You seem to have javascript disabled. Please note that many of the page functionalities won't work as expected without javascript enabled.

Search for Articles:

Title / Keyword

Author / Affiliation / Email

Journal

Article Type

Advanced Search

Section

Special Issue

Volume

Issue

Number

Page

Logical OperatorOperator

Search Text

Search Type

Weaving in the Brosphere: Podcasting, Hegemonic Masculinity, and Bypassing Journalism in the 2024 US ‘Podcast Election’
The Ritual Logic of Attention-Based Politics: Legitimacy, Recognition, and Platformised Participation
Engaging Audiences in Platformized Public Service Media Journalism: User-Generated Content and Editorial Practices in the funk Content Network

Journal Description

Journalism and Media

Journalism and Media is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on journalism and the media, published quarterly online by MDPI.

Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
High Visibility: indexed within ESCI (Web of Science), Scopus and other databases.
Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 26.3 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 5.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2025).
Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Communication) / CiteScore - Q1 (Linguistics and Language)
Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names are published annually in the journal.

Impact Factor: 2.5 (2025); 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.6 (2025)

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2673-5172

Latest Articles

23 pages, 1350 KB

Open AccessArticle

Front-Page Environmental News Coverage and Implications for the Public Sphere: A Study Against the Backdrop of India’s G20 Presidency

by Sangeetha Unnithan

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020128 - 18 Jun 2026

This study examines front-page environmental news coverage in two prominent national newspapers against the backdrop of India’s G20 presidency. The study integrates agenda setting and framing theories with public sphere theory, to understand the implications of front-page coverage of environmental issues for the [...] Read more.

This study examines front-page environmental news coverage in two prominent national newspapers against the backdrop of India’s G20 presidency. The study integrates agenda setting and framing theories with public sphere theory, to understand the implications of front-page coverage of environmental issues for the public sphere. Following a mixed methodology, content analysis and frame analysis were conducted on a continuous six-month sample of the two newspapers, covering 180 days and 360 issues. A total of 435 front-page environmental stories were identified and analyzed. The findings reveal that front-page environmental reporting in the sampled newspapers spotlighted the severe environmental crises impacting the country, rather than the government’s sustainability-oriented and eco-centric discourse during the G20 presidency. Weather emerged as the most salient topic, followed by pollution. Foregrounding extreme weather and unusual weather patterns on the front page helped problematize weather events as a public concern. However, the disproportionate dominance of weather and pollution, along with an overreliance on routine sources, poor representation of source categories such as scientists/experts, and underutilization of data journalism reveal limitations in inclusive and rational deliberation on environmental issues. Problem-centric framing dominated the coverage, followed by adversarial narratives. Framing also overwhelmingly emphasized environment-related risks to humans while risks to nonhuman entities were marginalized, indicating anthropocentric tendencies in environmental coverage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Media, Journalism and Environmental Resilience)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 251 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Violence, Celebrity Culture, and Ritual: Dramatized Role-Playing in the Television Genre of Celebrity Boxing

by Ádám Guld

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020127 - 18 Jun 2026

Sports-based television formats combining competition, cooperation, and physical confrontation have long attracted large audiences. Since the 2000s reality television has increasingly adapted these elements, particularly through wrestling- and boxing-themed programs. This study examines the genre of celebrity boxing within the broader context of [...] Read more.

Sports-based television formats combining competition, cooperation, and physical confrontation have long attracted large audiences. Since the 2000s reality television has increasingly adapted these elements, particularly through wrestling- and boxing-themed programs. This study examines the genre of celebrity boxing within the broader context of contemporary media culture, with the aim of interpreting its popularity through perspectives from communication and media theory. The analysis applies a qualitative approach drawing on concepts such as the media violence and Carey’s and Couldry’s ritual model of communication and includes an empirical case study of the Hungarian television program Sztárbox. The findings suggest that celebrity boxing operates as a pseudo-sporting spectacle that combines media violence with celebrity culture to maintain audience attention, while its dramaturgy—following Barthes’ and Jenkins’ interpretations—relies heavily on simplified moral oppositions and dramatized role-playing. These elements function as micro-rituals that structure viewer engagement and contribute to collective meaning-making beyond mere entertainment. The study concludes that the appeal of celebrity boxing lies not only in the display of physical confrontation but in its ritualized narrative framework, which reinforces social and cultural interpretations of conflict, identity, and spectacle within the logic of contemporary media environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Ritual Functioning of Online Media)

18 pages, 269 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mental Health Risks for Journalists Covering Suicide in Times of Crisis

by Izabela Korbiel

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020126 - 14 Jun 2026

According to the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), over one in every 100 deaths (1.3%) in 2019 was the result of suicide, yet suicide is a highly sensitive issue in the media and often a taboo. The field of communication research has [...] Read more.

