The Transformation of Audience Interest in Academic Explanatory Journalism Post-Pandemic

The Conversation Canada is an independent journalism organization that collaborates with scholars to create research-based journalistic articles that are accessible to the wider public. In COVID-19, this form of “news-you-can-use” spiked in popularity, as people searched for understandable, but research-based, information to navigate the uncertainty of the first wave of the pandemic. This research was undertaken to understand how the value of “news-you-can-use” has changed post-pandemic, by asking what forms, topics, and authors do Canadians value in explanatory journalism in 2023, and what do they seem to steer clear from? This research will help The Conversation Canada further develop engaging explanatory journalism by uncovering the core themes that their audience values.

Faculty Supervisor:

Alfred Hermida

Student:

Partner:

The Conversation Canada

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: