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Abstract
The phrase “slow journalism” is (slowly) entering the dictionary of journalism scholars. Le Masurier's contribution in this journal in 2015 was a stimulating invitation to understand how “slowness” could summarise many current changes in journalistic practices, and to remind also that “Journalism is a plural noun.” This article firstly questions the polysemy of “slow journalism.” Slowness may wrap many layers of meaning. Slow means far from pack reporting, investigative, and more selective in its targets. But slow could as well suggest: narrative, fair (with its sources and readers), participative, community oriented, and finally, giving priority to untold stories. How can researchers deal with such a richness of meanings? The suggestion here would be double. Slow journalism should be considered as a Weberian ideal-type, questioning, not mirroring, the reality of journalism. A “soft” mapping could invite rethinking the space of slow journalisms in three (overlapping) sub-groups: explanatory, narrative, and mobilised. But claiming the need for “soft” mapping also means paying attention to fuzziness in journalistic practices.
Notes
2 See, for instance, “Subotica, nouvelle porte d'entrée dans Schengen,” Le Monde, March 20, 2015; “Kosovo; l'appel de l'ouest”, Le Monde, March 26, 2015; “Caché dans les bagages du ‘train des migrants”, Le Monde, May 26, 2015.
3 Jakobson defines the “conative” function of language as the dimensions of a message which are targeting and engaging the addressee/receiver. This dimension would be especially important if one of the message's aims is to mobilise, to move the audience.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Erik Neveu
Erik Neveu, Professor of Political Science, ARENES/CNRS, IEP de Rennes, 104 Bd de la Duchesse Anne, Rennes 35700, France.