Call for Book or Chapter Proposals: Social Media and Digital Journalism

Scope of the Call 

Vernon Press invites book proposals on the theme of “Social Media and Digital Journalism” for our book series in Communication.

The emergence of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit and YouTube has had an impact not only in shaping people’s social habits, but also for communication and journalists’ working practices. Interactive technologies serve as new platforms for promotion and announcements and also as new sources for news, leads and contacts, upsetting established professional practices, inviting controversy and opening up new areas of academic inquiry.

Never before was the function of journalism in as much demand or as vigorously challenged. More than ever journalists need to act as intermediaries between sources and receptors, making use of their skills in identifying, verifying and filtering information. The rapidly pulsating social media rhythm creates a new kind of journalism, in which journalists need to be active continuously and develop new reflexes to fulfil their roles as information professionals. Meanwhile, news produced by professionals, competes for attention against unconventional “content” providers, governed by different sets of rules and challenging established relationships.

Advanced algorithms track past reading patterns and tailor reader experiences. As a result readers are guided through a so-called filter bubble. A new form of digital divide is emerging, where personal experience is increasingly removed from the whole, a trend blamed for, among other things, unprecedented political polarization. It is still unclear whether and how filter bubbles influence traditional relationships between journalists and readers, erode trust in traditional outlets, and the ability of journalists to offer unbiased reporting.

The scope of the present call is broad. All issues stemming from the transition from daily newspaper, to digital journalism are potentially relevant. Possible topics include (non-comprehensive list):

• the rise of social media influence in the public sphere
• journalists’ use of social media: source or tool
• the digital transformation in journalism
• communication standards and ethics in the age of social media
• media plurality and the long-tail of perspectives
• advances in journalism education and the professionalization of social media communication

How to submit your proposal

Please submit one-page monograph proposals at submissions@vernonpress.com including an annotated summary/motivation, a short biographical note and (if applicable) a list of similar titles. Proposals that treat other topics of relevance to the series in Communication and Journalism are also welcome. More information on what we look for in a proposal is available on our website.

About the publisher

Vernon Press is an independent publisher of scholarly books in the social sciences and humanities. We work closely with authors, academic associations, distributors and library information specialists to identify and develop high quality, high impact titles. Recent and forthcoming titles in our series in Communication include Politics and Web 2.0: The Participation Gap and Strategic Communication for Non-Profit Organisations. More information on  www.vernonpress.com