Young People and the Future of News
Social Media and the Rise of Connective Journalism

This book examines youth media practices on social media, introducing the concept of connective journalism as a precursor to collective political action.

Lynn Schofield Clark (Author), Regina Marchi (Author)

9781107190603, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 September 2017

316 pages
24 x 16.6 x 1.9 cm, 0.56 kg

'In the midst of severe and interlocking crises of political alienation, distrust of news media, growing poverty, and racial and ethnic conflict, Young People and the Future of News offers original and important insights into the possibilities for disenfranchised youth to engage with political issues and make their voices matter.' Stig Hjarvard, University of Copenhagen

Young People and the Future of News traces the practices that are evolving as young people come to see news increasingly as something shared via social networks and social media rather than produced and circulated solely by professional news organizations. The book introduces the concept of connective journalism, clarifying the role of creating and sharing stories online as a key precursor to collective and connective political action. At the center of the story are high school students from low-income minority and immigrant communities who often feel underserved or misrepresented by mainstream media but express a strong interest in politics and their communities. Drawing on in-depth field work in three major urban areas over the course of ten years, Young People and the Future of News sheds light on how young people share news that they think others should know about, express solidarity, and bring into being new publics and counter-publics.

Introduction: young people and the future of news
1. Young people, journalism and politics
2. Connective journalism
3. Hope and disillusionment with legacy news
4. Young people producing and consuming news
5. Connective journalism and the formation of youthful publics and counterpublics
6. Youth citizen journalism: the connective journalism practices of participation
7. Moving forward: what we can do
Methodological appendix.

Subject Areas: Press & journalism [KNTJ], Political science & theory [JPA], Sociology [JHB], Cultural studies [JFC]