Practice Theory as a Means to Understand the ‘In-Betweeners’ of Participatory Journalism

• In Event: Pushing the Boundaries of Journalism Studies: The Audience Turn in Journalism (Studies)

Abstract

This presentation argues that seeing journalism as practice – instead of the institutional or professional framework – offers a fruitful vantage point for journalism studies, especially for the study of participatory journalism where the ‘in-betweeners’ in the traditional journalism-audience axis play a central role. ‘Practice theory’ offers a possibility to understand how the domain of journalism becomes orderly, meaningful and viable in activities and discourse of various agents involved in its enactment, be them journalists, audiences on anything in between. This presentation focuses on actors engaged in journalism-related practices in three participatory journalism outlets: Cafébabel (online magazine with volunteers all over Europe), Södra Sidan (local newspaper in Sweden) and Voima (alternative print/online magazine in Finland). The presentation shows that the ‘in-betweeners’ contribute to the enactment of participatory journalism through discourse, activities, spatial organisation and emotion.

Author

• Laura Ahva, U of Tampere