American Journalism after ‘The Age of Mechanical Reproduction’

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Decisive Moments and Constitutive Coordinates in the History of American Journalism
• The Production of News
• The Distribution of News
• The Reception of News
• The Function of Print Journalism for the Creation of Public Spheres and Communities
• Thomas Jefferson: A Noble Experiment
• Alexis de Tocqueville on The Relation Between Public Associations and the Newspapers
• Jürgen Habermas: The Public Sphere
• Benedict Anderson: Imagined Communities
• Major Shifts in American Journalism from First to Second Media Age
• The Role of the Hyperlink and the Search Engine in the Second Media Age
• Marshall McLuhan's Visions of the Global Village
• The Temporal Dimensions of Digital News
• Locality and Spatial Dimensions of Digital News
• The Reader's Desire to be a Writer and Editor of Digital News
• Transatlantic Reconfigurations of (Print) Journalism in the Digital Age
• A Case Study of the Berlin-based personalized newspaper niiu
• A Case Study of German newspaper WELT KOMPAKT - 'Scroll Down Edition'
• The New York Times 'Insight Lab'

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis analyzes the transition of American journalism from the era of print media to the digital age, examining the cultural implications of this transformation. It explores the impact of the digital environment on the production, distribution, and reception of news, investigating how the rise of the hyperlink and search engines has reshaped the traditional journalistic landscape. The work also delves into the evolving role of journalism in fostering public spheres and imagined communities in the digital age.

• The shift from print to digital journalism in the United States
• The influence of the internet and new technologies on the production and consumption of news
• The impact of the Link Economy on the economic viability and future of journalism
• The role of journalism in shaping public spheres and imagined communities in both print and digital contexts
• The cultural implications of the transition from print to digital media

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction of the thesis establishes the context for the subsequent analysis, outlining the historical trajectory of American journalism and the current transformation it is undergoing. It highlights the decline of traditional print media and the rise of digital platforms as dominant forces in the news landscape.

The first chapter delves into the historical development of American journalism, examining the key moments and defining characteristics of its evolution. It explores the production, distribution, and reception of news in different eras, emphasizing the crucial role of print media in shaping public spheres and fostering community identity.

The second chapter examines the theoretical frameworks that inform our understanding of public spheres and imagined communities, focusing on the work of scholars like Thomas Jefferson, Alexis de Tocqueville, Jürgen Habermas, and Benedict Anderson.

Chapter 3 examines the major shifts that have occurred in American journalism as it transitioned from the first to the second media age. It explores the impact of the hyperlink and search engines on the production and distribution of news, as well as the implications of these changes for the temporal and spatial dimensions of journalistic content.

The fourth chapter presents case studies of transatlantic reconfigurations of print journalism in the digital age. It examines the approaches of different publications, such as the Berlin-based niiu, the German newspaper WELT KOMPAKT, and The New York Times, highlighting how these organizations are adapting to the evolving media landscape.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis focuses on the transformation of American journalism from print to digital media. Key themes include the digital divide, the Link Economy, the role of journalism in democratic societies, the evolution of public spheres and imagined communities in the digital age, the impact of new technologies on the production and consumption of news, and the cultural implications of the transition from print to digital media.