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Journalism Dissertation Topics – Get a Research Based Topic

Published by Owen Ingram at January 2nd, 2023 , Revised On August 11, 2023

Coming up with original journalism dissertation topics for your undergraduate, Master or PhD degree can be a very frustrating experience . In contrast to other disciplines, journalism dissertations are judged based on the interviewee’s quality of information.

A journalism dissertation must be more than just a statement of theoretical knowledge; it must be genuine and applicable.

Are you trying to find the ideal subjects for journalism research? Improve your grade in the dissertation project by using these journalistic research questions and topics.

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Unique Journalism Topics

  • By depicting women as materialistic things, how does the media help perpetuate stereotyped depictions of women?
  • Discuss how powerful individuals influence the freedom of media and journalist
  • Talk about the main issues that journalists face when performing their jobs
  • What impact has advances in science and technology had on journalism?
  • How many journalists alter the idea that women are materialistic?
  • Can journalism be utilized to advance disadvantaged groups in society?
  • What impact do online media outlets have on journalism today?
  • Do you think social media is displacing print media?
  • How has technology changed the methods through which journalists communicate with their audience?
  • How do well-known people affect the freedom of the press and journalists?
  • Describe the difficulties faced daily by journalists working in a variety of geographical settings
  • How can journalists better inform the public about current events?
  • What part does the media play in lowering crime?
  • Talk about how the media has a bad impact on violence
  • What connection is there between media and the expansion of the fashion sector?
  • What is the media’s subsequent effect on the expansion of an economy?
  • What do you think about denying political media outlets a license to operate?
  • Consider the effects of media on your life during the past 10 years
  • Describe how media violence could be advantageous compared to the violence that is affected by society
  • Examine how the media sector has changed as a result of technological development

Best Journalism Topics

  • Examine the arguments against headlines employing metaphors by media outlets
  • How media psychology relates to communication
  • Describe how the media has influenced the music industry’s expansion
  • Examine how the media has influenced advancements
  • Describe the effects of biased media and why it could be harmful to society
  • Examine how the media has violated people’s rights and freedoms
  • Look at the Black Lives Matter movement and how the media has contributed to its growth
  • Consider the impact of media on the dwindling of traditions and culture
  • Why does political antagonism between political subjects and classes need to be promoted through the media?
  • What part does the media play in encouraging educational activities?
  • What part does the media play in raising awareness?
  • Describe how readers may check the accuracy and legitimacy of news stories.
  • Discuss the role of the media in a nation’s development
  • Describe the influence that social media has had on how police brutality instances are reported
  • What effect did the media have on the size of the Vietnam War?
  • Identify if governments should have the only authority to censor journalists and news reporters
  • Describe the key problems that journalism faces
  • Examines if media outlets are to blame for the dissemination of unfounded rumours

Investigative Journalism Topics

  • How reporters may continue to produce high-quality work without necessarily spending more
  • Nigeria is a case study of how the media is assisting in the rebranding of some nations
  • How powerful politicians influence some media outlets’ important choices
  • An evaluation of the issues limiting information freedom in emerging nations
  • How is sexual material used on the front pages of health publications to draw readers?
  • How to utilise magazine covers to increase sales
  • What moral distinctions exist between the invasion of privacy and investigative journalism?
  • An examination of the major players in modern media organisations
  • How do politicians in developing nations continue to seduce the populace with nebulous assurances about the quality of the educational system and the development of jobs?
  • How call centres are using the media to fill employment and aid the unemployed in society
  • Politicians lack the ideological motivation they formerly did. A careful examination of the way political parties promote their views
  • Can Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan repair their unfavourable reputations in the world?

Hot Journalism Topics

  • Consider some of the most major upcoming shifts in journalism.
  • Describe the many advantages that commercials and product promotions have for media sources.
  • Why is it inappropriate for superstars and celebrities to go through media trials?
  • Define stylised writing and explain if it is appropriate in the internet-dependent world of today.
  • Talk about the potentially harmful effects that media may have on pupils.
  • Explain why sexual stuff should no longer be broadcasted on television.
  • Consider how the media shapes how social issues like racism are expressed.
  • Examine the effect of new media on spending for digital learning.
  • Ask if it’s possible to pursue the truth in journalism without violating the journalistic code.
  • Discuss how the media affects a person’s emotional and psychological health.
  • Talk about the primary difficulties that journalists face when carrying out their duties.
  • What effect has science and technological progress had on journalism?
  • What can reporters do to disprove the notion that women are materialistic?
  • Describe how foreign enemies and rivals are presented in American media
  • Do people read less about current affairs now that there’s the internet?
  • Why has news reporting altered as a result of the internet?
  • Examine some of the most important and expected impending advancements in journalism
  • Nigeria serves as a case study for how the media helps some countries rebrand.
  • A case study on the societal problem of pollution and the role of the media in addressing
  • Look into the effects of the fear caused by crime reporting in the media
  • Talk about how the media is used to set the agenda
  • Describe the issues with how black women are portrayed in the media
  • Talk about how women and their sexuality are used in advertising in the media

Journalism & Freedom of Expressions Topics

  • Journalists depend on sources for their work. Should these sources be shielded from situations that can lead to a breach of confidence by the laws protecting freedom of expression?
  • A principle of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution encourages a highly balanced approach to media and freedom of expression. Should the UK follow their example?
  • Exist any reasons for restricting a journalist’s freedom of expression in the name of a democratic society?
  • Some contend that a democratic society’s cornerstones are freedom of speech and the press. A comparison of how people in the US and the UK feel about press freedom
  • Do tabloids and broadsheets have varying degrees of freedom of speech? The Times against The News of the World
  • The common law grants people of the UK a restricted right to free speech. What effect does this have on journalism in the nation?
  • How courts trample on journalists’ right to free speech is highlighted by the Sunday Times v. UK case. How can courts protect journalists more fully?
  • Article 10 of the Human Rights Convention guarantees the right to freedom of speech. Can journalists use this law to their advantage?

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Home > USC Columbia > College of Information and Communications > Journalism & Mass Communications > Journalism & Mass Communications Theses and Dissertations

Journalism & Mass Communications Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

The Impact of Follower-Influencer Relationship Stages on Consumers’ Perceptions and Behavioral Intentions in the Context of Influencer Marketing , Khalid Obaid Alharbi

The Effect of Social Media (Instagram) Use Patterns on The Cultural and Athletic Identity of Black Female Collegiate Athletes’ Body Image Dissatisfaction , Shelbretta Kar’Anna Ball

Contextualizing Search: An Analysis of the Impacts of Construal Level Theory, Mood, and Product Type on Search Engine Activity , Jackson Everitt Carter

Words Evaporate, the Images Remain: Testing Visual Warnings in the Context of Intentions to Vape Among U.S. Adults as an Expansion of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) , Carl Arland Ciccarelli

Risk Propensity in Journalists: An Analysis of Journalists’ Personality Traits and How They Direct Behavior in the Field , Ellen Katherine Dunn

Online Information-Seeking and Cancer Screening Intention: An Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey 2022 , Rachel Aileen Ford

Always on Display: South Carolina Civil Rights Lawyer Matthew J. Perry Jr. Expanding the Civil Sphere Through the Courts and the News Media, 1954-1963 , Christopher G. Frear

Exploring the Agenda-Setting Dynamics Between Traditional Newspapers and Twitter During Mass Shooting Event , Yujin Heo

Extreme Persuasion: Analyzing Meaning Creation and Persuasive Strategies Within Extreme Discourse on Alternative Social Media , Naomi Kathryn Lawrence

Framing Police Brutality: An Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of Walter Scott’s Murder , Shamira S. McCray

Understanding Podcast Advertising Processing and Outcomes: An Analysis of Podcast Ad Types, Message Types, and Media Context on Consumer Responses , Colin Piacentine

The Unsung Heroes for Intercollegiate Athletics: Examining the Dialogic Principles of Communication in Community College Athletic Departments , Matthew Alan Stilwell

Exploring Trustworthiness Issues About Disaster-related Information Generated by Artificial Intelligence , Xin Tao

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

The Effect of Emotional Intensity, Arousal, and Valence On Online Video Ad Sharing , Chang Won Choi

“Power, Poison, Pain & Joy”: Applying a Critical Race Conceptual Model of Implicit Racial Bias to Narratives Framing Blackness in Black Sports Columns, Black Music, and Black Journalism , Christina Lauren Myers

Gatekeeping Blackness: Roles, Relationships, and Pressures of Black Television Journalists at a Time of Racial Reckoning , Denetra Walker

The Binge Viewing Index: Creating and Testing a New Measure , Larry J. Webster Jr.

