Enacted Journalism Takes the Stage: How Audiences Respond to Reporting-Based Theater

ABSTRACT

In a media environment where content far exceeds what people can pay attention to, news organizations have experimented with different ways of informing and engaging audiences. This article focuses on a face-to-face endeavor we term “enacted journalism”—reporting-based live-theater performances followed by conversation. Theoretically, we draw from literature on theater, journalism, and political communication to develop the concept of “enacted journalism” and to examine its effects. Based on surveys of audiences attending performances of three plays in the U.S. (n = 279) and in-depth interviews with 13 people involved in the plays, we show that enacted journalism can inform and increase intentions to participate in civic and political activities, functions performed by traditional journalism. It also expands audience conceptions of what counts as journalism, which, as we discuss, has mixed normative implications.

KEYWORDS:

• Audience engagement
• information
• journalism
• theater
• plays
• performances

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for partnership from the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) and StoryWorks, especially Jennifer Welch, Annie Chabel, and Cole Goins. We thank the interviewees who shared their insights with us, Dr. Claudia Wilhelm and Dr. Glenda Cooper for their help and advice, and the Center for Media Engagement team especially Melody Avant, Caroline Murray, Aiden Park, Alex Purcell, and Katie Steiner.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by funding from the Center for Investigative Reporting in addition to the Democracy Fund, Hewlett Foundation, and Rita Allen Foundation.