Cultural Journalism in the Nordic Countries

In an era when culture itself has become central to political debates, when boundaries between hard news and soft news, facts and opinion are dissolving, cultural journalism contributes to democratic discourse on vital issues of our time. Cultural journalism is furthermore indicative of journalistic autonomy and specialisation within media organisations, and of the intertwined relationship between the cultural and political public spheres. Nordic cultural journalism in the mainstream media covers more subjects today than ever before, from fine arts to gaming, media industries, and lifestyle issues. At the same time, it harbours debates and reflection on freedom of expression, ethnicity and national identity. This book contributes to an emerging international research agenda on cultural journalism at a time when digitalisation, convergence and globalisation are influencing the character of journalism in multiple ways.

“Cultural journalism matters, and it matters differently by location. This nuanced and thoughtful portrayal of cultural journalism in the Nordic countries performs a double elevation of what has been missing for too long from journalism’s discussion: its stylistic and geographic variety. This book offers a strong set of studies that highlight what cultural journalism in the Nordic countries forces us to consider about all journalism everywhere.”

Barbie Zelizer Raymond Williams
Professor of Communication
Annenberg School for Communication
University of Pennsylvania

Content

Preface

Why Cultural Journalism in the Nordic Countries?
Nete Nørgaard Kristensen, Kristina Riegert

I. Country Overviews

The Changing Logics of Danish Cultural Journalism
Nete Nørgaard Kristensen, Unni From, Aske Kammer

From Culture Wars to Combat Games: The differentiation and development of culture departments in Finland
Heikki Hellman, Maarit Jaakkola, Raimo Salokangas

Cultural Rebels, Popular Journalism and Niche Journalism in Norway
Jan Fredrik Hovden, Leif Ove Larsen, Silje Nygaard

Cultural Journalism as a Contribution to Democratic Discourse in Sweden
Kristina Riegert, Anna Roosvall

II. Comparative Case Studies

What Is Cultural News Good For? Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish cultural journalism in public service organisations
Heikki Hellman, Leif Ove Larsen, Kristina Riegert, Andreas Widholm, Silje Nygaard

Editorial and Cultural Debates in Danish and Swedish Newspapers: Understanding the terror attacks in Paris and Copenhagen in early 2015
Nete Nørgaard Kristensen, Anna Roosvall

Journalists as Tastemakers: An analysis of the coverage of the TV series Borgen in a British, Swedish and Danish newsbrand
Kirsten Sparre, Unni From

III. Cultural Journalism in the Public Sphere: Esseys

The Cultural, the Political and the Functions of Cultural Journalism: In Digital Times
Jostein Gripsrud

The Culture of Service Journalism
Martin Eide

Afterword

The Authors