According to the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), over one in every 100 deaths (1.3%) in 2019 was the result of suicide, yet suicide is a highly sensitive issue in the media and often a taboo. The field of communication research has very early recognized the relevance of coverage of suicide. One of the first manuals on journalistic work in 1925 elaborated on newsworthiness of suicide reporting. This paper draws on experiences of journalists who covered suicide cases during multiple crises. There is evidence that an interview is the most appropriate practice to research sensitive topics; thus, expert interviews and episodically ethnographic interviews inform this study. Additional data was collected for analysis during (participatory) observations. The presented article is an outcome of 29 interviews with journalists and mental health professionals in Greece, Spain and Bulgaria. In total, 36 h of interviews and 20 observation protocols were collected during 8 field trips and 5 weeks in total in the field. Most of the data refers to the financial crisis of 2015 and 2016—a period when suicide rates significantly increased. However, selected interviewees were interviewed again after 7–8 years during the post-pandemic time, brutal wars and the substantial cost of living crisis. Journalists who usually give a voice and platform to suicide survivors speak their own perspective and evaluate the impact it had on their mental health and well-being. Full article

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

11 pages, 213 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stretched Under Job-Related Stress—How Do Albanian Journalists Negotiate Their Workplace Challenges?

by Elira Canga

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020125 - 12 Jun 2026

Journalism in Albania unfolds in a fragile media environment where political pressure, economic insecurity and intimidation are part of everyday professional life. This study examines how Albanian journalists experience job-related stress and how they cope with it. Using a qualitative design, the study [...] Read more.

Journalism in Albania unfolds in a fragile media environment where political pressure, economic insecurity and intimidation are part of everyday professional life. This study examines how Albanian journalists experience job-related stress and how they cope with it. Using a qualitative design, the study draws on 14 semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to identify the main stressors and response strategies described by participants. Findings show that occupational stress is not episodic, but normalized within journalistic practice. Journalists reported three major stressors: political interference, financial precarity, and direct threats linked to reporting on crime and corruption. To manage these pressures, they relied on both problem-focused strategies, such as careful verification, legal consultation, and strategic reporting practices, and emotion-focused strategies, including peer support, emotional compartmentalization, and maintaining boundaries between work and family life. Full article

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

16 pages, 301 KB

Open AccessArticle

Duck and Cover: Journalists on Being “Enemies of the People” During Early Days of Trump’s “Fake News” World

by Leslie-Jean Thornton

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020124 - 11 Jun 2026

The experiences of 48 U.S. journalists covering Donald Trump’s inaugural year as president in 2017 provide a contemporaneous account of being “enemies of the people” in a highly charged partisan environment. Using snowball sampling, participants were asked to respond via email during a [...] Read more.

The experiences of 48 U.S. journalists covering Donald Trump’s inaugural year as president in 2017 provide a contemporaneous account of being “enemies of the people” in a highly charged partisan environment. Using snowball sampling, participants were asked to respond via email during a period bookended by a Phoenix, Arizona, rally in which Trump berated news reporters for their coverage of demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, and then, weeks later, posted disparaging “fake news” tweets. The social media barrage followed challenging news coverage of a devastating hurricane in the eastern United States. Responses came from journalists representing 41 news organizations (including broadcast, radio, cable, online, and print) in regions throughout the country. Qualitative reflexive thematic analysis surfaced deeply intertwined personal and professional concerns, suggesting a need to heighten awareness of the influence sustained trauma has on both personal and professional relationships. Their being labeled “fake” and “enemies of the people” might affect content and routine in ways that include self-censorship, sourcing, transparency, and degrees to which one would risk harm or emotional distress to cover a story. Toughing it out in the face of sustained and wounding attacks might create hidden psychological and professional time-bombs, putting journalists, journalism, and ultimately democracy, at risk. Full article

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

19 pages, 327 KB

Open AccessArticle

Instagram Bios as Gateways of Virality and Influence: Signaling, Visibility, and Engagement Among Brazilian Sports Journalists

by Henrique Marques-Martins and José Sixto-García

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020123 - 11 Jun 2026

In ecosystems of algorithmic visibility, Instagram bios operate as high salience microdiscourses of self-presentation and signaling. We examine whether observable bio attributes are associated with visibility and interaction among Brazilian sports journalists. We analyzed 151 public Instagram profiles (≥100,000 followers) and extracted bios [...] Read more.

In ecosystems of algorithmic visibility, Instagram bios operate as high salience microdiscourses of self-presentation and signaling. We examine whether observable bio attributes are associated with visibility and interaction among Brazilian sports journalists. We analyzed 151 public Instagram profiles (≥100,000 followers) and extracted bios and profile metadata via automated collection. Bio attributes (length, emojis, @mentions, hashtags, location, informational cues, and external links) were related to followers, average likes and comments, and engagement rate (primary outcome) using Spearman rank correlations under conservative interpretation. Emojis and mentions were near universal; links were common; hashtags and locations were rare. Associations were small and exploratory: personal information correlated negatively with followers; hashtags correlated positively with likes and comments but relied on five cases; and references to other platforms correlated negatively with engagement. Overall, bios appear to function mainly as signaling infrastructures, with any performance effects likely indirect and mediated by content practices and platform exposure within this ecosystem. Full article

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

19 pages, 317 KB

Open AccessArticle

Afghanistan-Linked Publics in Germany: Digital Networks, Actors, and Narratives in a Post-Migration Society

by Kefa Hamidi, Ramin Kamangar and Abumoslem Khorasani

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020122 - 11 Jun 2026

Research on migration and digital media has expanded, yet empirical knowledge about how digital network communication structures public interaction in post-migration contexts remains limited. In particular, little is known about the communicative arenas in which interaction becomes visible, the actors who gain interpretive [...] Read more.

Research on migration and digital media has expanded, yet empirical knowledge about how digital network communication structures public interaction in post-migration contexts remains limited. In particular, little is known about the communicative arenas in which interaction becomes visible, the actors who gain interpretive authority, and the recurring issues and narratives that stabilize meaning. This article addresses these gaps by examining Afghanistan-linked digital publics in Germany. Eight semi-structured interviews with key informants and a qualitative content analysis of selected TikTok accounts revealed that short-video platforms can function as central arenas of attention, where repeatedly recognized communicators become orientation points for audiences through sustained interaction. Communication stabilizes around recurring issues and narratives such as migration procedures, institutional encounters, Afghanistan-related political developments, and community conflicts, which connect everyday experiences in the country of residence to political, social, and cultural debates about Afghanistan—thereby bridging local and transnational references within shared communication networks. These environments function simultaneously as spaces of practical guidance, social orientation, and public dispute. Building on these insights, the article proposes a multidimensional model of digital diaspora communication that links communicative arenas, actors, and issues and narratives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Media, Local Voices: The Dynamics of Diversity)

19 pages, 812 KB

Open AccessArticle

Conspiracy Hashtags and Pro-Trump Performative Communication on Instagram

by Alexei Anisin

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020121 - 9 Jun 2026

This study investigates the function of hashtags as performative political communication on Instagram during the 2024–2025 U.S. presidential electoral cycle. Through computational web-scraping processes, a dataset of over 300,000 posts (N = 17,750) yielded hashtags that were categorized according to (1) pro-Trump terms [...] Read more.

