The Discursive Construction of The Gamification of Journalism

Authors

Tim P. Voss, Michigan State University
Gregory P. Perreault, Appalachian State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2020

Keywords

Boundary Work, Discourse Analysis, Discursive Institutionalism, Gamification, Gamifying News, Institutional Change, Journalism Studies, Journalistic Norms, Metajournalistic Discourse

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856520909542

Abstract

This study explores the discursive, normative construction of gamification within journalism. Rooted in a theory of discursive institutionalism and by analyzing a significant corpus of metajournalistic discourse from 2006 to 2019, the study demonstrates how journalists have negotiated gamification’s place within journalism’s boundaries. The discourse addresses criticism that gamified news is a move toward infotainment and makes the case for gamification as serious journalism anchored in norms of audience engagement. Thus, gamification does not constitute institutional change since it is construed as an extension of existing institutional norms and beliefs.

Rights Information

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

No

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, v. 26, issue 3, p. 470-485

Vos, T. P., & Perreault, G. P., The Discursive Construction of The Gamification of Journalism, Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 26(3), pp. 470-485. Copyright © 2020 by SAGE Publications.

The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856520909542.

Scholar Commons Citation

Voss, Tim P. and Perreault, Gregory P., "The Discursive Construction of The Gamification of Journalism" (2020). School of Advertising & Mass Communications Faculty Publications. 39.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/com_facpub/39