Authoritarian Populism and the Challenges for News Journalism

“This book is necessary reading for anyone concerned with authoritarian populism. Through a meticulous analysis of everyday news discourse, Ekström and Patrona demonstrate how conventional journalistic practice often inadvertently reinforces and legitimates antidemocratic perspectives. To break away from abetting the far right, a convincing case is made for journalists to reposition their core principles around a clear allegiance to fostering an inclusive democracy.” Matt Carlson, Professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota, United States “This wide-ranging, rigorous and systematic study adds an important dimension to our understanding of authoritarian populism and the ways in which it is shaped, promoted and resisted in broadcast and social media. Through close analysis it casts light on how right-wing populism is mediated in the talk of journalists and politicians and in the exchanges between them. Challenging and insightful, it will prove an invaluable resource for all those concerned about the state of public discourse in contemporary society.” Martin Montgomery, Emeritus Professor of Literary Linguistics, University of Macau, China