The Mythological Role of Journalism

Deadline for submission: Dec. 1, 2001

Journalism continues to struggle to find and retain its sense of purpose and place. Insight and understanding might come from a surprising source: myth.

Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly invites papers for a special issue on "The Mythological Role of Journalism." Papers can draw upon a rich history of scholarship that includes the work of Roland Barthes, Marshall McLuhan, Gaye Tuchman, James Carey, Stuart Hall, Mircea Eliade, Joseph Campbell and many others. In the spirit of this tradition, scholars can use a variety of methodological perspectives to explore social, cultural, and political connections between news and myth or other forms of long-enduring stories.

Possible topics might include:

• the relationship among news, myth and ideology
• the significance of narrative form and myth for news
• manifestations of myth in news coverage of sports, crime, and other subjects
• news, myth and stereotypes
• myths of masculinity and femininity in news
• examinations of the roles of news and myth in social life
• audience understanding of myth in the news
• mythic structure in television news
• myth and international news
• case studies of news as myth
• exploration of links among social drama, myth and news
• myth, ritual and political news coverage

Submissions from all disciplines are welcome. Papers should conform to standard submission guidelines set forth by Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly and will undergo the journal's traditional blind process of peer review.

Deadline for submissions is December 1, 2001. All queries and submissions (please send four copies) for this special issue should be directed to Linda Steiner at the address/phone number/e-mail listed below.