A research group at the HBI discussed the role of journalism in social cohesion with experts from journalism, science, integration work and NGOs. Prof. Dr. Wiebke Loosen, Julius Reimer and Verena Albert present the findings in this impulse paper.
Loosen, Wiebke; Reimer, Julius; & Albert, Verena (2021): Zusammenhaltssensibler Journalismus [Cohesion-Sensitive Journalism]. Hamburg: Hans-Bredow-Institut, October 2021 (Working Papers of the Hans-Bredow-Institut | FGZ Results No. 60) DOI: https://doi.org/10.21241/ssoar.75462
Abstract
Social cohesion is discussed in many areas of society: in politics as well as in academia, but also in the broader public. One of the virulent questions in this context is repeatedly the role of journalism and the common notion that journalism (from a democratic theory perspective) should contribute to social cohesion – and that it can strengthen or weaken it. However, there is no shared understanding of whether and how journalism or journalistic reporting influences cohesion and whether and in what way journalism is at all responsible for strengthening the cohesion of a society.
For this reason, the present study of the RISC section Hamburg turned this into an empirical question and asked various actors inside and outside journalism about their understanding of the connection between social cohesion and journalism. For this purpose, four online group discussions were conducted, each with five to six experts from the fields of journalism, science and cohesion practice.
It became clear that although the respondents consider social cohesion a desirable state to which journalism can contribute, there is no agreement on whether this should also be an explicit goal of journalism. The challenges identified in the group discussions that “cohesion-sensitive journalism” faces are systematised along the dimensions of accessibility, imageability and the ability of society to engage in dialogue. The impulse paper shows the many facets of the relationship between “social cohesion and journalism”, raises awareness of the associated areas of tension and challenges, bundles the practical examples and sources on the topic mentioned in the group discussions and develops practical implications and recommendations for journalists and other interested parties.