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Portion of Profit Donations: CSR as Public Relations Strategy and its Relationships with Trust and Purchase Intentions , Branden Dylan Cameron Birmingham

The Role of Sexting in the Development of Romantic Relationships , Max Bretscher

Let’s Be Friends: Examining Consumer Brand Relationships Through the Lens Of Brand Personality, Engagement, and Reciprocal Altruism , Daniel D. Haun

Go with The Flow: Testing the Effects of Emotional Flow on Psychophysiological, Attitudinal, and Behavioral Changes , Chris R. Noland

Brand New: How Visual Context Shapes Initial Response To Logos and Corporate Visual Identity Systems , Robert A. Wertz

Inoculating the Public Against Misinformation: Testing The Effectiveness of “Pre-bunking” Techniques in the Context of Mental Illness and Violence , Nanlan Zhang

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Gun Violence and Advocacy Communication , Minhee Choi

The Role of Third-person Perceptions in Predicting the Public’s Support for Electronic Cigarette Advertising Regulations , Joon Kyoung Kim

Conservative Media’s Coverage of Coronavirus on YouTube: A Qualitative Analysis of Media Effects on Consumers , Michael J. Layer

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Problem Chain Recognition Effect and CSR Communication: Examining the Impact of Issue Salience and Proximity on Environmental Communication Behaviors , Nandini Bhalla

The Games Behind the Scenes: Newspaper Framing of Female African American Olympic Athletes , Martin Reece Funderburk

Effectiveness of a Brand’s Paid, Owned, and Earned Media in a Social Media Environment , Anan Wan

Providing Prevention Education About Child Sexual Abuse to Parents: Testing Media Effects on Knowledge, Behavioral Intentions and Outcomes , Jane Long Weatherred

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Creating an Online Social Movement in Socially Conservative Societies: A Case Study of Manshoor Blog Using Frame Alignment Process , Noura Abdullah Al-Duaijani

How S. C. Daily Newspapers Framed the Removal of the Confederate Flag from the State House Grounds in 2015 Through Letters to the Editor and Editorials , Thomas Craig Anderson

Breaking The Silence: Extending Theory To Address The Underutilization Of Mental Health Services Among Chinese Immigrants In The United States , Jo-Yun Queenie Li

Fandom In Politics: Scale Development And Validation , Won-Ki Moon

Fatal Force: A Conversation With Journalists Who Cover Deadly, Highly-Publicized Police Shootings , Denetra Walker

Domestic Extension Of Public Diplomacy: Media Competition For Credibility, Dependency And Activation Of Publics , Yicheng Zhu

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Hydraulic Fracturing In the United States: A Framing Analysis , Kenneth Stephen Cardell Jr.

Network vs. Netflix: A Comparative Content Analysis of Demographics Across Prime-Time Television and Netflix Original Programming , James Corfield

Framing Marijuana: A Study of How us Newspapers Frame Marijuana Legalization Stories and Framing Effects of Marijuana Stories , Hwalbin Kim

The Allure of Isis: Examining the Underlying Mechanisms that Helped the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria , Alexander Luchsinger

International Twitter Comments About 2016 U.S. Presidential Candidates Trump And Clinton: Agenda-Building Analysis In The U.S., U.K., Brazil, Russia, India and China , Jane O’Boyle

Is That Online Review Fake News? How Sponsorship Disclosure Influences Reader Credibility , Mark W. Tatge

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Measuring Strategic Communications , Jeffrey A. Ranta

Public Perceptions Of Genetically Modified Food On Social Media: A Content Analysis Of Youtube Comments On Videos , Nanlan Zhang

Toward A Situational Technology Acceptance Model: Combining the Situational Theory of Problem Solving and Technology Acceptance Model to Promote Mobile Donations for Nonprofit Organizations , Yue Zheng

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Promoting HPV Vaccination for Male Young Adults: Effects of Social Influence , Wan Chi Leung

Redneckaissance: Honey Boo Boo, Tumblr, and the Stereotype of Poor White Trash , Ashley F. Miller

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Conflicted Union: Culture, Economics and European Union Media Policy , Daphney Pernola Barr

Beating Down the Fear: The Civil Sphere and Political Change in South Carolina, 1940-1962 , Sid Bedingfield

The State v. Perry: Comparative Newspaper Coverage of South Carolina's Most Prominent Civil Rights Lawyer , Christopher G. Frear

(MASCOT) NATION: EXAMINING UNIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS’ FACEBOOK PAGES , Matthew J. Haught

Innovation Among Georgian Journalism Educators: A Network Analysis Perspective , Ana Keshelashvili

Emotional Bond between the Creator and the Avatar: Changes in Behavioral Intentions to Engage in Alcohol-Related Traffic Risk Behaviors , Hokyung Kim

Handcuffing Speech: Federal Fraud Statutes and the Criminalization of Advertising , Carmen Maye

Social Movements, Media, and Democratization in Georgia , Maia Mikashavidze

Am I in Danger? : Predictors and Behavioral Outcomes of Public Perception of Risk Associated with Food Hazards , Sang-Hwa Oh

Parental Mediation of Adolescent Movie Viewing , Larry James Webster Jr.

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Political Advertising In Kuwait - A Functional Discourse Analysis , Jasem Alqaseer

The Westernization of Advertisements Published In Kuwaiti Newspapers From 1992 to 2012; A Content Analysis , Farah Taleb Alrefai

What Can Reader Comments to News Online Contribute to Engagement and Interactivity? A Quantitative Approach , Brett A. Borton

Exploring a paradigm shift: The New York Times' framing of sub-Saharan Africa in stories of conflict, war and development during the Cold War and post-Cold War eras, 1945-2009 , Zadok Opero Ekimwere

Mental Health On Youtube: Exploring the Potential of Interactive Media to Change Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors About Mental Health , Caroline Belser Foster

That's News to Me: An Exploratory Study of the Uses and Gratifications of Current Events On Social Media of 18-24 Year-Olds , John Vincent Karlis

Making Stewardship Meaningful For Nonprofits: Stakeholder Motivations, Attitudes, Loyalty and Behaviors , Geah N. Pressgrove

An Alternative Path: The Intellectual Legacy of James W. Carey , Matthew Ross

The Corporation in the Marketplace of Ideas: The Law and Economics of Corporate Political Speech , Matthew W. Telleen

Child Sexual Abuse In the Media: Is Institutional Failure to Blame? , Jane Long Weatherred

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

The Relationship Between Facebook Use and Religiosity Among Emerging Adults , Heidi D. Campbell

Attribute Agenda Setting, Attribtue Priming, and The Public's Evaluation of Genetically Modified (GM) Food in South Korea , Soo Yun Kim

What's Mine is Yours: An Exploratory Study of Attitudes and Conceptions About Online Personal Privacy In the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , Patrick Sharbaugh

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

How Journalists Perceive Internal and External Influence: A Qualitative Assessment of Local Television Reporters' Ethical Decision-Making , Beth Eckard Concepcion

Collective Memory of the War In Iraq: An Analysis of Letters to the Editor and Public Opinion Polls, 2003-2008 , Lisa Cash Luedeman

A Framing Analysis and Model of Barack Obama in Political Cartoons , Anthony Palmer

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

Breaking Down the Fear' -- John H. Mccray, Accommodationism and theFraming of the Civil Rights Struggle in South Carolina, 1940-1948 , Sid Bedingfield

Do You See What I See?: A Comparative Content Analysis of Iraq War Photographs As Published In the New York Times and the Tehran Times , Garen Cansler

Exploring Intention to Adopt Mobile Tv Services In the U.S.: Toward A New Model With Cognitive-Based and Emotional-Based Constructs , Seoyoon Choi

Media Representations and Implications For Collective Memory: A Grounded Theory Analysis of TV News Broadcasts of Hillary Clinton From 1993-2008 , Mary Elizabeth McLaughlin

Resonance and Elaboration: the Framing Effect of Chinese Product Safety Issue Coverage , Ji Pan

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175 Journalism Topics And Excellent Writing Ideas

journalism topics

As a student of mass communication or journalism, you may need journalism research paper topics to fulfill your undergraduate degree requirements. As you already know, journalism involves profound investigative reports centered on an issue affecting the public. It’s all about public life, and this is why you may need different journalism thesis topics and ideas.

If you’re also a college student who needs good journalism topics to write your assignment or essay, there are numerous topics and ideas across different journalism categories in this content. See the following topics for journalism class that can inform your paper or project.

Investigative Journalism Topics

Investive journalism is that category of journalism that embeds profound investigation into a particular subject of interest. This could be political corruption, bank fraud, murder, and other serious crimes in society. These are journalism research topics that could help you develop brilliant ideas:

  • Investigate the role of the US government under Trump in the mismanagement and ignorance of the COVID-19 reality
  • Investigate the part of the radio and newspapers in spreading fake news in the 2020 US election
  • Investigate one of the biggest scams in the history of England
  • Examine the role of the Peaky Blinders gangster in the making of contemporary gangs
  • Account for the activities of the Yakuza gang in Japan within three decades
  • Report for the struggle of the Taliban and Afghanistan in the two-decade war
  • Examine the relativity of the Afghan War and the Vietnam War based on the U.S. involvement
  • Examine the fraud of US officials in the Iraq War
  • Investigate the complexities around US involvement in military and humanitarian aid in the Middle East
  • Assess the role of communist leaders in the creation of personality cult taking clues from Chairman Mao of China and Stalin of the USSR
  • The public believes that Afghan women will suffer in the Taliban government; however, some believe that it is peace and tranquility for the rural men and women who have been plagued by war. Investigate the bitter and sweet side of the war
  • Account for any child abuse scandal involving a government official in recent time in any country of your choice
  • Examine the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and relate it to the growth of the Ebola virus
  • Assess how governments violently quell peaceful protests in any country of your choice
  • Assess the cover-up of the Vatican in the sexual scandal of officials in the Holy Seal
  • Account for the influence of drug use in Mexico and how it influence or affect youths
  • Examine the shows with sexual appeal and how they affect the population
  • Give an account for the influence of extremity in the spread of the gospel of hatred in America
  • Study any corruption scandal of your choice and examine the fault of regulatory bodies
  • Give a comparative analysis of the 2008 economic crisis and the OPEC Oil Price Shock of 1973
  • Investigate the conspiracies in the government of Donald Trump
  • Investigate the bloody situation in Libya before Gaddafi’s death
  • Investigate the challenges facing India’s minority
  • Investigate the crisis in Turkey
  • Account for the political crisis between NATO-Ukraine and Russia