This study investigates the function of hashtags as performative political communication on Instagram during the 2024–2025 U.S. presidential electoral cycle. Through computational web-scraping processes, a dataset of over 300,000 posts (N = 17,750) yielded hashtags that were categorized according to (1) pro-Trump terms and (2) conspiracy-theory terms. Eight hashtags include #blacksfortrump, #donaldtrump, #freemasonic, #illuminatis, #impeachbiden, #latinosfortrump, #MAGA, and #secretsocieties. They are analyzed through negative binomial regression on comment engagement. Results reveal that identity-affirming and partisan condemnation hashtags (#blacksfortrump, #MAGA, #impeachbiden) were associated with higher levels of digital interactions, whereas conspiracy hashtags were associated with lower levels of engagement. Specifically, the hashtags #freemasonic and #illuminatis show negative associations with engagement, while #secretsocieties slightly elevated engagement with pro-Trump anti-elite narratives. These results indicate that not all forms of political communication are equally effective in mobilizing interactions on Instagram. Comment engagement was driven more heavily by identity performance and moralized partisan signaling than by conspiratorial narratives. These findings add to our knowledge on political communication in contemporary digital media environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2177 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital and Corporate Strategy in Bio-Health Start-Ups: Andalusia Health Technology Park (2025)

by Elena Becerra, José Borja Arjona and Juan Salvador Victoria

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020120 - 4 Jun 2026

While digital communication is critical for business growth, there is a notable lack of research concerning the specific digital and corporate strategies of bio-health start-ups in regional ecosystems like Andalusia. This article addresses this gap by analysing the corporate and digital strategies of [...] Read more.

While digital communication is critical for business growth, there is a notable lack of research concerning the specific digital and corporate strategies of bio-health start-ups in regional ecosystems like Andalusia. This article addresses this gap by analysing the corporate and digital strategies of the leading bio-health start-ups at the Andalusian Health Technology Park. The research focuses on innovation in the health sector and builds on the broader discourse surrounding science communication as applied to Andalusian companies. Health innovation companies are implementing their digital corporate strategies to raise their profile and reach their target audience. For Andalusian bio-health start-ups, the main focus is on their websites; this is why they are analysed here from different perspectives, with the aim of evaluating the information they share and its effectiveness. To this end, a mixed approach combining quantitative and qualitative content analysis is proposed, and data analysis tools are applied to web traffic and performance factors, as well as to the analysis of corporate culture and brand identity. The results indicate that these companies are consistent with digital communication strategies typical of B2B models, that is, emerging and highly specialised companies. In the corporate sphere, there is generally a strong focus on positioning within a framework that fosters organisational culture, employee recognition and the key elements of effective brand architecture. Full article

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

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 337 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Weaving in the Brosphere: Podcasting, Hegemonic Masculinity, and Bypassing Journalism in the 2024 US ‘Podcast Election’

by Maria Rae, Dylan Bird and Dominic Knight

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020119 - 2 Jun 2026

The 2024 US presidential campaign was dubbed the ‘podcast election’, with Donald Trump’s appearances on shows targeting young male audiences hailed for securing victory with this demographic. However, limited attention has been paid to how the specific affordances of audio media are leveraged [...] Read more.

The 2024 US presidential campaign was dubbed the ‘podcast election’, with Donald Trump’s appearances on shows targeting young male audiences hailed for securing victory with this demographic. However, limited attention has been paid to how the specific affordances of audio media are leveraged to engage voters with appeals to hegemonic masculinity. Drawing on the theoretical framework of counterpublics, this study applies an innovative close analytical listening method and critical discourse analysis to five long-form podcast interviews with Trump. It finds that intimacy, authenticity, and convivial, free-wheeling conversation were key elements of Trump’s political communication—reaching mass audiences while bypassing the scrutiny of professional journalism. Furthermore, these shows celebrated men’s superiority while largely excluding women from public discourse. These findings are important for understanding the implications of an increasingly masculine, right-wing podcast scene, which we theorize as the brosphere. Ultimately, we argue that the brosphere is distinct from—but related to—the overtly misogynistic manosphere. Full article

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

16 pages, 288 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Spectators to Strategic Users: A Qualitative Study on the Transformation of Film and TV Series Consumption

by Ádám Horváth and Balázs Gyenge

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020118 - 2 Jun 2026

This research examines the transformation of film and TV series consumption within the contemporary media landscape, characterized by digital plenitude and Over-the-Top (OTT) dominance. The study investigates how users navigate the transition from linear broadcasting toward on-demand, platform-centric environments. Through an exploratory qualitative [...] Read more.

