finds that ASEAN is portrayed not as an autonomous actor but as a flexible signifier within nationally inflected narratives. Chinese media emphasize regional cooperation and developmental connectivity, Japanese outlets foreground liberal-normative order and security alignment, and South Korean coverage prioritizes technocratic and pragmatic partnership. The study argues that ASEAN’s mediated visibility is shaped by recurring editorial framing patterns and, where explicitly invoked, by infrastructural and platform-related cues, revealing ongoing narrative contestation over regional power and legitimacy in East Asia. Full article

14 pages, 257 KB

Open AccessArticle

Posthuman and Hyperreal Self on Facebook: AI-Generated Images, Aesthetic Labour, and Everyday Digital Selfhood

by Silas Udenze

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010011 - 13 Jan 2026

Viewed by 381

Abstract

This article interrogates how an everyday Facebook user in Nigeria adopts AI-generated images as a sustained mode of online and digital self-presentation. This study situates this practice within debates on posthumanity, aesthetic labour, and platform affordance. Drawing on a qualitative case study of [...] Read more.

This article interrogates how an everyday Facebook user in Nigeria adopts AI-generated images as a sustained mode of online and digital self-presentation. This study situates this practice within debates on posthumanity, aesthetic labour, and platform affordance. Drawing on a qualitative case study of a pseudonymised account (“Ada Alika”), this article analyses 25 AI-generated self-images posted between February and September 2025 alongside 25 non-AI-generated images. Using a triangulated methodological approach that combines media archaeology, online observation, and visual thematic analysis, the article describes how generative AI functions as an aesthetic and ontological collaborator in the construction of online selfhood. The results from the analysis are organised around three interconnected themes: “Posthuman and Hyperreal Self”, Aesthetic Labour and AI-mediated Persona”, and High Audience Engagement. The analysis indicates that AI-generated images produce a hyperreal self that exceeds naturalistic representation while remaining socially legible and desirable. These images demand sustained aesthetic labour and align closely with Facebook’s attention economy, resulting in markedly higher engagement than non-AI images. Audience interactions further reveal a level of visual literacy in which distinctions between the real, artificial, and aspirational are fluidly negotiated. By foregrounding a non-Western and non-influencer context, this article extends existing scholarship on AI-mediated selfhood and demonstrates how AI-generated images on Facebook reshapes everyday practices of self-representation and visibility in online digital culture. Full article

17 pages, 289 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transforming Historical Newspaper Research and Preservation Through AI: A Global Perspective

by Zhao Xun Song, Kwok Wai Cheung and Zi Yun Jia

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010010 - 7 Jan 2026

Viewed by 640

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the preservation and research of historical newspapers by providing powerful tools that overcome longstanding challenges in terms of digitization, analysis, and access. This study offers a comprehensive global analysis of AI-driven innovations—including advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Large [...] Read more.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the preservation and research of historical newspapers by providing powerful tools that overcome longstanding challenges in terms of digitization, analysis, and access. This study offers a comprehensive global analysis of AI-driven innovations—including advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Large Language Models (LLMs) for post-correction, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques—that significantly enhance text extraction, image restoration, metadata generation, and semantic enrichment. Through qualitative case studies and comparative examinations of projects worldwide, this research demonstrates how AI not only improves the accuracy and efficiency of preservation workflows but also enables novel forms of computational inquiry such as cross-lingual analysis, sentiment detection, and discourse tracking. This study further explores emerging ethical and practical challenges and outlines future directions like multimodal analysis and collaborative digital infrastructures. The findings underscore AI’s transformative role in unlocking historical newspaper archives for both scholarly and public use, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of cultural heritage and historical narratives on a global scale. Full article

18 pages, 359 KB

Open AccessArticle

Journalist? Influencer? Both—And Neither: How Wanghong Journalists Negotiate Professional Identity on Chinese Social Media

by Lingyu Li

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010009 - 5 Jan 2026

Viewed by 597

Abstract

As journalism intersects with influencer culture, how journalists negotiate their professional identity becomes crucial. This study examines how Chinese “Wanghong” (influencer) journalists—licensed journalists with large social media followings—navigate the tension between journalistic and influencer roles, focusing on their perceived professional identity and self-presentation [...] Read more.

