On “Having Been There”: “Eyewitnessing” as a Journalistic Key Word
- 21 November 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Critical Studies in Media Communication
- Vol. 24 (5) , 408-428
Abstract
This article tracks the evolution of “eyewitnessing” as a journalistic key word. It argues that three dimensions have helped establish eyewitnessing as a way to understand journalism—the eyewitness as report, eyewitness as role, and eyewitness as technology. These dimensions have functioned as different carriers of meaning about journalism over time, establishing a seemingly consensual understanding of journalism and journalistic practice while strengthening journalism's claim to authority in questionable circumstances.Keywords
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