Martin Löffelholz and Aynur Sarısakaloğlu publish essay on the paradigm history of journalism research

In the new edition of the Handbook of Journalism Theories, Professor Martin Löffelholz and Dr. Aynur Sarısakaloğlu from the Media Studies Group at the Institute of Media and Communication Studies at Ilmenau University of Technology provide an overview of the genesis and emergence of theoretical approaches that have had a lasting impact on journalism and its relationship to society in recent decades.

In the German-speaking world, the theoretical description of journalism has a tradition of around 180 years. These theories have developed neither in a linear-cumulative way nor as a sequence of normal and revolutionary phases. From today's perspective, the emergence of scientific theories on journalism appears rather as the discontinuous development of a multi-perspective. In the article, Löffelholz and Sarısakaloğlu identify twelve theoretical concepts that have paradigmatic relevance for journalism research: normative individualism, materialist media theory, analytical and legitimist empiricism, action theories, functionalist systems theories, integrative social theories, culture-oriented theories, normative and critical theories, cosmopolitan-oriented theories, product-oriented theories and network theories.

Source:

Löffelholz, M., & Sarısakaloğlu, A. (2024). Paradigmengeschichte der Journalismusforschung. In M. Löffelholz & L. Rothenberger (Eds.), Handbuch Journalismustheorien (pp. 1–34). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-32153-6_2-1

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Martin Löffelholz

E-mail: martin.loeffelholz@tu-ilmenau.de