Campus News

New forms of journalism

Alternative Journalism
Chris Atton and James F. Hamilton
Sage Publications Ltd
$39.95 paperback $89.95 hardcover

A new book co-written by James F. Hamilton, an associate professor in the department of advertising and public relations, argues that economic, technological, social and political changes have helped create entirely new forms of journalism.

Alternative Journalism is the first to investigate the diverse forms and genres of journalism that have arisen as challenges to mainstream news coverage.

It charts and analyzes key historical developments and cultural practices ranging from the radical content of emancipatory media to the dizzying range of citizen journalist blogs and fanzine subcultures.

“Its critique emphasizes alternatives to conventions of news sources and representation; the inverted pyramid of news texts; the hierarchical and capitalized economy of commercial journalism; the professional, elite basis of journalism as a practice; the professional norm of objectivity; and the subordinate role of audience as receiver,” Hamilton and his co-author wrote.

In investigating the challenges to media power, this book addresses not just the issues of politics and empowerment but also that of the journalism of popular culture and the everyday.