This research examines the transformation of film and TV series consumption within the contemporary media landscape, characterized by digital plenitude and Over-the-Top (OTT) dominance. The study investigates how users navigate the transition from linear broadcasting toward on-demand, platform-centric environments. Through an exploratory qualitative approach as the initial phase of a broader study, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a demographically diverse group of Hungarian participants whose primary commonality is active film and TV series consumption. The findings highlight a rejection of traditional linear television, driven by an aversion to intrusive advertising and a demand for temporal autonomy. While mobile devices, particularly smartphones, are central to this shift, consumption remains predominantly stationary; users prioritize the flexibility of cross-device access within the domestic environment over mobile viewing during transit. Furthermore, the study identifies a growing friction caused by content fragmentation between different OTT platforms and rising subscription costs, while digital piracy persists as a marginal alternative. Ultimately, the study concludes that the modern audience acts as a strategic user navigating a complex ecosystem of excess. This underscores a fundamental shift where the cultural value of content is increasingly defined by the tension between individual agency and the systemic constraints of competing services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Television as Fragments: From Broadcast Logics to Platform Imaginaries)

15 pages, 286 KB

Open AccessArticle

Advocacy Journalism in Nigeria: Alaroye and the Justice Movement for Mohbad

by Abiodun Salawu and Bukola Christiana Ajala

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020117 - 1 Jun 2026

This paper examines the unresolved case of a Nigerian singer/rapper, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (Mohbad), aged 27, whose tragic death occurred on 12 September 2023. His death sparked public outcry and calls for justice, resulting in massive protest movements in Nigeria and the Diaspora. [...] Read more.

This paper examines the unresolved case of a Nigerian singer/rapper, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (Mohbad), aged 27, whose tragic death occurred on 12 September 2023. His death sparked public outcry and calls for justice, resulting in massive protest movements in Nigeria and the Diaspora. Alaroye, a foremost indigenous language newspaper, has consistently deployed its platform to advocate for justice for the deceased rapper. Using the Agenda-setting Theory, this study examines, through key informant interviews, the external events that caused public opinion on the clamour for justice for Mohbad to wane, which impeded the newspaper’s agenda-setting capacity. This paper explores Alaroye’s coverage of the circumstances surrounding the death of Mohbad and the need to galvanise justice for him. Through a content analysis of the Alaroye online newspaper, 62 newspaper stories were purposively sampled within the time frame of the incident (September 2023 to August 2024). Although Alaroye’s reports on the happenings surrounding Mohbad’s death created public awareness and debate, key informants explain that public opinion on the issue could not stimulate justice for the deceased due to political, economic, and other associated factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Media, Local Voices: The Dynamics of Diversity)

17 pages, 427 KB

Open AccessArticle

Revisiting Agenda-Setting Theory in Hybrid Media Ecosystems: Flash Agendas, Agenda Leadership, and Algorithmic Curation

by Vered Elishar and Yaron Ariel

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020116 - 1 Jun 2026

Traditional agenda-setting theory, which is centered on legacy news outlets, now operates in a fragmented ecosystem shaped by platforms, algorithms, and networked intermediaries. Existing agenda-setting models only partially integrate algorithmic gatekeeping and audience agency, thus limiting their capacity to explain contemporary patterns of [...] Read more.

Traditional agenda-setting theory, which is centered on legacy news outlets, now operates in a fragmented ecosystem shaped by platforms, algorithms, and networked intermediaries. Existing agenda-setting models only partially integrate algorithmic gatekeeping and audience agency, thus limiting their capacity to explain contemporary patterns of issue salience. This study revisits classic, second-level, and network agenda-setting research. It synthesizes recent work on big data, social media, and AI-driven curation to propose an agenda-setting ecosystem conceptual model for hybrid liberal-democratic media systems that links macro-level institutions and infrastructure, meso-level networked intermediaries, and micro-level cognitive and behavioral processes. Two analytical concepts have been advanced: flash agendas, defined as rapid and short-lived spikes in public attention, and agenda leadership, defined as the capacity of specific actors to trigger, steer, and sustain such spikes across platforms. This article outlines the methodological and ethical challenges of studying these dynamics, including data access, measurement validity, and transparency of algorithmic systems. It identifies directions for empirical research and policy, with particular attention to cross-platform diffusion and feedback loops. The framework aims to support more robust theory building and measurement in hybrid, algorithmically mediated media environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Revisiting Agenda-Setting Across Media Systems and Regime Types: Foundations, Network Dynamics, and Need for Orientation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1125 KB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond Uniform Machine Heuristics: Multidimensional Audience Evaluations of AI-Labeled News

