Broadening Horizons: How student perspectives can help meet journalism's challenges

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

ISBN: 9781000866582

Abstract:

Dark clouds of uncertainty shroud the horizons of journalism. Consequently, vision remains impaired regarding what journalism could and should be. As journalism weathers a financial, technological and social maelstrom, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that irreversible climate change is well underway. In this chapter, the author proposes a humanist approach to journalism education and practice that may help negotiate these perilous conditions. He argues that better understanding of others is journalism’s ultimate quest – and the essential challenge for storytellers. Drawing upon the philosophy of Hans-Georg Gadamer, the author makes the pedagogic case for ‘Horizon Journalism’. This entails students and educators exploring their societal and journalistic viewpoints – their horizons – and considering how these necessarily delimit and constrain interpretation and understanding. Storytellers become tasked with broadening their horizons and this challenge is explored during an undergraduate student workshop. The author concludes that Gadamer’s philosophy can help guide the storytellers of the future.

Source: Manual