Journalism Topics for High School

You may have been asked to create journalism topics for your essay or contribute to your school’s magazine. There are different custom topics you could write about. You can consider these exciting and easy journalism topics:

  • An assessment of societal Influence of corruption and unaccountability
  • Assess the societal impact of the unaccountable judiciary in the US courts
  • What do you think about the role of the big five countries in rural community development?
  • What do you think the Biden Administration can do better about student loans and mortgages?
  • Assess the impact of mass media in reducing corruption
  • What do you know about drug abuse in the US, and how does it affect kids?
  • Evaluate how drama can be used to promote sensitization of sexual differences
  • Give an overview of how literature can be used to promote sexual orientation for high school kids
  • Why do you think your school needs a radio broadcast channel
  • What are your thoughts on unrestricted access to the internet for college students?
  • Do you think that social media is a good or bad innovation for society?
  • Assess how social media is responsible for depression and anxiety about beauty amongst youths
  • What do you believe are the impact of America Got Talent shows on kids
  • Because of social media, do you think mass media outlets like newspapers, televisions, and radios are no longer needed?
  • What do you understand about climate change and why everyone is scared?
  • What do you understand about Environmental changes and why everyone is scared?
  • Do you think women should take up top leadership roles anywhere in the world?
  • Do you think working from home is the best thing that could ever happen to working-class people?
  • What do you think makes a government legitimate according to your knowledge of Political Science, History, and Philosophy?
  • What do you think are the consequences of choosing entertainment above education and vice versa amongst youths
  • How can your school’s staff improve their relationship with students?
  • What are your ideas about humanitarian aid to Africa?
  • What do you think is the role of science and technology in the contemporary world?
  • Do you think high school students should have an intimate relationship too?
  • What do you believe is the most significant influence on youths and why?
  • What do you think about racism and Semitism in America?
  • What do you think about bullying in schools and the consequences of bullying on academic performance?
  • Do you think newspapers do an excellent job of promoting political sensitization?
  • Do you believe America is the best country in the world, and why?
  • Human and sex trafficking is the cruelest sin in the world: discuss
  • Assess the challenges of pregnancy
  • What do you think are the roles of women in Achieving gender equality in America?
  • Why do people idolize celebrities?
  • What do you think about the imprisonment of R Kelly?
  • Give a review of three songs by Rihanna.

Journalism Research Topics

Your professor may have asked you to develop good journalism research paper topics for your university degree requirements. There are different topics here that could guide you into choosing the perfect subject. Consider:

  • Analyze the failure of CNN in reporting unbiased news
  • Examine the importance of the media in advertising the need for economic development in rural communities
  • Assess the social media as the space to mobilize community support
  • Examine the significance of social media over the mass media like television, radio, and newspapers
  • Examine the campaign for sexual liberty in America
  • Examine the movement for gender equality in any Arab country of your choice
  • Examine the role of social media in the campaign for anti-racial sentiments
  • Account for the sexualizing of women in adverts
  • Account for president Trump’s innate desire to censor information in the media
  • Account for the role of journalists as gatekeepers in any free society
  • Account for the significance of international Journalist groups in protecting Journalists around the world
  • Examine America during the civil wars
  • Account for the sexual behaviors of porn addicts
  • What are the challenges facing three television Companies in the US?
  • Give an appraisal of Aljazeera and its news
  • Rationalize the death of Reuters’ Journalist, Danish Siddiqui, while in Afghanistan
  • Examine the consequences of the Trump administration on America’s domestic policies
  • Account for the consequences of Trump’s Administration on America’s foreign policy
  • Examine the effect of racial discrimination and employability in America
  • What is the role of America in developing ISIS?
  • Is America really the watchdog of the world?
  • Assess China and its rise to global dominance
  • Assess the significance of the Atlantic in world trade
  • Assess the political differences affecting Germany’s Nord Dam construction
  • Examine the need for entrepreneurs in America
  • Has capitalism favored the world so far?
  • Are Trump supporters patriotic or merely loyal to him?
  • Examine how education has promoted liberty in Afghanistan before US withdrawal
  • Assess for the role of journalist brands in reporting terrorism
  • What is the impact of the George Bush administration?
  • What are the impacts of the Obama administration on Libya politics
  • Assess the Israeli alliance with Saudi Arabia and the evil or good involved
  • Assess political or cultural propaganda of your choice
  • Account for the activities of any fraternity in a US campus
  • Consider Iraq’s needs for nuclear weapons as a balance of power or balance or threats

Literary Journalism Topics

As a form of nonfiction writing published in newspapers or magazines, it could cover interviews, research, or any other form of essay of your choice. If you’re required to choose controversial yet good journalism topics, you may want to consider:

  • Thoughts about Chimamanda Adichie’s “Danger of a Single Story” and how it could shape the literary scene
  • How fake news convince people about COVID-19 myths
  • The ethical challenges of journalism in any media company of your choice
  • The impact of photojournalists in the Afghan war
  • The scam in humanitarian intervention in any conflict of your choice
  • How French imperialism guides its role in French West African countries
  • The murder of Patrice Lumumba: thoughts on why America wants him dead
  • Philosophize on the brutality of King Leopold II.
  • How contestants arouse public sympathy in getting votes on America’s Got Talent
  • How pop culture ruin actual cultural developments
  • How journalism has evolved into business for financial gains
  • How journalism has evolved into a means of entertainment
  • Why does Aljazeera only tell sad, sad stories
  • Write a story about a mysterious heist of your choice
  • Attempt a short biography of Danish Siddiqui
  • Attempt a 7000 essay on everything about Vatican City and the politics
  • Document the invention of Isaac Newton and its Influence on technology
  • Lessons from the exploration of Amerigo Vespucci
  • Key points and lessons from Richard Nixon’s scandal
  • The mistakes of communism and capitalism in today’s world
  • What could be considered the impacts of Toni Morrison on literature?
  • Evaluate the works of Chinua Achebe in African literature
  • Evaluate the outcomes of Garcia Marquez in fiction and journalism
  • Opinions on the results of the Paris Review on literature
  • Opinions on the role of Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic in the media
  • Ideas on the death of democracy during Trump
  • A comparative analysis of presidents Trump and Richard Nixon
  • A comparative study of Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama
  • An overview of Trump’s economic policies
  • An overview of Trump’s businesses’ economic scandals

Research Topics in Mass Communication and Journalism Topics

As a journalism section that deals with exchanging information through the media, different topics can be developed to wow your professor. With interest in advertisement and dissemination of information, these are various journalism topics for you:

  • Embark on a comparative analysis of two media companies in the US
  • Account for the scandals of corruption in the practice of journalism
  • Assess the role of the media in the proceedings of Donald Trump’s impeachment
  • Report on the use of social media in triggering the White House protest on Trump’s behalf
  • Report on the use of Twitter during Trump’s Administration
  • What could be said to be good communication habits in Journalism?
  • Local newspapers and their usefulness in American public life
  • Has the use of radio negated modernity in America?
  • What are the challenges and prospects of smartphones during environmental disasters?
  • How has social media propagated the cancel culture?
  • How can the mass media be used for effective social change?
  • Drawing from the Watergate Scandal, what is the role of the mass media?
  • How do music choices influence the promotion of morality in traditional media?
  • Account for a radio show and its influence on the American public
  • Assess the consequences of airing extreme conservative ideas on radio
  • Social media and censorship: does it make sense?
  • How does the mass media contribute to racial disintegration?
  • Account for the radio show that promotes cultural diversity in America
  • Assess the subject of television addiction amongst youths
  • Evaluate the role of reporters and reporting highly sensitive cases
  • Identify how social media is wielded to propagate fake news
  • How Chairman Mao authored his propaganda with the media
  • The part of information dissemination before the Bolshevik Revolution
  • The role of the press in silencing threats in Russia
  • The thin line between truth and conspiracy in journalism

Middle School Journalism Topics

You may have been told to contribute to your school’s magazine or submit an essay in school. It would be best if you had easy and enjoyable journalism essay topics for your level. You can ask intriguing questions in your articles or essay through these journalism topics:

  • What are the powers you’ll execute if you have magical powers?
  • Who would you say are the best characters you’ve ever enjoyed?
  • What are your favorite movies, and why?
  • If you were an actor, which role would you never take?
  • Peer pressure and alcohol, do you think you can be influenced into social vices?
  • What are the campus secrets you think everyone should know about?
  • Review the last album of Beyonce
  • Review three songs of Kendrick Lamar and their Influence on the Black community
  • Review any book of your choice and its influence on people
  • Review any movie of your choice
  • Examine the need for active sport representations in school
  • Account for the need for Political student activists
  • Which of the school policies do you think must change?
  • If you’ll do anything to bullies, what would it be?
  • What are your thoughts about the foods in your cafeteria?
  • Would you attend a protest against the school authorities, and why?
  • Do you think everyone should like sports in school, and why?
  • Do you think school elections should be as competitive as senatorial or gubernatorial elections?
  • Do you think rivalries are suitable for school elections?
  • Who is your favorite philosopher, and why should everyone read Philosophy?
  • Which event of history should be told over and over again?
  • What are the achievements of your school’s basketball team?
  • What are the achievements of your school’s gymnastic team?
  • What are your opinions on Biden’s academic loans?
  • What are your opinions on racial diversity in classrooms?