by Chang Sup Park and Mohammad Al Masum Molla

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020115 - 1 Jun 2026

Grounded in the MAIN model and multidimensional information-quality frameworks, this research conceptualizes news evaluation through three distinct lenses: credibility, newsworthiness, and readability. Through a 2 (authorship: AI vs. human) × 3 (news domain: finance, weather, sports) mixed experiment (N = 301), participants evaluated [...] Read more.

Grounded in the MAIN model and multidimensional information-quality frameworks, this research conceptualizes news evaluation through three distinct lenses: credibility, newsworthiness, and readability. Through a 2 (authorship: AI vs. human) × 3 (news domain: finance, weather, sports) mixed experiment (N = 301), participants evaluated identical articles attributed to either an AI system or a human journalist. The results reveal a consistent “credibility penalty” for AI-labeled news across all domains, suggesting that authorship serves as a domain-general source heuristic. However, the effects on newsworthiness and readability were domain-contingent, shifting based on genre-specific expectations and the informational stakes of the topic. These findings demonstrate that audience responses to AI journalism are multidimensional and context-sensitive rather than uniform. This study offers significant implications for communication theory, transparency in disclosure practices, and the strategic adoption of AI in modern newsrooms. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2279 KB

Open AccessArticle

AI-Mediated Storytelling in a Liquid Information Ecosystem

by Bahareh Heravi

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020114 - 29 May 2026

The contemporary information environment is marked by the increasing ease with which journalistic stories can be generated, reformatted, and adapted through generative AI systems. As a result, content becomes increasingly liquid, and the article no longer functions as the sole or stable unit [...] Read more.

The contemporary information environment is marked by the increasing ease with which journalistic stories can be generated, reformatted, and adapted through generative AI systems. As a result, content becomes increasingly liquid, and the article no longer functions as the sole or stable unit of journalism. While writing remains central to journalistic practice, the primary site of value shifts toward the production and stewardship of reliable information from which multiple narratives can be formed. This paper argues that, in AI-mediated news and journalism, journalists increasingly operate not only as authors of finished stories but as producers and curators of reusable information artefacts that support both human and AI-assisted storytelling. Situated within discussions of AI-mediated news, liquid content, modular journalism, and data storytelling, the paper advances the need for a modular and compositional storytelling structure suited to dynamically generated narratives. Building on prior empirical work, it positions the Water Tower storytelling model as a structure capable of organising liquid journalistic content into coherent stories across formats and levels of detail, while remaining grounded in editorial judgement. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 8520 KB

Open AccessArticle

AI-Generated Content in Spanish Media: Transparency, New Uses, and Defined Strategies

by Montse Mera-Fernández, Victoria Moreno-Gil and Montse Morata-Santos

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020113 - 28 May 2026

In this paper, we describe and analyse the characteristics of news articles published in Spanish media which were written with assistance, of different types and to varying extents, from generative AI. We pursue three objectives: to identify how AI is being used, to [...] Read more.

In this paper, we describe and analyse the characteristics of news articles published in Spanish media which were written with assistance, of different types and to varying extents, from generative AI. We pursue three objectives: to identify how AI is being used, to examine the formal and textual characteristics of articles produced in this way, and to determine the degree of transparency with which the use of generative AI is communicated to readers. Using content analysis techniques, 120 articles published in different newspapers were studied, including articles written entirely by AI, written with the help of AI, and resulting from other uses of AI. Our analysis shows different results depending on the use of AI. The first group exhibits standardised writing, repetitive structures, and fewer sources. The second group shows less standardisation, more contextual information, and more journalistic errors. Despite relying on a repetitive structure, the third group does not display standardised writing. Regarding transparency, this study reveals that not all texts disclose AI use, and when they do, it appears separately from the byline or within the text. This study is pioneering due to the breadth of the analysed sample and our examination of different uses of AI in the Spanish news media. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 2109 KB

