Interpretive Journalism

Abstract

In summary one-third of the political coverage analyzed in the 16 countries was found to contain interpretive journalism, with some countries - including France and the United States - making use of it much more than the rest. Indeed, the story genres and the interpretive journalism used in the various countries differ substantially, indicating distinct motives and news cultures. A multivariate analysis conducted to identify the most powerful predictors of interpretive journalism finds that, first, upmarket newspapers and mass-market newspapers are more likely to be interpretive than online news; second, commercial television news is more likely to be interpretive than public service television news; and third, interpretive journalism is further boosted by high competition among television channels. The chapter concludes with a cautionary note warning against overhasty conclusions about the international prevalence of interpretive journalism and the linkage between it and media types or outlets without first examining specific contexts.