As journalism intersects with influencer culture, how journalists negotiate their professional identity becomes crucial. This study examines how Chinese “Wanghong” (influencer) journalists—licensed journalists with large social media followings—navigate the tension between journalistic and influencer roles, focusing on their perceived professional identity and self-presentation on Weibo and TikTok. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with four Wanghong journalists (each with one million followers) and textual-visual thematic analysis of 351 social media posts, the study finds that, participants reconfigure their professional identity as “digital media journalists,” preserving journalistic legitimacy while distancing themselves from influencer commercialism. To manage the tension between professionalism—often downplays commercialization—and their platform practices, journalists use moral flexibility to justify commercial engagement as compatible with journalism. Building on Raemy’s conceptualization of professional identity, this study refines the framework by showing how platform logics and moral negotiation reshape journalistic professionalism in a hybrid, commercialized media environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Era of Influencer Journalism: Blurring the Lines Between Reporting and Branding)

24 pages, 1438 KB

Open AccessArticle

Trust in News Media Across Asia: A Multilevel Analysis of Individual and Societal Factors

by Ke Du and Zhe Xu

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010008 - 4 Jan 2026

Viewed by 605

Abstract

Despite extensive scholarly attention, the exploration of individual-level determinants of news media trust still offers substantial room for further research, particularly from non-Western perspectives. This article moves beyond traditional political and media-related perspectives by incorporating individual capital and cultural values into the analysis [...] Read more.

Despite extensive scholarly attention, the exploration of individual-level determinants of news media trust still offers substantial room for further research, particularly from non-Western perspectives. This article moves beyond traditional political and media-related perspectives by incorporating individual capital and cultural values into the analysis of media trust. Using data from the fifth wave of the Asian Barometer Survey (14 countries and territories, N = 25,321), this study employs Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) to examine the effects of four key factors on news media trust in Asia. The findings suggest that individual-level characteristics, including economic capital, traditional values, and authoritarian values, contribute to trust in news media in Asia, whereas social capital has a negative influence. These associations even remain significant after controlling for some political factors. Additionally, authoritarian values shape news media trust through a moderating mechanism, weakening the influence of political trust while reinforcing the role of interpersonal trust. At the societal level, GDP per capita and press freedom influence news media trust in Asia primarily through cross-level interactions rather than direct effects. These findings highlight the complex interaction between societal and individual determinants in shaping news media trust. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 327 KB

Open AccessArticle

Strategic Communication in Women-Led Start-Ups: An Exploratory Study in Galicia

by Patricia Comesaña-Comesaña, Mónica López-Golán and Angélica Comesaña-Comesaña

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010007 - 1 Jan 2026

Viewed by 497

Abstract

This exploratory study examines strategic communication in Galician start-ups led by women, with the aim of analysing reputation management mechanisms, the channels and tools used, and the challenges associated with building a differentiated identity in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. A qualitative approach was adopted, [...] Read more.

This exploratory study examines strategic communication in Galician start-ups led by women, with the aim of analysing reputation management mechanisms, the channels and tools used, and the challenges associated with building a differentiated identity in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. A qualitative approach was adopted, combining a focus group with nine female entrepreneurs, documentary analysis and case studies. The results show that this ecosystem is structured around three relevant dimensions: institutional support provided by universities, accelerators and pioneering programmes; territorial roots, as a strategic resource for legitimacy and differentiation; and personal narratives that link innovation with everyday experience and strengthen empathy with audiences. There is a notable progressive professionalisation of communication as an instrument for growth, risk governance and identity consolidation, in which digital platforms play a significant role. Horizontal leadership styles, based on transparency and empathy, are configured as reputational attributes where the status of women founders can generate differential advantages in visibility and credibility, but also challenges in masculinised environments. The discussion identifies three key challenges: overcoming reluctance to public exposure, strengthening peer support networks, and promoting inclusive and understandable language. The findings highlight strategic communication as a cross-cutting resource for business and social legitimacy and sustainability in Galician female entrepreneurship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communication in Startups: Competitive Strategies for Differentiation)

31 pages, 621 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dark Tourism Storytelling and Trauma Narratives: Insights from Romanian Promotional (Tourism) Campaigns

by Oana Barbu Kleitsch and Simona Bader-Jurj

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010006 - 1 Jan 2026

Viewed by 543

Abstract

Dark tourism communication in Eastern Europe remains insufficiently examined, despite the region’s complex post-authoritarian memory landscape and the growing use of storytelling in tourism marketing. This study aims to clarify how Romanian dark tourism campaigns construct meaning through narrative structures and affective framing. [...] Read more.

