An Examination of Pack Journalism as a Form of Groupthink: A Theoretical and Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

This study examines pack journalism as a form of groupthink. Pack journalism is a practice whereby large groups of reporters cluster around a news site, engage in copycat reporting by using and sharing news information, and lazily refrain from confirming the data through independent sources. Groupthink is a concept that describes a consensus-seeking propensity in certain groups. Through a qualitative analysis and thorough explanation of pack journalism, coupled with a theoretical and anecdotal description of groupthink, this study examines the relationships between this pack media practice and the theoretical concept of groupthink. Qualitative data were gathered from e-mail interviews with reporters from major newspaper organizations in several U.S. states. Questions asked in the interview were designed to evoke subjective journalistic opinions about what it means to engage in pack journalism, what the ethical and professional implications are from reporters' standpoints, and what connection there is between pack journalism and groupthink.

KEYWORDS:

• Groupthink
• pack journalism
• interviewing
• reporters
• media