Peripheral Actors in Journalism

Book excerpt: This book addresses the transformative role that so-called peripheral actors in journalism – emerging outlets diverging from the norms fiercely held by mainstream media outlets – play in today’s news ecosystem. The author charts the rise to prominence of these actors, outlining how they have successfully managed to challenge the authority held by mainstream, legacy outlets, whose claims to be the “storytellers of our time” no longer exclusively pertain to them. Beginning by identifying these peripheral actors specifically, the book then considers whether what they do is “journalism” as traditionally conceived, what their motivations are, and why their role is important in light of journalism’s democratic function in holding power to account. Ultimately, it is argued that, despite the perceived role of peripheral actors as “deviant”, they still demonstrate a surprising degree of ideological continuity in the face of industrial disruption. Drawing on research from Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom, Peripheral Actors in Journalism is an insightful resource for journalism and media scholars with an interest in alternative media sources.