Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Degree Granting Department

Mass Communications

Major Professor

Gregory Perreault, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Mildred Perreault, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Travis Bell, Ph.D.

Keywords

conflict reporting, diaspora journalism, diasporic sphere, transnational identities

Abstract

As global tensions continue to rise, media landscapes are changing. Diaspora communities play an integral role in this shift, as they search for verifiable news with a global perspective to keep them informed on crises in their home countries. In order to keep their communities informed, diaspora journalists step up to localize coverage, creating transnational networks to bridge home and host countries. They often work through intense situations, sacrificing normalcy for information. Building on the framework from Ogunyemi’s (2018) diasporic media observations, Fraser’s (1992) counterpublics theory, and D.K. Thussu’s (2006) contra-flow in global media theory, this study explores how diaspora journalists conceptualize their transnational newsgathering experiences. Through a multi-methods approach of qualitative content analysis and qualitative interviews, this study examines how diaspora journalists use their lived experiences to inform their reporting. The objective of this research is to determine how diaspora journalists, through their positions as transnational media workers, provide a decolonized and culturally proximate form of journalism that challenges dominant narratives and redefines ethical truth-telling in times of conflict. Looking specifically at diaspora organizations and journalists from Russia, Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel, this research highlights the importance of understanding the unique challenges of such journalists. By examining their roles and experiences, this research aims to illustrate how these journalists navigate reporting from afar while localizing information specifically for diasporic communities, aiding in their communities' maintenance with connection to their homeland, and adapting to the media landscapes of their host countries.

Download

Share

COinS