Title

An Examination Of Pack Journalism As A Form Of Groupthink: A Theoretical And Qualitative Analysis

Keywords

Groupthink; interviewing; media; pack journalism; reporters

Abstract

This study examines pack journalism as a form of groupthink. Pack journalism is a practice whereby large groups of reporters cluster around a news site, engage in copycat reporting by using and sharing news information, and lazily refrain from confirming the data through independent sources. Groupthink is a concept that describes a consensus-seeking propensity in certain groups. Through a qualitative analysis and thorough explanation of pack journalism, coupled with a theoretical and anecdotal description of groupthink, this study examines the relationships between this pack media practice and the theoretical concept of groupthink. Qualitative data were gathered from e-mail interviews with reporters from major newspaper organizations in several U.S. states. Questions asked in the interview were designed to evoke subjective journalistic opinions about what it means to engage in pack journalism, what the ethical and professional implications are from reporters' standpoints, and what connection there is between pack journalism and groupthink. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Publication Date

10-1-2012

Publication Title

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

Volume

22

Issue

7

Number of Pages

896-915

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2012.707933

Socpus ID

84867252139 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84867252139

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