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From Headlines to Hashtags: Journalism and Storytelling in the Age...
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From Headlines to Hashtags: Journalism and Storytelling in the Age of Virality and Influence

A special issue of Journalism and Media (ISSN 2673-5172).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 7564

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anna Podara

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Communication and Digital Media, University of Western Macedonia, 52100 Kastoria, Greece
Interests: media use; young audiences; television studies; journalism; media influence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ioanna Kostarella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Journalism and Mass Media Communication, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: journalism; new media

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reporting in the age of reels, hashtags, and algorithms is transforming both the way audiences engage with news and how journalists craft their stories. In this new era of digital journalism, journalists are grappling with the challenge of balancing truth with sensationalism, while audiences face issues such as shortened attention spans, infotoxication, and cognitive offloading. Moreover, younger audiences are pushing traditional journalists out of their comfort zones by demanding new and innovative news formats. As Gen Z and Gen Alpha increasingly consume short-form content, relying on reels, shorts, hashtags, influencers, and algorithms to discover news, traditional news formats are no longer enough to capture their attention.

This raises crucial questions: Which are the factor that shape media influence? Is AI acting as a catalyst in reshaping journalism? Are audiences placing more trust in algorithms than in traditional journalists? How does the reach of content change in this new media landscape, and what role do influencers play in shaping perceptions of news? Additionally, what is the role of media literacy in an era dominated by digital platforms and algorithmic curation?

In this Special Issue, we will approach the topic from a comprehensive, 360-degree perspective, considering multiple dimensions of how journalism is evolving in response to shifts in audience behavior, technological advancements, and new content formats. We invite contributors to examine a diverse range of audiences, from younger generations like Gen Z and Gen Alpha—who increasingly favor short-form content and social media platforms—to the so-called "silver generation," who may engage with news in more traditional ways but are still influenced by digital media dynamics. By examining this issue from various angles—ranging from the impact of social media and short-form content on news consumption to the challenges journalists face in maintaining credibility in an algorithm-driven landscape—we aim to provide a holistic understanding of the current transformations within the journalism field.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • Media influences in the age of virality and sensationalism   
  • AI in storytelling and reporting: machines as co-creators
  • Journalism in the age of short vertical videos [TikTok reels, YouTube shorts etc]
  • News consumption patterns of Generation Z, A and/or silver generation
  • Audience engagement strategies of Generation Z, A and/or silver generation
  • How younger audiences are redefining news, trust, and reach 
  • The role of media literacy for journalists and audiences.

Dr. Anna Podara
Dr. Ioanna Kostarella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journalism and Media is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • media influence
  • storytelling
  • journalism
  • virality
  • news consumption
  • audience engagement

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 1671 KB  
Article
Social Media Affordances and Social Validation Among Nigerian Youths: An Examination of Self-Presentation and Online Engagement
by Gideon Uchechukwu Nwafor, Nelson Obinna Omenugha, Sandra Ekene Aghaebe and Blessing Ajirioghene Omoevah
Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020083 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 859
Abstract
This study examined how perceived social media affordances, self-presentation, and online engagement collectively shape experiences of social validation among Nigerian youths within an integrated framework that combines Affordance theory, Goffman’s Dramaturgical perspectives, and Uses and Gratifications. Using a quantitative survey of 480 active [...] Read more.
This study examined how perceived social media affordances, self-presentation, and online engagement collectively shape experiences of social validation among Nigerian youths within an integrated framework that combines Affordance theory, Goffman’s Dramaturgical perspectives, and Uses and Gratifications. Using a quantitative survey of 480 active social media users across platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X), data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, regression, and regression-based sequential mediation modelling. Our findings indicate that perceived social media affordances significantly predict self-presentation behaviours (β = 0.79, p < 0.001), self-presentation significantly predicts online engagement (β = 0.43, p < 0.001); and online engagement predicts perceived social validation (β = 051, p < 0.001). Our findings also reveal that self-presentation and online engagement jointly and sequentially mediate the relationship between perceived affordances and perceived social media validation, with a significant indirect effect (β = 0.13, 95% CI [0.09, 0.19]) and a non-significant direct path from affordances to validation. Within a connectivity-constrained environment of Nigerian youths, our findings support a process-based understanding of digital interaction, showing how technological affordances are translated into social outcomes via structured, theoretically grounded user practices. Apart from validation emerging as a salient gratification, the study noted other motivational cues (sociability, identity expression, and information seeking) behind youth engagement with social media, suggesting that validation is just one of many reasons underlying youth social media use. The study contributes to Global Majority Media scholarship by providing a theoretically integrated process-based framework and a mechanism-oriented narrative of social media use in a non-Western setting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Headlines to Hashtags: Journalism and Storytelling in the Age of Virality and Influence)
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22 pages, 1081 KB  
Article
Communication Preferences of Generations X, Y, and Z in Receiving Media Content
by Najm A. Kh. Alhatimi Aleessawi, Rahima Aissani, Jumana Mohammad Ali Moh’d Rsheidat and Mohammed Habes
Journal. Media 2026, 7(2), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7020081 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 4218
Abstract
This study examines the differences in communication preferences and media consumption among three major age groups: Generations X, Y, and Z. It focuses on how each generation receives and interacts with media content. The research aims to identify the most frequently used media [...] Read more.
This study examines the differences in communication preferences and media consumption among three major age groups: Generations X, Y, and Z. It focuses on how each generation receives and interacts with media content. The research aims to identify the most frequently used media for each generation, their content consumption patterns, and their preferred communication methods. It also explores the influence of social and technological factors on shaping these preferences. The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing focus groups as the data collection tool. The sample comprised three groups representing the three generations, each consisting of eight participants. The results indicate clear generational differences in media preferences. Generation X prefers to rely more heavily on online news sites for information, while Generation Y tends to use social media alongside websites. Generation Z relies primarily on social media, followed by websites, and then traditional media. Regarding content, all three generations share an interest in political issues. However, their priorities in other topics differ. Generation X focuses on social and cultural issues, while Generation Y is interested in cultural and sports content, and Generation Z prefers sports and entertainment content. The results also reveal differences in preferred communication methods, with text messaging remaining a common medium across generations, while Generation Z increasingly relies on voice messages and video calls. These findings help to clarify generational differences in media consumption within the contemporary digital environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Headlines to Hashtags: Journalism and Storytelling in the Age of Virality and Influence)
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19 pages, 1580 KB  
Article
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 1727
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)
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