Open AccessArticle

Shifting the Dial: Does Exposure to Climate Change Efficacy Messages Boost Individual and Collective Political Activism Intentions?

by Nimmagadda Bhargav and Jagadish Thaker

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020112 - 25 May 2026

Media primarily frames climate change as a threat or disaster, which may dampen public interest and engagement. Does shifting communication strategies to emphasize people’s ability to enact change increase political engagement with climate change? This study examines whether exposure to a news story [...] Read more.

Media primarily frames climate change as a threat or disaster, which may dampen public interest and engagement. Does shifting communication strategies to emphasize people’s ability to enact change increase political engagement with climate change? This study examines whether exposure to a news story containing efficacy information is associated with changes in self-efficacy, collective efficacy, and intentions to engage in political activism. Using a quasi-experimental classroom-based design, a single exposure to a news story embedded with efficacy information was not associated with higher levels of any of the three dimensions of political self-efficacy—internal, external, and response—as well as perceived collective efficacy among undergraduate students (N = 731) in a large city in India. Exposure to efficacy information was not associated with intentions to engage in individual or political activism indirectly either. However, internal efficacy, response efficacy, and collective efficacy were positively associated with intentions to engage in individual and collective political action. In addition, perceived collective efficacy mediated the association between internal and response efficacies with collective political action intentions, highlighting the critical role of collective efficacy in collective political action. The findings suggest that while perceived self- and collective efficacies are important for increasing public engagement, they may not be readily amenable to change through single or infrequent exposure to efficacy-oriented messages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Media, Journalism and Environmental Resilience)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 591 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ideological Battle in Spain’s Television Access Prime Time: Analysis of El Hormiguero and La Revuelta Representations

by Alberto E. López-Carrión and Germán Llorca-Abad

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020111 - 22 May 2026

This study examines how ideological polarisation in Spanish society is reflected and amplified in press coverage of the competition between El Hormiguero (Antena3) and La Revuelta (TVE) in the access prime time television slot. Situated within debates on audience fragmentation, the attention economy, [...] Read more.

This study examines how ideological polarisation in Spanish society is reflected and amplified in press coverage of the competition between El Hormiguero (Antena3) and La Revuelta (TVE) in the access prime time television slot. Situated within debates on audience fragmentation, the attention economy, and the politicisation of entertainment, the research seeks to determine whether media ideology shapes journalistic narratives surrounding this television rivalry. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. A total of 385 news articles published between April 2024 and March 2025 in five leading Spanish digital newspapers with different ideological orientations (20 Minutos, ABC, El HuffPost, El Mundo and El País) were analysed. The results reveal clear ideological patterns in coverage, affecting the intensity of attention, the selection of sources, and the framing of both programmes. El Hormiguero is predominantly associated with leadership and competitive strength, while La Revuelta is framed around innovation, youth appeal, and politicisation linked to public broadcasting. Overall, the findings indicate that Spanish newspapers do not merely report on a television competition but actively contribute to its symbolic and ideological polarisation, reinforcing entertainment as a central arena of contemporary cultural conflict. Full article

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

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 295 KB

Open AccessArticle

Personality, Algorithmic Awareness, and Addictive Symptoms of TikTok Use in University Students

by Gonzalo López-Barranco, María Amapola Povedano-Díaz, María Belén Morales-Cevallos, Jose A. Rodas, David Alarcón Rubio, María Muñiz Rivas and Daniel Oleas