Dark tourism communication in Eastern Europe remains insufficiently examined, despite the region’s complex post-authoritarian memory landscape and the growing use of storytelling in tourism marketing. This study aims to clarify how Romanian dark tourism campaigns construct meaning through narrative structures and affective framing. Using a qualitative multi-method design, the analysis integrates ten promotional campaigns and six semi-structured interviews with professionals from tourism, memorial institutions, and cultural organizations. Results reveal four recurrent narrative–affective clusters, sacral-memorial, historical-didactic, spectral-sensational, and hybrid commercial, each shaped by trauma referentiality, emotional framing, and specific calls-to-action. These configurations map consistently onto Stone’s thanatological spectrum and highlight how practitioners negotiate authenticity and ethical boundaries. The study contributes a transferable narrative–affective model for dark tourism communication and underscores the need for transparency, contextual sensitivity, and responsible storytelling in the marketing of trauma-related heritage. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 337 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Digital Immigrants to Digital Floaters: Rethinking Generational Media Literacy in the Platform Era

by Anna G. Orfanidou

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010005 - 31 Dec 2025

Viewed by 466

Abstract

This study re-examines generational differences in media literacy and news consumption within the evolving digital landscape. It expands on the well-known dichotomy of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants by proposing a new conceptual framework that introduces the terms Analog Anchors and Digital Floaters. [...] Read more.

This study re-examines generational differences in media literacy and news consumption within the evolving digital landscape. It expands on the well-known dichotomy of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants by proposing a new conceptual framework that introduces the terms Analog Anchors and Digital Floaters. These terms aim to reflect the heterogeneity and fluidity more accurately, the adaptive nature of users’ engagement with digital media. A quantitative survey was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to Greek participants (N = 1020) through a non-probability convenience sampling method. The analysis revealed significant variations in digital literacy, news consumption habits, and skepticism toward the media across generations. Findings indicate that the relationships with technology and information are not linear or age-bound but are shaped by cultural, cognitive, and social parameters. High levels of media skepticism observed across all age groups further challenge traditional divides. As a result, this study argues for a paradigm shift that captures the complexity of media literacy in the platform era, moving from static generational labels towards a more dynamic understanding of users as Analog Anchors and Digital Floaters. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 651 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Agenda Feedback Wheel: News Corp’s Coverage of the Marcia Langton ‘Racism’ Controversy

by Catherine Son, Victoria Fielding, Alexander Beare and Robert Boucaut

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010004 - 31 Dec 2025

Viewed by 600

Abstract

Conservative media have been shown to exert disproportionate levels of influence over other mainstream media agendas. This study explores the outsized influence of Australia’s conservative media during the 2023 Australian Voice to Parliament referendum on other news agendas and, in turn, the impact [...] Read more.

Conservative media have been shown to exert disproportionate levels of influence over other mainstream media agendas. This study explores the outsized influence of Australia’s conservative media during the 2023 Australian Voice to Parliament referendum on other news agendas and, in turn, the impact on public and political agendas. Combining conservative advocacy, agenda-setting, and frame-building theories, this study uses content analysis of news frames included in Australian news reports about the Marcia Langton “racism” controversy. The influence of conservative media frames on other news media reporting and political and public responses to the controversy is conceptualised as a self-propelling agenda feedback wheel, fuelled by deliberate media advocacy. By having an outsized influence on the rest of the Australian media’s reporting of the racism controversy, News Corp also influenced the public and political referendum debate. These findings add new insights into how conservative media power is used to influence other media and, in turn, democracy. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

7 pages, 205 KB

Open AccessEssay

Not Just Caregivers: Nurses as Critical Informants in Global Health Reporting

by Rachel Malloy and Jennifer Manning

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010003 - 25 Dec 2025

Viewed by 448

Abstract

In an era of global health crises, rising misinformation, and increasing scrutiny of expert sources, journalists face a critical challenge: producing health coverage that is accurate and socially relevant. Yet despite their central role in healthcare and their consistently high public trust, nurses [...] Read more.

