The Discursive Construction of The Gamification of Journalism

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study explores the discursive, normative construction of gamification within journalism. Rooted in a theory of discursive institutionalism and by analyzing a significant corpus of metajournalistic discourse from 2006 to 2019, the study demonstrates how journalists have negotiated gamification’s place within journalism’s boundaries. The discourse addresses criticism that gamified news is a move toward infotainment and makes the case for gamification as serious journalism anchored in norms of audience engagement. Thus, gamification does not constitute institutional change since it is construed as an extension of existing institutional norms and beliefs.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalConvergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies
Volume26
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Boundary Work
  • Discourse Analysis
  • Discursive Institutionalism
  • Gamification
  • Gamifying News
  • Institutional Change
  • Journalism Studies
  • Journalistic Norms
  • Metajournalistic Discourse

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