Klaus Meier, Jose A. García-Avilés, Andy Kaltenbrunner, Colin Porlezza, Vinzenz Wyss, Renée Lugschitz & Korbinian Klinghardt. Innovations in journalism. Comparative research in five European countries. London and New York: transcript, 2024, pp. 327. ISBN 978-1-032-63041-0

Abstract

Innovations in Journalism. Comparative Research in Five European Countries is an edited book authored and edited by Klaus Meier, Jose A. García-Avilés, Andy Kaltenbrunner, Colin Porlezza, Vinzenz Wyss, Renée Lugschitz, and Korbinian Klinghardt. Given the ongoing and recurring ‘storms in a teacup,’ fixations on the new by ignoring the old, hysterias, hasty actions, or (too) late decisions in the context of profound changes and transformations of journalism, it is encouraging to find a book that offers a composed and analytical view of significant innovations in journalism. Indeed, journalism needs to deal with changes and transformations in one way or another since “innovation becomes a crucial element for journalism to adjust and to (re-)invent itself in the light of ongoing changes” (p. 1). However, for news organizations, journalists, journalism scholars, and policymakers alike, it is not always easy to decide what to focus on, what aspects to consider, and how to evaluate the importance of alleged or actual innovations in journalism. The authors provide helpful anchor points for discussions on such questions, presented throughout their compelling, intelligible, and well-written book.