In an era of global health crises, rising misinformation, and increasing scrutiny of expert sources, journalists face a critical challenge: producing health coverage that is accurate and socially relevant. Yet despite their central role in healthcare and their consistently high public trust, nurses remain significantly underrepresented in media coverage worldwide. This paper examines the structural, cultural, and professional reasons behind this absence and explores the journalistic opportunity in changing it. Drawing from international literature, media studies, and trust metrics, the article situates nurses within journalism’s responsibility to reflect diverse, credible, and frontline voices. It outlines the unique value nurses bring to reporting—translational expertise, on-the-ground insights, and community-based perspectives—and the barriers that have historically kept them out of the news cycle, including newsroom routines, institutional hierarchies, and gendered assumptions. As nurses increasingly receive media training and prepare to engage publicly, journalists have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to reimagine their sourcing strategies. Including nurses not only deepens the quality of health stories but also reinforces journalism’s public service mission. This paper offers a framework for integrating nurses into health coverage and encourages a global shift in sourcing norms. Full article

19 pages, 303 KB

Open AccessArticle

Theorizing Podcast Journalism: Toward a Medium-Specific Framework for Audio Reporting

by David O. Dowling

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010002 - 24 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 954

Abstract

Since its emergence two decades ago, podcasting has spurred a rapidly evolving body of scholarship examining its social, technological, political, and cultural impact. However, much of podcast theory relies on analytical frameworks derived from other media. Moving beyond the binary debate that positions [...] Read more.

Since its emergence two decades ago, podcasting has spurred a rapidly evolving body of scholarship examining its social, technological, political, and cultural impact. However, much of podcast theory relies on analytical frameworks derived from other media. Moving beyond the binary debate that positions podcasting either as a wholly unique medium or merely an extension of radio, this article proposes a podcast-specific theoretical framework that advances a third approach within podcast studies. Rather than treating these perspectives as mutually exclusive, this approach synthesizes their strengths, recognizing podcasting’s broad esthetic range and time-shifted consumption patterns alongside its narrative lineage in radio drama and longform storytelling. In doing so, it situates podcasting within the genealogy of longform documentary journalism, aligning it with the evolving structures of digital publishing. At the intersection of podcast and journalism studies, this historically informed paradigm foregrounds three defining characteristics of podcast journalism: intimacy (manifested in personal narratives and parasocial relationships), reflexivity (evident in metajournalistic transparency and postmodern approaches to evidence), and democracy (leveraging progressive inclusivity or its oppositional countercurrents). While these features may be adapted or subverted across different productions, they remain core conventions that distinguish podcast journalism as a unique form of narrative digital media. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Journalism in the Age of Podcasts: Perspectives, Possibilities, Boundaries)

25 pages, 1140 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stability of Immigration Beliefs and Limited Media Effects: Evidence from Six European Countries

by Maija Ozola-Schade

Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010001 - 19 Dec 2025

Viewed by 589

Abstract

Amid rising immigration levels in Europe, public perceptions of immigration appear closely linked to the ways in which news media portray these issues. While media effects on attitudes toward immigrants, and to a lesser degree on beliefs, have been widely studied, existing evidence [...] Read more.

Amid rising immigration levels in Europe, public perceptions of immigration appear closely linked to the ways in which news media portray these issues. While media effects on attitudes toward immigrants, and to a lesser degree on beliefs, have been widely studied, existing evidence remains fragmented across national and temporal contexts. Drawing on the issue attribute agenda-setting approach, this study examines how macro-level patterns of media content relate to immigration beliefs across six European countries between 2002 and 2018. A mixed-method design integrates content analysis of newspaper articles with public opinion data from the European Social Survey and macro-level contextual indicators. Two media dimensions—valence (threat vs. benefit attribution) and attribute salience—are analyzed in relation to belief measures. Threat attributes dominated and increased slightly in media coverage, whereas immigration beliefs stayed largely stable. Multilevel and country-specific analyses identify significant but substantially weak and highly context-dependent associations, underscoring the importance of national context in shaping beliefs about immigration. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Journal. Media, Volume 7, Issue 1 (March 2026) – 24 articles

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI