Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Future Journalism
Course Code
SZF_276
Branch of Science
Communication Theory; Media and communications; Other Sub-Branches of Mass Media and Communication
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science; Juridical Science; Political Science; Public Health
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Anda Rožukalne
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
SZF, Kuldigas Street 9C, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The aim of the course is to discuss the future development directions of journalism in the context of political, economic and technological influences, offering knowledge, skills and competencies that enable both understanding the importance of journalism in democracy and creating innovative journalistic formats for national and international audiences.
Preliminary Knowledge
Introduction to studies and specialty
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Able to recognize the normative approach and signs of hybridity in contemporary journalism.
Individual work and tests
Case study of an innovative journalism project • An innovative project in journalism
Skills
1.Skills to use knowledge of journalism to assess its quality and self-evaluation. Skills to conceive, plan and create an innovative journalism format, ensuring its content and offering a model of economic existence.
Individual work and tests
An innovative project in journalism • Case study of an innovative journalism project • An innovative journalistic project: structure and content • Innovative journalism project: using artificial intelligence and data in content creation. Presentation, discussion • An innovative journalistic project: example of creative content • An innovative journalistic format: publication • Innovative journalism format: its communication, audience, error assessment and correction
2.Skills in using data analysis and presentation tools to create analytical content in journalism.
Individual work and tests
An innovative journalistic format: publication • Innovative journalism project: using artificial intelligence and data in content creation. Presentation, discussion
3.Skills to conceive, organize and manage creative projects in journalism.
Individual work and tests
An innovative project in journalism • An innovative journalistic project: structure and content • An innovative journalistic format: publication • An innovative journalistic format: management • Innovative journalism format: its communication, audience, error assessment and correction
Competences
1.creating news, analytical and investigative journalism content in the digital environment, as well as on other platforms.
Individual work and tests
Case study of an innovative journalism project • An innovative project in journalism • An innovative journalistic format: management • An innovative journalistic format: publication • An innovative journalistic project: example of creative content • Innovative journalism project: using artificial intelligence and data in content creation. Presentation, discussion
2.Uses knowledge and practical experience to develop competencies for recognizing and creating ethical and professional journalism, including the use of artificial intelligence in journalism.
Individual work and tests
Innovative journalism project: using artificial intelligence and data in content creation. Presentation, discussion • An innovative journalistic project: example of creative content • An innovative journalistic format: publication • An innovative journalistic project: structure and content • Innovative journalism format: its communication, audience, error assessment and correction
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Case study of an innovative journalism project |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Students will select and create an analysis of an innovative journalism project, evaluating its professional, creative, economic, and technological aspects. |
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|
2.
An innovative project in journalism |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Creating an innovative journalism project: the idea, its risks and opportunities. Presentation, discussion |
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|
3.
An innovative journalistic project: structure and content |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
The student develops his/her own creative project, proposing its structure and content. Presentation, discussion. |
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|
4.
Innovative journalism project: using artificial intelligence and data in content creation. Presentation, discussion |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Each student uses data and artificial intelligence tools to create the content of their project. |
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|
5.
An innovative journalistic project: example of creative content |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Student prepares and presents an example of their project content. Discussion on professional approaches and ethical issues. |
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|
6.
An innovative journalistic format: management |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Katrs students izveido sava žurnālistikas satura menedžmenta plānu un to prezentē. Diskusija. |
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|
7.
An innovative journalistic format: publication |
20.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Each student finds a publication platform and form, publishes the prepared journalistic work. Discussion |
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|
8.
Innovative journalism format: its communication, audience, error assessment and correction |
20.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Each student presents examples of the communication of their work, analyzes the target audience, evaluates and corrects errors in the content |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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What is future journalism? Future trajectories of journalism.
Description
The first lecture will examine the development trends of modern journalism, defining the features of future journalism. |
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Professionalism, practices, ethics of future journalism.
Description
Lecture on professionalism, practices, ethics of future journalism. |
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Study room
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2
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Topics
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The formats, practices and organisation of future journalism.
Description
Lecture on the formats, practices and organisation of future journalism. |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
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Topics
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Seminar. Case analysis of an innovative journalism project/format.
Description
Seminar. Case analysis of an innovative journalism project/format. |
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Nākotnes žurnālistika: ekonomika, politika un tehnoloģijas.
Description
Nākotnes žurnālistika: ekonomika, politika un tehnoloģijas. |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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2. Seminar. Presentation of an innovative idea for a future journalism format. Discussion.
Description
2. Seminar. Presentation of an innovative idea for a future journalism format. Discussion. |
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Lecture 5. Future journalism professionals: roles, skills, practice.
Description
Lecture 5. Future journalism professionals: roles, skills, practice. Newsfluencers, opinion creators, activists. |
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Lecture 6. Future journalism: innovation and creativity.
Description
Lecture 6. Future journalism: innovation and creativity. How to organize a chaos of good ideas and best people? |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Seminar 3. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion.
Description
Seminar 3. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion. |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Seminar 4. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion.
Description
Seminar 4. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion. |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Seminar 3. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion.
Description
Seminar 5. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion. |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Seminar 6. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion.
Description
Seminar 6. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion. |
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Lecture 7. Scenarios for the development of future journalism.
Description
Lecture 7. Scenarios for the development of future journalism. Economic scenarios. Individualism. |
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Lecture 8. Scenarios for the development of future journalism.
Description
Lecture 8. Scenarios for the development of future journalism. Practice, ethics - big changes. |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Seminar 8. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion.
Description
Seminar 8. Development of an innovative idea. Presentation, discussion. |
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Seminar 8. Final course discussion and projects' evaluation.
Description
Seminar 8. Final course discussion and projects' evaluation. |
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Oral)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Ma, Y. (2025). Entrepreneurial Education and Market Alignment in Journalism: Impacts on Graduate Career Outcomes and Job Satisfaction. Sage Open, 15(4).
2.
Bakke, N. A., & Barland, J. (2022). Disruptive Innovations and Paradigm Shifts in Journalism as a Business: From Advertisers First to Readers First and Traditional Operational Models to the AI Factory. Sage Open, 12(2).
3.
Alsharif, R. S. (2025). Interactional and Interactive Metadiscourse in AI News Articles. Sage Open, 15(4).
4.
Zhou, J., & Shalley, C.E. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of Organizational Creativity (1st ed.). Psychology Press.
5.
Hracs, B.J., Brydges, T., Haisch, T., Hauge, A., Jansson, J., & Sjoholm, J. (Eds.). (2021). Culture, Creativity and Economy: Collaborative Practices, Value Creation and Spaces of Creativity (1st ed.). Routledge.
6.
Lischka, J. A., Schaetz, N., & Oltersdorf, A. L. (2023). Editorial Technologists as Engineers of Journalism’s Future: Exploring the Professional Community of Computational Journalism. Digital Journalism, 11(6), 1026–1044.
7.
Lewis, S. C., Zamith, R., & Bunquin, J. B. A. (2025). Technological Hype and AI in Journalism: Five Functions and Why They Matter. Digital Journalism, 1–12.
8.
Perreault, G. P., Lewis, S. C., & Ely, M. (2025). ChatGPT, Generative AI, and an Epistemic Opportunity for Journalistic Authority. Digital Journalism, 1–21.
9.
Cools, H., & de Vreese, C. H. (2025). From Automation to Transformation with AI-Tools: Exploring the Professional Norms and the Perceptions of Responsible AI in a News Organization. Digital Journalism, 1–20.
10.
Møller, L. A., Cools, H., & Skovsgaard, M. (2025). One Size Fits Some: How Journalistic Roles Shape the Adoption of Generative AI. Journalism Practice, 1–22.
11.
Steel, J., Firmstone, J., Conboy, M., Fox, C., Elliott-Harvey, C., Mulderrig, J., … Wragg, P. (2025). Journalism and Ethical Praxis: A Thematic Analysis of Journalism Ethics Across Five European Countries. Journalism Practice, 1–18.
12.
Paik, S. (2025). Journalism Ethics for the Algorithmic Era. Digital Journalism, 13(4), 696–722.
13.
Hurcombe, E. (2025). Conceptualising the “Newsfluencer”: Intersecting Trajectories in Online Content Creation and Platformatised Journalism. Digital Journalism, 13(9), 1523–1534.
14.
Wasike, B. (2026). Influencing the news: how social media influencers affect news media trust. Information, Communication & Society, 29(1), 77–94.
15.
Cheng, Z., Medina, L., Durotoye, T., & Chadha, M. (2025). News on TikTok Through the Lens of Quality Journalism: How TikTok Users Perceive News Values, Content, and Engagement. Journalism Studies, 26(13), 1594–1616.
16.
Hendrickx, J., & Vázquez-Herrero, J. (2024). Dissecting Social Media Journalism: A Comparative Study Across Platforms, Outlets and Countries. Journalism Studies, 25(9), 1053–1075.
17.
Franklin, B. (Ed.). (2011). The Future of Journalism (1st ed.). Routledge.
18.
Anda Rožukalne, Alnis Stakle and Ilva Skulte, “Between Institutional Inertia and Systemic Vulnerability: Understanding Invisible Threats to Journalists’ Safety”, Comunicação e sociedade [Online], 48 | 2025, Online since 28 October 2025, connection on 08 January 2026.
Additional Reading
1.
Aslam, Y., Liu, Z., & Rahman, M. M. (2026). The Synergy of Artificial Intelligence Capabilities and Creativity: Exploring Positive Outcomes Through Qualitative Research. Sage Open, 16(1).
2.
Amabile, T.M. (1996). Creativity In Context: Update To The Social Psychology Of Creativity (1st ed.). Routledge.
3.
Oso, L., Adeniran, R., & Arowolo, O. (2024). Journalism ethics: the dilemma, social and contextual constraints. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1).
4.
Harro-Loit, H., Parder, M.-L., Rožukalne, A., Juurik, M., & Skulte, I. (2025). Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in Estonia and Latvia: The Role of Agents. Central European Journal of Communication, 18(1(39), 51-81.
5.
Predictions for Journalism 2026