Journalism Research Paper May Be Easy With Us

With these journalism research paper topics and essay ideas, you can conveniently start research for your next project. However, you may need online research paper writing services for cheap yet fast essays. For high grades and top-notch papers, you may reach out to ENL as a professional online writing help brand. These expert writers request cheap rates in return for one of the best submissions.

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Top 100 journalism topics for research.

journalism topics

When pursuing communication or media studies, students are asked to write academic papers and essays about unique journalism topics. Journalism entails gathering and distributing information to different media channels. These channels include radio, TV, social media, and newspaper. As such, journalism is a broad field.

When looking for journalism research topics, learners have many ideas to explore. But, students should avoid too broad ideas that may need a lot of time and resources to research and write about. Instead, they should narrow the available ideas into specific research questions. This will give them an easier time when it comes to research. It will also enable them to focus more on key issues that readers want to know about specific issues that relate to journalism.

However, this is not easy for most learners. Some students pick journalist project topics and eventually realize that they can’t get the information required to complete the task. Others get bored after choosing the wrong ideas for their projects. Unfortunately, writing a paper or essay about a topic that you can’t find adequate information for or feel bored about will only earn you a poor grade. That’s why learners need ideas to inspire them when choosing the topics to write about. Here are some of the best ideas to consider when choosing your journalism topic for a research paper or an essay.

Fresh and Unique Journalism Topics

Do you want to spend your time researching and writing about something unique in the journalism field? If yes, work with one of the ideas presented by these journalism topics for students.

  • A journalist should be well-versed in different topics about local and international news- Explain
  • Explain how the role of professional is seen in the media
  • Are modern journalists more inclined towards glamour instead of providing better authentic news?
  • How has COVID-19 revealed about the role of journalists at a global level?
  • Have journalists played any role in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • How does the media facilitate the stereotypical representations of females by portraying them as materialistic objects?
  • Discuss how influential people control the freedom of journalists and the media
  • Discuss the major problems that are experienced by journalists as they discharge their duties
  • How have technological and scientific developments affected journalism?
  • How has social media affected modern journalism?
  • Are social media websites making third-persons journalists?
  • What are the duties and roles of a professional journalist?
  • How can journalists change the perception of women as being materialistic?
  • Can journalism be used to help improve marginalized sections in society?
  • How can journalists help the masses understand topical issues better?
  • How are electronic media channels shaping modern-day journalism?
  • Is social media making print media obsolete?
  • How has technology affected the mediums that journalists used to reach people?
  • How do high-profile personalities interfere with the freedom of journalists and the media?
  • Explain the challenges that journalists in varying topographical situations face every day.

This category has some of the best literary journalism topics to research and then write about. However, students should be ready to conduct in-depth research before they start writing. They should introduce new information that readers will find interesting.

Investigative Journalism Topics

This category comprises journalism research paper topics that allow the author to investigate an issue deeply. When writing a paper or essay on these ideas, students must identify visual arguments, research about the issues or problems, and then draw conclusions based on their findings. Here are examples of investigative research topics in mass communication and journalism.

  • How politicians in developing countries continue to lure the masses with vague promises about the education systems and job creation.
  • How the media is helping call centers to create jobs and help the unemployed members of society.
  • Politicians no longer have the ideological drive- A keen look into how political parties market their ideas
  • Can the negative global image of Pakistan/Iraq/Afghanistan be improved? How the mass media fosters stereotypes and establish images
  • How the media makes the USA look like the ultimate ruler
  • How corruption has become synonymous with modern politics
  • A critical analysis of how the UPA government functions
  • The Italian roots of Sonia Gandhi
  • How mainstream media is promoting the upsurge of public misinformation and fake news
  • How journalists can maintain high-quality reporting without necessarily spending more
  • How the media is helping rebrand some countries- Case study of Nigeria
  • How influential politicians make key decisions for some media houses
  • An assessment of the challenges facing information freedom in developing countries
  • How the front covers for health magazines use sexual content to attract readers
  • How magazine covers are used to get more sales
  • What are moral lines that separate investigative journalism from the violation of people’s privacy?
  • An investigation into the key stakeholders of modern media houses
  • How the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to affect the Chinese economy
  • How the government continues to censor the media
  • How some governments silence investigative journalists

Some of these topics are also great for debates and speeches. However, extensive research is required to come up with quality and relevant content that readers will find interesting.

Interesting Journalism Thesis Topics

Journalism studies require learners to choose considerate topics that allow them an easy time to research and write quality papers. Essentially, students should enjoy working on their topics. Here are some of the most interesting thesis topics for journalism students.

  • How significant is the media in the war against crimes?
  • A look into democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression
  • Media use by kids and adolescents
  • Technology versus modern media
  • How the media influence political patterns
  • Use of media and subsequent effects
  • How the media portrays popular culture and identity
  • Use of mainstream media in strategic communication
  • Media censorship and propaganda
  • Media psychology- How it applies to communication
  • Mainstream media versus art-house
  • How the media affects a country’s socio-economic dimension
  • Do video games form a part of the media?
  • How the media influences violence
  • Influence of the media on socio-economic sanity
  • Scare strategies that the media use to accomplish goals
  • A qualitative evaluation of modern media outlets
  • Mass media implications to the ethical well-being of a society
  • How the media influences immorality
  • How society benefits from a free media

These topics to consider when writing a journalism thesis. That’s because most students will enjoy researching and writing about them. What’s more, most people will enjoy reading papers on these topics.

Great Journalism Essay Topics

Many students struggle to choose topics when it comes to journalistic essay writing. But, this shouldn’t be the case because there are many ideas that learners can explore. Here are some of the ideas that you can explore when asked to write a journalism essay.

  • The role of mass media in society
  • Who is a good mass media personality?
  • What is the effect of mass media on the economy?
  • How media houses benefit from advertising
  • Modern society can’t do without mass media
  • Influence of mass media on technological advancements
  • How the media influences rivalry in politics
  • How the media affects the political class in a country
  • How important are reliable advertisements to the media
  • How does the media spread awareness?
  • What makes reliable media?
  • How does partisan media affect society?
  • What makes a non-partisan media?
  • How media violence can lead to social violence
  • Key stakeholders of modern media
  • How does a society benefit from the media
  • How the media has evolved over the years
  • How the media influences the articulation of major social matters
  • How media addiction affects the economy
  • How the media pre-empt situations

Good Journalism Topics for Students in High School

High school students and those joining colleges are sometimes asked to write essays on their preferred topics. Those interested in mass media studies can opt to write about journalism. Here are great journalism topics for high school to consider.

  • How media can foster education
  • Hidden messages that are passed through the media
  • How media images represent different entities
  • Why radio remains popular
  • The Disney phenomenon- New mythology or the media?
  • Types and styles of media
  • How politics and media are intertwined
  • Could virtual reality be the future of modern media?
  • Does the media create or react to events?
  • How does the internet influence the development of the media?
  • Media regulation and policy in different countries
  • What is a media campaign?
  • What is an international journalism
  • Role of the media during wartime
  • Does the media enhance or prevent panic during disasters?
  • Does the media censor or promote controversial topics?
  • Origin of the media
  • How speech freedom impacts the media
  • What are the main aspects of the media?
  • How the media use the hype phenomenon

Students have many journalism thesis ideas to consider. However, every learner should be keen to pick a narrow and interesting idea to explore when researching and writing an essay or dissertation on journalism. If you need assistance, hire our paper writer and get assistance today.

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Journalism Research Topics: 120+ Ideas to Consider

Journalism Research Topics

Journalism is quite a broad industry that entails enumerating helpful information and showing it on different media channels, including television, social media, radio, and beyond.

For framing an outstanding research paper, your topic must enable your audience to focus on the key issues and make them keen to know more about your topic. However, finding the perfect topic isn’t easy.

Students often select their topic in haste and later realize that there needs to be more information or evidence to prove their hypothesis. Others get bored with their research after choosing a tedious journalism topic.

Journalism is an excellent subject that can open up many exciting ideas for students. However, this blog is genuinely written for you if you’re facing difficulty. Here are some unique journalism research topics you can use as inspiration.

Table of Contents

How to Choose Your Journalism Research Topic:

Finding a unique journalism topic is complex and requires extensive research and clever work. Generally, the internet is stuffed with thousands of journalism topics to write about, but the real struggle lies in identifying your “perfect” topic within that.

We have compiled a few suggestions that might help you create brilliant topics:

  • Students must refrain from any extravagantly broad topic, as it can be time-consuming and lead to confusion among students.
  • Choose a subject or topic that sparks your interest and curiosity level.
  • Students need to narrow their research into essential research questions.
  • Avoid providing a research paper based on goofy journalism topics to avoid misinterpretation or negative impact on your audience. Instead, ensure that your chosen topic will be informative for your readers.
  • Choose a novel topic that emphasizes distinct issues so readers can understand the fundamental research.

Thus, if you are about to research your journalism topic, ensure it stands in line with your university guidelines. Furthermore, ensure that your topic adheres to all the above-mentioned suggestions.

120+ Journalism Research Topics

As intended professional journalists, brilliant journalism ideas will always be welcomed and appreciated by your professors.

As mentioned, journalism is compiling, collecting, and assessing unique data and information on major on-going events. Along with writing on special journalism topics, one should also be open to writing about innovative discoveries about a pre-existing event.

We have thoroughly compiled a list of some contemplated journalism research topics that you can use as inspiration to get started with the writing business right away:

Journalism Research Topics for High School Students

  • Celebrities’ rights to privacy: How far should the paparazzi be allowed to infringe?
  • Examining the impact of racism in the media, both positive and negative
  • How do electronic media outlets influence journalism in the present era?
  • The influence of famous personalities on the independence of the media and journalists.
  • Challenges and opportunities for journalism in the 21st century
  • Impact of the media on diplomacy
  • Explain why it is inappropriate for famous people and idols to be subjected to media trials.
  • Why is radio still a crucial medium of communication in the twenty-first century?
  • Televisions must stop broadcasting sexual content.
  • Investigating journalism as a dangerous profession
  • Comment on the sexualization of women in media advertisements
  • Describe the effects of media misdirection and misinformation.
  • Describe ways to regulate mass media to guarantee that students are only minimally exposed to inappropriate content.
  • Why is the United States of America considered a global superpower?
  • The role of media outlets during the pandemic
  • Imperativeness of journalism for disadvantaged social groups
  • Is print media no longer necessary in the age of social media?
  • How has technology altered media

Brilliant Mass Communication and Journalism Research Topics

Read Also – 400+ Philosophy Research Paper Topics

  • The credibility of online journalism
  • The role of journalism in war zones
  • Current Changes in Journalism in the United States
  • Theoretical and methodological trends in journalism
  • The history of journalism
  • Journalism and the construction of police brutality
  • Media’s role in curbing corruption
  • Political women in media culture
  • A critical review of the methodological trends and controversies surrounding the use of opinion polls
  • Media’s role in exposing corrupted politicians
  • Government-sanctioned journalism in China
  • News workers, technology, and journalism history
  • Trends in fake news in the modern media space
  • Media censorship in China
  • The future of blogging and journalism in the United States
  • Critical analysis of how the British journalists try to win over the royals
  • Bridging media psychology and cognitive neuroscience

Sports Journalism Research Topics

  • Empirical research on racial discrimination in sports
  • The journey of a sportsperson: researching the importance of storytelling for sports persons
  • A qualitative investigation into the lives of sportswomen
  • Impact of sports journalism on the construction of “body image” in the mind of a younger generation
  • Homophobia in modern sports and the role of media channels in increasing such negativism
  • Ethics in sports journalism
  • Protecting brand through media and journalism channels
  • Trans journalist association for sports: opportunities and challenges
  • TVG Network in sports reporting
  • What happened to Adriano: investigating the Dark Story Behind the Retirement of “Next Door” Ronaldo
  • Evaluating media’s role in helping GenZ athletes to seek their “authentic voice.”
  • The challenges of sports media during Covid19 outbreak
  • The part of sports journalism in entertaining the masses
  • Richie Benaud, the voice of cricket and an influential broadcaster
  • James Hird’s suspected drug overdose: invasive reporting violates the right to privacy
  • Sports journalism as strategic sports marketing
  • The dangers of sports journalism
  • FIFA world cup 2022: restrictions on journalists for covering the event
  • The harsh truth of replacing sports journalism with “mindless gossip columnists.”

Investigative Journalism and Media Topics for Research

Read Also – 40 Architecture Thesis Topics

  • Examining the impact of television advertising on the moral behaviors of young minds
  • Representation of Muslim women and Islam by journalists
  • The evolution of the media in the United States
  • Sports journalism: Why is it challenging for sports journalists to succeed in sports broadcasting?
  • Compare and contrast FOX and BBC news reports.
  • Countering the false image of Arab women in the Arab media
  • The influence of print media on the advancement of pop culture
  • Transculturation in media translation
  • Why do celebrity rumors frequently dominate media outlets as opposed to important news?
  • The life and works of Eric Eyre
  • Justify the lack of explicit depictions of atrocity in the media.
  • Describe why the Government primarily uses the media as a propaganda tool.
  • Examine whether politicians rely on the media to maintain their power.
  • A critical analysis of freedom and the press.
  • Money has corrupted the media: an overview.
  • The life and works of Dean Banquet
  • The correlation of media and Government
  • Media bias in investigative journalism

Electronic Media Topics for Research

  • Media Education in the Age of Disruptive Media
  • Evaluating the future of broadcasting from a global perspective
  • The internet explosion
  • Is print media dead?
  • Broadcasting in the era of electronic media
  • Communication through electronic media platforms
  • Analyzing the role of electronic media channels in shaping modern-day journalism
  • The impact of electronic media on social behavior

Journalism Topics Straight From the Experts

  • Describe the effects of biased journalism and why it could harm society.
  • An in-depth look at international journalism
  • Compare and contrast the Obama and Trump administrations’ treatment of the media.
  • Research the “Black Lives Matter” movement and examine how the media contributed to its growth.
  • The connection between politics and the media: Are there any media organizations that are politically apolitical?
  • Does media coverage of conflict have any beneficial or adverse effects?
  • Understanding journalism as a dangerous profession
  • The influence of journalism and its impact on army operations
  • Mass media censorship in North Korea
  • Crisis of Credibility in Journalism and the Media in an Era of Radical Nationalism
  • The business of journalism: fake news, but real money!
  • How media channels are spreading hatred and violence
  • Investigative reporting on the Brazilian drug trade

Literary Journalism Topics to Write About

Read Also – History of Modern Literature

  • Literary journalism in the twentieth century
  • Employing metaphors in headlines.
  • Justify the need for social media platforms to outlaw fake news.
  • Are American enemies treated correctly by the media?
  • How has journalism been affected by scientific and technological advances?
  • American literary journalism
  • Literary journalism and the drama of civic life
  • Understanding the rise of literary journalism in the eighteenth century
  • Researching Tesla’s unique business model
  • The evolving ethics of journalism in the 21st century
  • Consider the necessity for real-life tales in the media of today.
  • A theoretical analysis of the theory of the social responsibility of journalism
  • Communication theory in journalism: are journalists the new peacekeeping force?

Political Journalism and Mass Media Topics for Research

Read Also – 200 Political Science Research Topics

  • Propaganda in the mass media
  • Understanding the psychology of media and politics
  • Evaluating the credibility of public media organizations
  • New complexities and practices in political journalism
  • Popular political media tactics of political parties in the United States
  • Can the media influence election outcomes?
  • Investigations into the lives of prominent American politicians
  • Political scandals cause media introspection.
  • Evaluating the impact of politics on mass media
  • The politics of public journalism

Unique Journalism Research Topics

  • Look into the Government’s media regulation policies.
  • Examining the media’s role in eradicating poverty
  • Describe how readers may verify the accuracy and reliability of news reports.
  • Part of the Media in the Russia-Ukraine Crisis
  • How did the Vietnam War’s coverage in the media change over time?
  • The authoritarian theory of the press
  • Describe the fundamental problems that journalism faces.
  • Examines the question of whether media outlets are to blame for the dissemination of dubious news.
  • Comprehending the media’s role in eradicating illiteracy rates in developing and under-developed nations
  • Contributions and the roles of journalists in COVID-19 pandemic management
  • Transculturation’s significance in media translation
  • Investigation into famous American politicians

Winding Up!!

Know that each research topic mentioned above has been carefully selected to help you with your research.

We understand coming up with the best topic will be something other than a walk in the park. It would be a challenging journey, mainly because no amount of diligent work can fully guarantee your expected results.

The above topics will allow you to efficiently conduct extensive research, interviews, and other practical methods of collecting relevant data for your research. Last but not least, remember this is your one shot, so give it your best effort. Good luck with your future endeavors!

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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Arts and Sciences > Mass Communications > Theses and Dissertations

Mass Communications Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

No Change No Gain: A Comparative Framing Analysis of the NFL’s Inspire Change Campaign , Kia K. Cannon

Comparative Analysis of Abortion Coverage in CNN and Fox News from the Perspective of Agenda Setting Theory , Xinyu Chang

From the Patient’s Perspective: Understanding the Colorectal Cancer Patient Experience Portrayed in Edutainment Television , Allison M. Fisher

Influence of Merck Gardasil 9 Advertisements on Male Vaccination Behavior Through a Health Belief Model Framework , Lauren Kierpa

Lights, Camera, Recruitment: Analyzing DoD-Hollywood Synergy and its Effects on Attitudes and Behaviors Towards the Military , Jose-Andres Leon-Gil

Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Media Influencers: Effectiveness of CSR Brand-Endorsed Messaging on Consumers , Hannah Sarmiento

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

An Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Crisis Response Message Strategies on Consumer Emotions, Perceptual Beliefs and Intended Behavior , Valentina Ahumada

How the Taiwanese podcast Bailingguo News framed the 2019 Hong Kong movement: A framing analysis of the anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill , Yu-Fei Chiu

Advocating for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Study of the NHL’s #HockeyIsForEveryone Campaign on Twitter , Jessica Martinez

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

An Analysis of International Soccer Fans’ Knowledge of Qatar, Perceptions of Qatar’s Country Image, and Intention to Support the 2022 FIFA World Cup , Taleb Al-Adbah

Analysis of Prescription Drug Brand Mentions in Music: Prevalence and Consumer Perceptions , Lisa A. Blake

Elements of Instagram Influencer Posts that Drive Follower Engagement , Yishan Li

Communicating Breast Cancer Awareness: Using the Health Belief Model to Develop Mass Communication Themes to Influence Early Detection Behaviors , Srisai Kamakshi Ramya Harika Pucha

The European Super League (ESL): A Political Economy and Media Framing Analysis , Patrick Sidwell

Inaugural Addresses, Framing Theory, and the Impact on American Perceptions of the Presidency , Kalin Meagan Velez

The Use of Social Media by Leaders in Times of Crisis: 2020–21 United States Election Protests , Cagdas Yuksel

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

The Influence of Hate Speech on TikTok on Chinese College Students , Tengyue Chen

Cultivating Courage: Medical Dramas and Portrayals of Patient Self-Advocacy , Alyssa H. Harrell

The Media Reproduction of Racial Violence: A Content Analysis of News Coverage Following the Death of George Floyd Jr. , Keylon Lovett

Credibility of Spokespersons and E-cigarette Prevention Messages: Elaboration Likelihood Model and The Moderating Role of Perceived Risk , Emmanuel Maduneme

An Examination of COVID-19 Health Behaviors and Public Health Messaging Using the Health Belief Model and Organization-Public Relationship Quality , Aaron L. Nichols

The Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM) and Risk Perceptions of Twitter messages related to COVID-19 , Muhammad E. Rasul

Framing #MeToo movement in China A Content Analysis of China Women’s News Coverage , Wenminzi Wu

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Super Bowl Ads and the Donald Trump Culture War , Jessica Barron

A Case Study on Black Twitter’s Reactions to the Framing of Blacks in Dove’s 2017 Facebook Advertisement , Shereena Farrington

The Roles of Emotional Cues and Purchasing Incentives in WeChat Commerce: A Content Analysis , Xuezhu Hao

People with Parkinson’s and Care Partners of PwPs’ Uncertainty Management Through Information Strategies , Amy Haywood

Asian Male Stereotypes: An Investigation of Current Beliefs About Asian Males and Stereotypes Perpetuated by U.S. Modern Cinema , Noelle Knopp

Developing Design Elements for a Parkinson’s Disease Informative Website: A Social Marketing Approach , Emilie R. Madsen

Evaluation of Native Advertisement though Third Person Effect Theory: An Experimental Design , Inga Nafetvaridze

EPPM and Its Effectiveness in Advertisements of Colorectal Cancer Screening among Young Adults , Anh T. Nguyen

The Role of Threat and Efficacy in Anti-Vaping Ads: A Test of the Extended Parallel Process Model , Ryan Noone

An Experimental Investigation into the Impact of Crisis Response Strategies and Relationship Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry , Nikoletta Pappas

Media Fandom: Social Media Use and Collective Identity in China: A Case Study of Z.Tao’s Weibo Fandom , Mier Sha

'Golden Spike': Examining Atlanta United FC Communications During the Launch of the Team , Maria Tsyruleva

The Role of Influencer Endorsement in Consumer Brand Engagement on Sina Weibo , Xiaofan Wei

One News Event, Three Media Frames , Le Xin

Applying the Situational Theory of Publics to Children's Sex Education in China , Baoyi Zeng

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

The Role of Social Media Journalists in TV News:Their Effects on the Profession and Identity of TV Journalism, the Quality of News, and theAudience Engagement , Yousuf Humiad AL Yousufi

Relationship Management Communications by NHL Teams on Twitter , Kelsey M. Baker

2018 China-United States Trade War: Framing Analysis of Online News Coverage in the United States and China as portrayed by the New York Times and the People’s Daily , Jiangling Huang

The Research on the Determinants of Users' Willingness to Pay for Chinese Paid Sports Model Based on Use and Gratification Theory , Jing Li

Online MMORPG Games in China: Player Motivations and the Mediating Role of Flow , Jiaxin Liu

The Hostile Media Effect and Its Potential Consequences: Examining the Influence of Presumed Influence of International Media Coverage , Zhennan Liu

Womenpreneurs in a Digital Environment: Utilizing Instagram to Build a Personal Brand , Michelle N. Nuñez

Objectification of Women in Bollywood Item Numbers , Zahabia Z. Slatewala

A Research on eSports Users’ Motives and Satisfaction in China The Case of League of Legends , Qianyin Sun

An Analysis of the Language and the Relationship of the President of the USA Related Twitter Accounts toward the National Media , Sait Serif Turhan

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Perception of Kazakhstan in the U.S through the New York Times Coverage , Tursynay Alikhanova

The Influence of Instagram Selfies on Female Millennials’ Appearance Satisfaction , Diliara Bagautdinova

Women’s Body Image in the Media: Fitspiration on Instagram , Brook M. Bryant

Political Talk Shows in Taiwan: First- and Third-Person Effects, Their Attitudinal Antecedents and Consequences , Shou-Chen Hsieh

An Examination of Image Repair Theory and BP’s Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill , William Anthony Korte Jr.

An Analysis of Organ Donation Presentations on Weibo , Shengfei Li

Gender Sexualization in Digital Games: Exploring Female Character Changes in Tomb Raider , Jingjing Liu

Shithole Countries: An Analysis of News Coverage in the U.S. , Murewa O. Olubela

Self-esteem, motivation, and self-enhancement presentation on WeChat , Xiao Qiu

The Portrayal of Women in the Oldest Russian Women’s Magazine “Rabotnitsa” From 1970-2017 , Anastasiia Utiuzh

Cultural Adaptation and Maintenance: Chinese International Students' Use of Facebook and WeChat , Mengni Wang

The Understanding of Absolute Right to Freedom of Expression in the Case of Hate Speech , Qinqin Wang

Body Image, Self-Esteem and Eating Disturbance among Chinese Women: Testing the Tripartite Influence model , Weiwei Wang

I’m Your Fan – Engaging in Celebrity’s Social Media Page with the Mediation of Parasocial Interaction and Parasocial Relationship , Jiahui Zhuang

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Household Food Waste Prevention in Malaysia: An Issue Processes Model Perspective , Syahirah Abd Razak

Countering the Questionable Actions of the CPD and FEC , Brian C. Cole

“You Know Who I Am, Don’t You? I’m the One They’re Writing About in the Newspapers and on TV” , Casey Killen Crane

To Tell the Truth: The Credibility of Cable News Networks In an Era of Increasingly Partisan Political News Coverage , Christopher Jadick

Political Media Bias in the United States: Immigration and the Trump Administration , Bryce Josepher

Social Media Use and Political Participation in China: The Mediating Role of Political Efficacy , Bingyang Liu

Framing Genetically-modified Foods Communication in China: A Content Analysis of News Coverage of People’s Daily and Southern Metropolis , Linqi Lu

Conceptualizing Social Wealth in the Digital Age: A Mixed Methods Approach , Kristina Oliva

The Road to the White House: A Correlational Analysis of Twitter Sentiment and National Polls in the 2016 Election Cycle , Melissa G. Pelletier

Using Green Messages to Cue Recycling Tendencies , Danielle Quichocho

Traversing Privacy Issues on Social Networking Sites Among Kuwaiti Females , Shahad Shihab

Chinese National Identity and Media Framing , Yufeng Tian

Smog Pollution in China: News Framing and Issue-Attention Cycle per the , Yingying Zhang

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Corporate Social Responsibility Communication: Beliefs in Motives, First- and Third-Person Effects and Behavioral Consequences , Nianyuan Cheng

Crimean Referendum: Annexation VS Reunification. Framing Analysis of Online News Coverage in Russia and the U.S. , Anna Dedova

Investigating the Determinants of Recycling Behavior in Youth by Using Theory of Planned Behavior. , Tejaswini Gadiraju

Media Perceptions on Sexual Assault on College Campuses , Maggie M. Hall

The Impact of Emojis and Emoticons on Online Consumer Reviews, Perceived Company Response Quality, Brand Relationship, and Purchase Intent. , Jayme Hill Hill

Media Multitasking and Memory: The Role of Message Modalities , Le Nguyen

Cultivating Philanthropy in Community Colleges: A Dual-Model Approach , Rachel Faith Pleasant

Avatar Self-Identification, Self-Esteem, and Perceived Social Capital in the Real World: A Study of World of Warcraft Players and their Avatars , Melissa Watts

The Effects of Mission Statement Design on Behavioral Intention , Jonathan David West

Impact of a Brand Crisis on Nation Branding: An Analysis of Tweets about VW’s Emissions Crisis , Kara Julie Whytas

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Responding to a Rumor: How Crisis Response Strategies Influence Relationship Outcomes , Bo Breuklander

Crisis Communication and Celebrity Scandal: An Experiment on Response Strategies , Leah Champion

Speaking Their Language: Textisms in Today's Communication , Adam Lloyd Drum

Direct-to-Consumer Messaging: A Phenomenological Examination of DTC Best Practices , Nicholas Dominick Fancera

Examining Endorsement and Viewership Effects on the Source Credibility of YouTubers , Stephanie Fred

The Cultivation of Eating Disorders through Instagram , Kendall O'Brien

Online Game Advertising and Chinese College Students: Attitudes, First- and Third-Person Effects , Yan Tang

On the Convergence of Cinema and Theme Parks: Developing a Predictable Model for Creative Design , Ryan Luke Terry

I Threw My Pie for You: Engagement and Loyalty on TV Show Facebook Pages , Tracy M. Wisneski

First- and Third-Person Effects of Alcohol Advertising on Chinese College Students , Dong Xue

Framing Occupy Central: A Content Analysis of Hong Kong, American and British Newspaper Coverage , Mengjiao Yu

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Climate Change, Situational Theory of Problem Solving, and Issue Framing Effects , Michael Eddie Burch

British Cultural Narrative in Winston Churchill's Political Communication , Andres L. Faza

Communication Behavior Study of Support in the Arts Using the Situational Theory of Publics and the Theory of Reasoned Action , Ashleigh Gallant

A Comparison Study on Violent Video Games: Explained by the Gamers Themselves , Christopher John Kneifer

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Top 140+ Research Topics for Journalism Students

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Team Desklib

Published: 2022-08-24

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An Introduction to Journalism

Journalism is the form of communication in which a journalist communicates with the audience in different modes and makes people aware of what is happening around the world.