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020110 - 20 May 2026

(1) Background: Problematic social media use has increasingly been conceptualized as a non-clinical addictive-like behavior characterized by impaired control and negative functional consequences. Despite the rapid growth of TikTok and its algorithm-driven content delivery, the contribution of individual psychological factors and users’ awareness [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Problematic social media use has increasingly been conceptualized as a non-clinical addictive-like behavior characterized by impaired control and negative functional consequences. Despite the rapid growth of TikTok and its algorithm-driven content delivery, the contribution of individual psychological factors and users’ awareness of algorithmic processes to addictive symptoms remains insufficiently understood, particularly in Latin American contexts. This study examined the associations between personality traits, algorithmic awareness, and addictive symptoms of TikTok use among university students. (2) Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was conducted with a convenience sample of 238 university students from Ecuador. Participants completed self-report measures of social media addiction, algorithmic media content awareness, and Big Five personality traits. Spearman correlations and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed, controlling for age and sex. (3) Results: Algorithmic awareness dimensions were not significant predictors of addictive symptoms. Demographic variables explained minimal variance, whereas personality traits accounted for the largest increase in explained variance in the final model. Neuroticism and Extraversion were positively associated with addictive symptoms, while Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience were negatively associated. (4) Conclusions: Personality traits were more informative than algorithmic awareness in explaining addictive-like TikTok use among university students, underscoring the relevance of self-regulatory and affective dispositions for prevention and intervention strategies. Full article

16 pages, 1875 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Students Evaluate Fake News and AI-Generated Content on Social Media: Insights from Hong Kong Post-Secondary Students

by William Ko-Wai Tang, Chammy Yan-Lam Lau and Ao Zhang

Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020109 - 20 May 2026

Social media has become a primary news source for post-secondary students in Hong Kong; however, there is substantial disinformation and misinformation on these platforms. This study offers an initial qualitative window into how Hong Kong post-secondary students identify and respond to online disinformation [...] Read more.

Social media has become a primary news source for post-secondary students in Hong Kong; however, there is substantial disinformation and misinformation on these platforms. This study offers an initial qualitative window into how Hong Kong post-secondary students identify and respond to online disinformation and misinformation on social media. The qualitative interviews were conducted based on the traditional “Content–Appearance–Motivation” (CAM) framework. The findings show that students actively draw on common-sense reasoning and CAM-related cues. The study proposes a provisional Contextualized Dual-Loop Verification Model in which traditional CAM assessment is embedded within a broader loop of platform literacy, technical authenticity awareness, perceived risk and efficacy, and metacognitive regulation, highlighting the need for journalism and media education to move beyond conventional information literacy toward AI-era verification competencies. Future large-scale and cross-cultural studies are needed to test and refine this model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Media in Disinformation Studies)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

More Articles...

Submit to Journalism and Media Review for Journalism and Media

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Highly Accessed Articles

View More...

Latest Books

More Books and Reprints...

E-Mail Alert

News

8 June 2026
Journalism and Media Receives an Increased CiteScore of 3.2

4 June 2026
Open Access, Broadly Recognized: 363 MDPI Journals Receive CiteScores for 2025

1 June 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #35 – 30 Years of Open Science, Open Access Policies, Spain Summit, MMCS 2026 & Antibiotics 2026

More News & Announcements...

Topics

Propose a Topic

Topic in Behavioral Sciences, Journalism and Media, Social Sciences

Crisis, Opportunity, and the Evolution of Digital Journalism and Media Industries Topic Editors: Koldobika Meso-Ayerdi, Javier Odriozola Chéné, Rosa Pérez Arozamena, Ana Serrano-Tellería
Deadline: 31 October 2027

Conferences

Propose a Conference Collaboration

4–5 March 2027 The 2nd International Online Conference on Administrative Sciences (IOCAS 2027)

More Conferences...

Special Issues

Propose a Special Issue

Special Issue in Journalism and Media

The Ritual Functioning of Online Media Guest Editors: Mónika Andok, Réka Andrea Sárközy, Tímea H. Tomesz
Deadline: 30 June 2026

Special Issue in Journalism and Media

Global Media, Local Voices: The Dynamics of Diversity Guest Editor: Toby Miller
Deadline: 31 July 2026

Special Issue in Journalism and Media

Media, Journalism and Environmental Resilience Guest Editor: Patrick Murphy
Deadline: 31 August 2026

Special Issue in Journalism and Media

Creator Futures: Reorganizing Media and Journalism Work Guest Editor: Errol Salamon
Deadline: 31 August 2026

More Special Issues

Topical Collections

Topical Collection in Journalism and Media

Role of Media and Journalism during COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges Collection Editor: María Luisa Humanes

Back to TopTop