Principles of American Journalism: An Introduction

by Stephanie Craft, Charles N. Davis, Joy Jenkins

Overview

Designed to engage, inspire, and challenge students while laying out the fundamentals of the craft, this textbook - now in its fourth edition - introduces readers to the core values of journalism and its singular role in a democracy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032456300
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/25/2025
Edition description:	4th ed.
Pages:	260
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Stephanie Craft is Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois, U.S. Her research addresses definitions and measures of news literacy, how journalists articulate norms of practice and journalism ethics. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Media Ethics, Journalism Practice and Journalism & Communication Monographs.

Charles N. Davis is Professor and Dean of the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, U.S. He has served as Department Chair at the Missouri School of Journalism and also spent five years at Mizzou as Executive Director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition.

Joy Jenkins is Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Missouri, U.S. Her studies have focused on how local newsrooms are managing the transition to a digital media environment, the influence of market concerns on journalists' public service roles, how perceptions of audience and local impact shape journalistic identity and the intersections between gender and media. She is a research associate at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Oxford, U.K.

Table of Contents

1. The Mirror, the Watchdog, and the Marketplace 2. What is Journalism? 3. Making Journalism: New Ways Honor Timeless Values 4. The Independent Journalist 5. From Disruption, New Models Emerge 6. What do Journalists Owe Us? 7. The Foundations of Free Expression 8. Conclusion: The Power of the Free Press

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Craft and Davis’s Principles of American Journalism could be subtitled ‘Everything you really need to understand about journalism but didn’t think to ask.’ Students will surely appreciate its lively conversational style; the authors’sense of humor, as well as their passion for great journalism, comes through on every page."
—Kim Walsh-Childers, University of Florida

"Principles of American Journalism should be mandatory reading for every journalism student, especially in an era when good journalism is sometimes lost in a cacophony of media messages. With passion for their subject and a no-nonsense approach, Craft and Davis cut through the mass-communication clutter, underlining the importance of journalism in a democratic society and the challenges it faces in the 21st century."
—Janice Hume, University of Georgia

"Principles of American Journalism is a thoughtful introduction to journalism and to its critical role in a democracy. As the technology and economics of journalism change in profound ways, students need to understand the fundamental principles that guide journalism in this country and why they are needed more than ever."
—Ford Risley, Penn State University

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the previous edition:

"This revised edition of Principles of American Journalism examines journalism’s past, present, and future to underscore the essential functions that journalism fulfills in a democracy. The book’s conversational tone is allied to ample testimonies from journalists in the field, making it an accessible and engaging text for journalism students." –Ryan Thomas, Missouri School of Journalism

"Craft and Davis adeptly articulate the importance of journalism in society through its history, impact, successes and challenges, particularly in the significant changes revolutionizing the field today. No other book boils this down as succinctly and clearly. Their book should be required reading for anyone considering a career in journalism.

New sections illuminate the rapidly changing media landscape, including industry changes in ownership, an update to the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics, and the effects of social media on news. Nobody else covers so much material in such a clear, concise way, bolstered by professionals’ real stories and practical assignments for learning the craft." – David Cuillier, University of Arizona

From the Publisher