Journalism, sociology and charisma.

Abstract

The study questions some of the attitudes towards framing journalism as a field of study. It suggests that a strong vein of sociological method and apparatus informs the scholarship and that one effect has been concept proliferation. Another is too much removal of the element of time and history. Moreover the centrality of sociological tends to reduce the scope of humanities, as opposed to science, in the approach, which is odd considering journalism is steeped in opinion that occurs a variety of contexts, cultures and forms. These enshrine freedom of expression, ethical concerns on the nature of humanity, proper government, and citizens’ lifestyles. Starting with Popper’s reflections on social science method, the argument concludes with some suggestions to bring narrative into stronger focus. The proposals are tentative and inevitably simplify an extremely complex issue in the weave of critical thought as the study of journalism evolves.