The timeliness of constructionist theory in the process of journalistic content production in the digital age
by Cantífula de Castro, Bruno F. Gonçalves
Insight - News Media, Vol.7, No.1, 2024;
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This research explores the relevance of constructionist theory in the production of journalistic content in the digital age. Constructionist theory posits that reality is socially constructed and shaped by the discursive practices of the media, gaining significance within a media landscape profoundly transformed by digitization, the proliferation of social networks, and the use of algorithms. The investigation employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing a systematic literature review of publications from 2013 to 2023, aiming to map the principal theoretical and empirical approaches that discuss the impact of new technologies and communicative practices on contemporary journalism. The findings indicate that the digital era has intensified the constructionist nature of news production, given the multiplicity of voices and agents involved in the mediation process, including an actively participating public in the creation and dissemination of content. It was further observed that digital platforms, by personalizing news consumption through algorithms, create fragmented realities and filter bubbles, challenging the notion of a shared news reality. Moreover, the emergence of misinformation and “fake news” underscores the importance of a constructionist approach to understanding how news narratives are continuously negotiated and reconstructed. It is concluded that constructionist theory remains a valid analytical framework for understanding the dynamics of journalistic production in the digital age, particularly in a context where the boundaries between news producers and consumers have become increasingly fluid.
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