There are different modes in which a journalist can establish communication with the audience:

Based on the Medium of Delivery, There are Three Types of Journalism:

  • Cyber, Online, and Digital
  • Print Journalism
  • Broadcast, TV, and Radio Communication

The above listed are a few mediums in which a communicator or a journalist can spread awareness amongst the audience/viewers.  All these mentioned mediums have their own space and significance.

  • Cyber/online/digital modes of communication are the newly invented medium of journalism as this medium can connect several audiences of all ages and communities and it covers a larger range than any other medium of journalism. This has become more compliant for a large number of audiences due to the availability of good internet and easy accessibility.
  • The second medium is print journalism which is the oldest and the traditional medium of journalism. Newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, etc are gradually losing their value though they are still delivering good and informational content this is because the information available on the internet is more viable than that of print journalism hence this medium is losing its significance gradually.
  • The third medium of journalism is television and radio which is the most popular and interesting way of delivering a message to the audience. This is becoming popular as it offers both visual and audio characteristics to the content. 

How to Choose Powerful Research Topics for Journalism to Write?

Before choosing a powerful research topic for journalism to write, one must find out their interest in a particular type of journalism.

As your interest will refine your knowledge in a particular niche of journalism and you will be able to choose and write a good research topic of journalism.

So here in the next step, we are describing all the types of journalism read them thoroughly then understand the task of a journalist related to these different kinds of fields of journalism then find out which type of journalism suits your temperament the most then select the topic accordingly and then you will be able to write a really good and powerful research paper of journalism. 

According to the nature of the content, the news is of two types- Hard news and Soft news , and according to the nature of news, journalism has many categories and sub-categories.

Here are the Top 8 Most Popular Types of Journalisms:

  • Political Journalism

This niche provides hard news content. So a journalist having an interest in this niche must have a good knowledge of both international and national politics. And he/she must enhance this knowledge on daily basis by adding on more crucial information.

Along with this, political journalism requires a great amount of awareness about the political events and entities every step taken by the politician should be in count of a political journalist. Political journalism is a good niche to be chosen as one may get subjective but as its content is hard a journalist must be careful while presenting any political as it may hurt someone’s emotions.

  • Investigative Journalism

This niche of journalism requires a lot of patience, persistence, and perseverance. The content of this niche is also hard as it is hard to investigate and display what you being a journalist have investigated. Investigative journalism provides journalists with the scope to investigate any case on their behalf and to reveal the truth.

Hence maintaining persistency in this niche is difficult as it is hard to stand by the truth. But one must always remember that revealing the truth is the sole purpose of investigative journalism.

  • Crime Journalism

The content of this journalism also falls in the category of hard news. As it is hard to talk with a criminal face to face. In this niche of journalism, the major role of the journalist is to reveal the crime that has been accidentally or deliberately committed by some person or by an organization, the crime could be any like rape, murder, manipulation, etc.

So, in this case, it becomes important for a journalist to be unbiased as the final decision would be that of the court and the court only will declare a suspect if h/she is a criminal or not. And making prejudice by journalists could not work in this field.

  • Business Journalism:

The content of business journalism could be both hard and soft. The main purpose of the business journalist is to interlink a country's economy with the business of the particular country and make a concept and then run this content as a piece of news on television or radio or to write as an article in the newspaper. The business news mainly involves updates from the stock market, the central bank of the country, and how they will impact the country’s economy.

  • Arts Journalism:

Arts journalism has soft news content as it deals in all forms of art like music, craft, dance, literature, painting, architecture, etc. Art has always been a subject of softness and symbolizes the contemporary feel of a particular era or time.

It promotes peace and happiness so this field of journalism becomes the most important field of journalism to promote peace and integrity there should be an existence of good art and creativity. A journalist working in this niche basically makes the audience aware of new and old forms of art and their significance.

  • Celebrity Journalism:

This niche is definitely a good choice for those who have an interest in movies and the lifestyle of actors. The word paparazzi is becoming popular these days as paparazzi are those journalists who cover everything about an actor and trace all his/her movements. In this camera-specific world, everyone has an eye on the latest fashion trend and the outfit worn by his/her favorite actor and actress, and the number of these such kind viewers is increasing day by day. So in this contemporary world, the demand for celebrity journalists is increasing to make people aware of their favorite stars’ activities and the clothing trend they are following.

  • Sports Journalism:

Sports journalism is a very enthusiastic niche, it is especially for those who are inclined towards sports and games. The niche perfectly suits the temperament of those people who have an interest in outings and sports and willing to cover all the sports events by watching them. Sports writing is not that difficult it just requires a good amount of knowledge of a particular sport or a game to give his/ her own opinion while discussing it on television or writing an article on that.

  • Tour/Travel Journalism:

A soft news niche requires lots of research on travels and tours the journalists connecting with this niche basically suggest to the viewers a good place to visit and the reason why a person should visit a particular place they also suggest some really good food to taste at a particular destination. The main work of the journalist in this field is to make people aware of destinations that are within budget and a way to reach there easily. This kind of journalism requires a good amount of energy as exploring something is not that easy.

Every field of journalism has different characteristics but all these niches stand on the pillars of truth. Whatsoever you choose as a journalist to write about, your sole purpose should be one is to show what is true. 

Here are the Most Popular and Powerful 140+ Research Topics for Journalism:

Now as you are familiar with all the types of journalism, we expect that you have already found your interest in one of these types. As you are ready with your interest you can find some really important research topics for journalism to write. Some topics suggested by us are mentioned below:

Top 40 Research Topics on Journalism

  • The Role and Responsibility of a Journalist.
  • Journalism and the Contemporary World.
  • What Will Be the Future of Journalism?
  • Journalism Then Vs Now.
  • Role of Media in Shaping the Political Structure of a Country.
  • Can Media and Privacy Lie on the Same Plane?
  • Politics in Media or Media in Politics.
  • Is Media Nowadays Biased or Unbiased?
  • The Quality of Media in Developing Countries and in Developed Counties.
  • Does Corruption Lie in Media or Not?
  • A Friendship Between the Media and the Party in Power.
  • Media is a Mirror of the Contemporary World.
  • Art and Art of Living.
  • Monuments Represent the Ancestral Beauty of the Country.
  • Monuments Then Vs Now
  • An Eye-opener Architecture of the Country.
  • Embellished Dance Forms.
  • Musical Instruments That Are Hard to Play.
  • Peace in the Different Forms of Art.
  • Heart Lost in the Art Made by Nature.
  • Crime Comes in the Face of a Friend or a Friend is an Enemy.
  • Prima Facie of the Crime.
  • Modus Operandi of the Criminal.
  • The Psyche of the Criminal While Committing a Crime.
  • Envy is the Major Pillar of Crime.
  • Ease of Doing Business.
  • The Role of the Stock Market in the Economy of a Country.
  • Is the Stock Market Affected by Slr and Crr?
  • Steps Taken by the Central Bank to Control Inflation.
  • The Role of the Imf is Different From the World Bank.
  • Business and New Start-ups Are Creating Employment or Finishing the Scope of Employment.
  • Business Strategic Management.
  • The Impact of a Pandemic on a Business.
  • Foreign Direct Investment Vs Foreign Portfolio Investment.
  • New Influencers Are the Actors or Actors Are the Influencers.
  • Celebrities’ Gym Wear Costs More Than Normal Casual Wear.
  • Paparazzi’s Role in the Lives of Celebrities.
  • Bollywood/Hollywood is Maintaining Nepotism or Not.
  • The Importance of Promotions of the Movie at the Time of Its Release.
  • Loss Faced by the Movie Industry at the time of a Pandemic.

