A reply to critics

Abstract

This article analyzes and responds to the most significant criticisms of public journalism made by scholars. After discussing public journalism advocates’ alleged failure to define public journalism clearly, we examine more specific criticisms. Among other issues, few advocates have taken seriously the likely impact of commercial imperatives on public journalism’s modes of operation. We argue, however, that public journalism projects show that reform-oriented news organizations can challenge long-standing journalistic conventions, despite managements’ interests in maximizing profit. Ultimately, we argue, public journalism’s long-term viability depends on continuing, explicit commitment by journalists, its institutionalization within newsrooms and journalism classrooms, and continued theory-development, research, and assessment. K E Y W O R D S citizen participation civic journalism journalism theory public sphere The public journalism movement is a controversial, if not divisive, topic among journalism scholars and practicing journalists. It emerged in the early 1990s in response to two widening gaps of ‘crisis’ proportions: between government and citizens, and between news organizations and their audiences. That is, declines in voter participation in political elections and, more generally, in civic participation in local community affairs, were often cited as evidence of widespread withdrawal by citizens from democratic processes. Similarly, scholars and journalists, having often criticized news organizations’ horse-race approach to political campaigns, interpreted the public’s apparent disinterest in voting as proving widespread public disaffection with massmediated political discourse. In response, many news organizations began to experiment with ways to enhance civic commitment and participation in Journalism Copyright © 2006 SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi) Vol. 7(2): 238–254 DOI: 10.1177/1464884906062607