Author Profile

Dr. Elena Rostova, is an awardwinning media scholar and former investigative journalist whose work bridges the gap between newsroom practice and digital theory. Her research examines the societal impact of algorithmic news curation and synthetic media. Professor of Digital Journalism and Senior Research Fellow at the Scaticook Institute for the Study of Journalism, Oxford, UK. She has done her Ph.D. in Media and Communications, London School of Economics (LSE). She spent over a decade as a data journalist and foreign correspondent for The Alpines specializing in investigative reporting on platform capitalism and information ecosystems. Dr. Rostova shifted to academia to study the intersection of artificial intelligence and journalistic authority. Her ethnographic research inside major global newsrooms investigates how algorithms shape the everyday realities of modern reporters.

About The Book

The rise of digital technologies and cultures and their consequences for journalism and Journalism Studies inevitably lies at the center of this Handbook. The complementary chapters explain that when we want to explore and analyze digital journalism, we need to address changing contexts and new practices, need to reconsider theories and develop research strategies. However, the changes addressed here do not imply that with digital everything is unmoored from its groundings. Nor do it wish to imply that before digital technologies were introduced journalism was a stable concept and stable practice. In a way, these issues do not matter for the Handbook. The Handbook decidedly does not explore similarities and/or differences between traditional and digital news and journalism, nor do we aim to establish cause and consequence. The digital environment is taken as a given and traditional journalism does not function as a benchmark. The Handbook of Digital Journalism Studies offers a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of news, covering topics like digital, algorithmbased, and datadriven reporting. It provides an indepth look at new digital practices, audiencecentered journalism, and ethical challenges for journalists working today. The text is an essential guide for understanding how technology is changing the way news is produced and consumed. The handbook explores how digital technologies have reshaped every aspect of the news ecosystem. The book covers central topics like Disruption and Normalization: How digital tools (e.g., algorithmic curation, data infrastructures) transitioned from experimental disruptions to normalized, everyday journalistic practices; Reconceptualizing Journalism: Investigating shifting boundaries between traditional news professionals, citizen journalists, bloggers, and activist networks; Audience Relationships: Exploring how the digital landscape influences news consumption, audience engagement, and public trust; Methodological Approaches: Outlining the complex empirical methods required to research and analyze the modern digital news environment. The book serves as a vital resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students in multimedia, online, and computational journalism, as well as researchers, educators, and media professionals.

Table of Contents

Preface
Chapter 1. Conceptual Foundations of Digital Journalism
Defining Digital Journalism
Historical Evolution of Online News
Theoretical Approaches to Digital Journalism
Normative Roles and Democratic Functions
News Values in Digital Environments
Professional Identity in Networked Media
Continuity and Change in Journalistic Practice
Digital Journalism as a Field of Study
Chapter 2. Digital News Production and Workflows
Newsroom Digitization and Convergence
Editorial Routines in Online Newsrooms
Multimedia and CrossPlatform Production
Speed, Immediacy, and Live Reporting
Verification and FactChecking Online
DataDriven Editorial Decision Making
Collaboration and Networked Production
Changing Labor Practices in Journalism
Chapter 3. Platforms, Algorithms, and Distribution
Platformization of News
Algorithmic Curation and Gatekeeping
Search Engines and News Visibility
Social Media Logics and Journalism
Platform Governance and Power
News Distribution Strategies
Metrics, Analytics, and Audience Data
Dependency and Resistance Strategies
Chapter 4. Digital Storytelling and News Genres
Multimedia Storytelling Forms
Interactive and Immersive Journalism
Data Visualization and Infographics
MobileFirst and Visual Journalism
LongForm Digital Narratives
Hybrid and Experimental Formats
User Experience and Story Design
Innovation in News Presentation
Chapter 5. Audiences, Participationand Engagement
Changing News Consumption Patterns
Participatory and Networked Audiences
Comment Cultures and Moderation
Community Engagement Practices
Trust, Credibility, and Transparency
Personalization and Algorithmic Filtering
News Avoidance and Digital Fatigue
Measuring Engagement and Impact
Chapter 6. Ethics and Accountability in Digital Journalism
Ethical Frameworks for Digital Media
Accuracy and Verification Online
Privacy, Surveillance, and Data Ethics
Visual Ethics and Manipulation
Harm, Trauma, and Online Reporting
Corrections, Transparency, and Accountability
Platform Responsibility and Ethics
Professional Standards in a Digital Context
Chapter 7. Political, Legal, and Regulatory Dimensions
Digital Journalism and Democracy
Media Freedom in Online Environments
Laws Governing Digital News
Censorship, Surveillance, and Control
Platform Regulation and Policy Debates
Journalism in Authoritarian Contexts
National Security and Online Reporting
Advocacy and Media Reform
Chapter 8. Economics and Business Models of Digital News
Digital Advertising Ecosystems
Subscription, Membership, and Paywalls
Platform Economies and Monetization
Native Advertising and Sponsored Content
Labor Conditions and Precarity
Nonprofit and PublicService Models
Sustainability of Digital News
Innovation and Revenue Diversification
Chapter 9. Global and Comparative Digital Journalism
Comparative Digital Media Systems
Digital Journalism in the Global South
Transnational News Networks
Conflict and Crisis Reporting Online
Cultural Contexts and Localization
Safety, Harassment, and Online Threats
International Collaboration and Investigations
Global Norms and Practices
Chapter 10. Emerging Technologies and the Future of Digital Journalism
Artificial Intelligence and Automation
Data Journalism and Computational Methods
Misinformation, Disinformation and FactChecking
Deepfakes and Synthetic Media
Immersive Technologies and the Metaverse
Human–Machine Collaboration in Newsrooms
Journalism Education in the Digital Age
Reimagining Digital Journalism Futures
Bibliography
Index