Key research themes
1. How did the abolition of Stamp Duty influence the development and impact of local and provincial press in 19th century Britain?
This theme examines the transformative effects of 19th-century newspaper taxation reforms on the proliferation, distribution, and socio-political role of local and provincial newspapers in Britain. Understanding this impact is critical as it highlights the decentralization of journalism from London, the growth of regional identities, and the shift in political, cultural, and economic power exercised through the press. Such research reassesses Victorian cultural history by emphasizing the dominant presence of local newspapers in shaping public opinion and local cultures.
2. What role did international congresses and professionalization efforts play in shaping journalism as a regulated profession around the turn of the 20th century?
This area investigates the institutionalization and professionalization of journalism through international cooperation and regulatory efforts exemplified by press congresses such as the 1898 Lisbon International Congress of the Press. This theme critically addresses how journalism transitioned from a loosely defined trade to a regulated profession with ethical codes, formal education, and associations, underpinning the modern journalistic self-conception. The research stresses the interplay between national and international dimensions in establishing journalism's identity and autonomy within democratic societies.
3. How did interpretive and authoritative reporting evolve in early 20th-century American journalism, particularly at The New York Times between 1919 and 1931?
This research theme explores the emergence of interpretive reporting—a journalistic style characterized by analysis, context, and explanation rather than mere factual reporting—during the Progressive Era and after World War I. Focusing on The New York Times, the investigation delves into how bylined correspondents, editorial innovations, and interactions with emerging newsmagazines fostered authoritative journalism, thereby transforming news consumption and public understanding, especially regarding complex political and international affairs.
4. How have historical narratives within ethnic and minority press contributed to shaping cultural identity and communal imaginaries, particularly among diaspora communities?
This theme focuses on the role of ethnic and minority press in articulating and preserving cultural identity, fostering community cohesion, and mediating transnational belonging. By analyzing symbolic representations, narratives, and the production of collective memory within diaspora newspapers, research reveals how immigrant communities have used print media to negotiate identity within host societies, reconnect with their heritage, and influence socio-political discourses both locally and internationally.