Top 40 Great Journalism Research Topics

  • Best Hilly Places to Visit and Why.
  • Best Beach Places to Visit.
  • Places Having Historical Significance.
  • Places Where You Can Get Traditional Food.
  • Places to Visit With the Family.
  • Places to Visit With Friends.
  • Buildings Are the Memories.
  • Ancient Culture and Habits.
  • Cheapest Way to Travel Anywhere in the World.
  • How to Write a Travelogue.
  • Sports for Health and Sports for Wealth.
  • Sports in Which You Can Earn a Handsome Amount of Money.
  • Commonwealth Games Versus Olympics.
  • Football is a Good Start for Any Sport.
  • Strategies of Players While Playing Cricket for the World Cup and Strategies of Players While Playing Nationally.
  • Freedom of Journalists is Controlled by Some Influential People in Society.
  • The Power of a Local News Channel and Newspaper.
  • Women as Journalists.
  • Track the Changes Come in Journalism in the Last 5 Decades.
  • Is Social Media News Spread Obsoleting the Value of Journalism?
  • What is the Role Played by the Media in Reducing Crime?
  • The Impact of Media on the Psyche of Laymen.
  • How the New Technology Helped Media to Evolve?
  • Does the Media Make Political Views of a Person?
  • Does Media Provoke Violence?
  • Media as a Medium of Communication Between Two Entities.
  • What Was the Role Played by Media at the Time of the Independence Struggle?
  • Limits and Rights of Media Personnel or a Journalist.
  • Media Portrays a Contemporary Culture and Language.
  • Media Runs Social Media Marketing Campaigns.
  • Entry of Podcasts in the Field of Journalism.
  • Broadcasts Are Different From Live News.
  • In This Digital World Newspaper Still Has Value.
  • In This Digital World Radio Still Holds a Space.
  • Media Censorship.
  • Media Propaganda.
  • Mass and Communication Laws in Major World Economies.
  • Does the Media Alter the News?
  • How Do Media Houses Get Benefits From Advertisements?
  • What is Fan-fiction in Media?

 A List of 40 Excellent Journalism Research Paper Topics

  • What is Fandom in Media?
  • Does the Media Lit the Fire of Riots?
  • Is the Media More Inclined Towards Making Trp?
  • The monopoly of Few News Channels.
  • Does the Party in Power Regulate the Media?
  • The Role of Media in International Politics.
  • Media Gives Prejudgment.
  • Is Media Still With Truth or With Power?
  • How to Make Your Article More Credible?
  • Can the Media Make a Police Cop’s Image?
  • Media Headlines Ended With an Unquestionable Question Mark. Explain.
  • Does Media Violate the Privacy of a Person?
  • Media Chooses a Political Topic to Debate.
  • The Role of Media at the Time of Elections.
  • How Does the Media Promote the New Schemes of Government?
  • What is the Status of Media in Different Countries?
  • Does Media Help a Person in Taking His/her Rights Back?
  • Status of Media in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
  • The Role Played by Media in the Ongoing War Between Ukraine and Russia.
  • Media Psychology.
  • Status of an Investigative Journalist in Today’s World.
  • How the Magazines' Covers Are Important for the Media to Get More Sales?
  • How Can Journalists Produce High-quality News Without Spending So Much Time on It?
  • Is the USA the Only Powerful State in the Whole World? What is the Media’s Opinion?
  • Is Media Conservative in a Few Countries?
  • Why Should There Be Trust in the Media?
  • Is the Media Focused on the Environment?
  • Fear Created by Media While Showing a Criminal.
  • Does Media Spoil the Image of a Person?
  • Media Has Magic of Voice.
  • Hidden Messages Media Gets.
  • Is Media Also Becoming a Clothing Brand?
  • Nowadays Media is More Focused on Style Rather Than Delivering Accurate News.
  • Problems Faced by Journalists Working on-field.
  • Journalists Sometimes Become the Victim of Mob Lynching.
  • Is Journalism a Safe Field to Work in?
  • Are People Really Interested in Watching the News on Television Even if They Have Social Media?
  • Which is More Authentic Traditional Media or Social Media?
  • Is Media Working Like a Court?
  • Are the Journalists Nowadays Becoming Judges?

List of 18 Unique Journalism Research Topics

  • Is Media a Voice for Underprivileged People Also?
  • Is Media Confined Only to the Upper-class People of the Society?
  • Does the Class System Sway the Media Also?
  • Inappropriate Information Spread by Social Media.
  • Investigative Journalism Creates a Hindrance to Privacy.
  • How Media Use Images to Make the News More Colorful?
  • Using Pictures or Images Good for an Article?
  • Who Are the Key Stakeholders of Modern Media?
  • Does Media Create an Impact on the Country’s Economy?
  • Can the Media Help Police Find a Criminal?
  • Why Do People Revert to Newspapers Again and Prevent Watching News Channels on Television?
  • Is Society Benefitted From Free Media?
  • Media Fights a War Against Crime?
  • Influence of Media on Human Life.
  • How Dangerous is the Work of a Journalist?
  • Journalists Became the Victim of the Corona.
  • What Are the Few Characteristics of a Professional Journalist?
  • How to Choose the Right Title for an Arti

Conclusion:

Those mentioned above were a few topics that are suggested by us and could be chosen by you to write an effective research paper for journalism. But before writing select a topic and do research on it and then make some bulleted points to highlight and then start writing. Remember, truth should not be missed from your research and your point of view should also be added to your research paper. These two points will make your research paper more interesting for the reader as well as for the checker. So choose the topic, do research, pick the pen and start writing choose the most appropriate shade of word to make your research paper more colorful.

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  • How to Write Different Types of Research Paper ?

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JMS 710: Graduate Journalism and Media Studies (Burroughs): Fall 2020 Thesis Topics

  • Welcome JMS Grad Students!
  • Fall 2022 Research Topics
  • Fall 2021 Thesis Topics
  • Fall 2020 Thesis Topics
  • Fall 2019 Thesis Topics
  • Fall 2023 Thesis Topics

Gabi: Cause-related marketing and philanthro-journalism position and create messaging for profit in often unethical/untruthful ways. I would like to learn more about how messaging affects profit for organizations, how messages are framed, and how vulnerab

Possible keywords: cause-related marketing

philanthrojournalism

ethical/unethical

messaging 

framed messages

  • Cause-Related Marketing: A Coalignment of Marketing Strategy and Corporate Philanthropy
  • Cause-Related Marketing Ads in the Light of Negative News
  • Cause-related marketing: More buck than bang?
  • Can the Overcommercialization of Cause-Related Marketing Harm Society?
  • What's Wrong with Philanthrojounalism?

Cristal: Pandemics

how pandemics have affected the different mass media outlets such as radio, news, televisions and other sorts of that nature. I want to also propose the question if pandemics is something the world should have been more prepared for since everything we do is now through media and online sources. I don’t know if this makes my thesis sound too busy, but this seemed the most appropriate for my research. If you have any resources that may be helpful for my research I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance! 

Kewords: covid-19 and "mass media" and "united states"

covid-19 and "social media" and "united states"

pandemic and "mass media"

pandemic and "mass media" and "united states"

pandemic and media

  • News coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic: Missed opportunities to promote health sustaining behaviors  
  • Impact of rumors or misinformation on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in social media

Mariah-ASMR

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) within media and why it shy-rocketed into the popular media such as magazines (W magazine), super bowl commercials, and even on other social media platforms. I’d like to study how people (those who have and have not heard about it) view it and if the media has damaged the image of what ASMR is used for. Is it sexualized? How is it affecting our interpersonal relationships? What was ASMR before it was ASMR and did people know about it? 

Keywords: ASMR and magazines

ASMR and social media

ASMR and sexualization

ASMR and interpersonal relationships

  • Digital intimacy and ambient embodied copresence in YouTube videos: construing visual and aural perspective in ASMR role play videos
  • An examination of the default mode network in individuals with autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR)
  • So Far Away, Yet So Close A Study on How Intimacy Is Attempted to Be Produced in Girlfriend Roleplay ASMR Videos on YouTube

Naomi-Various Topics

1. Minority women/women in Sports Journalism (treatment, pay)  

Keywords: women and sportscasting and minorities

women and sportscasting and treatment

women and sportscasting and equality

2. The spread of misinformation on social media during BLM and the pandemic (being able to spread wrong information with ease and its effects) 

social media AND "black lives matter" and misinformation

social media and pandemic (or COVID-19) and misinformation

3. The medias attitude toward Colin Kaepernick before and after the death of George Floyd (BLM movement) 

Colin Kaepernick and George Floyd and Black Lives Matter

  • Google Scholar: Colin Kaepernick and George Floyd and Black Lives Matter
  • Google Scholar: misinformation AND "social media" AND covid-19
  • Google Scholar: women and minorities and sportscasting

Sean-Various Topics

One topic that I am interested in pursuing is how Las Vegas is going to be affected by COVID-19 in terms of the entertainment industry. I read an article recently that confirmed the show "Le Reve" is permanently closed due to the ongoing pandemic. I found this both fascinating and scary, as I knew that the landscape of entertainment shows on the Las Vegas strip is going to vastly change. I would want to know what type of people visit Las Vegas to see performances on the strip, what casinos are hurting the most due to the closure of shows, and how Las Vegas will rebrand itself once it becomes more safe for people to visit. 

Another topic that I am interested in pursuing is the idea of physical media dying. More specifically, since more and more people are streaming media, how long is it going to take before DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, vinyl records, and even video game discs become a thing of the past? While I am aware that this is an extremely broad topic, I want to focus on both the current sales trend of physical media, as well as survey people who consume media. 

  • Implications of COVID-19 on Gaming, Leisure and Entertainment Industry **Need to order via interlibrary loan
  • When Will The Show Go On For Las Vegas' Entertainment Venues? (KNPR)
  • Traditional media & streaming media (Google Scholar search)

Alexa: dating apps

Having dating apps increased the amount of successful relationships, and what do people define as successful? (Marriage, longterm relationship, casual encounter, or date?) Have dating apps increased impulsivity when making choices/ taking risks? How do dating apps affect one’s self-presentation and self-esteem? How have dating apps affected the LGTBQ community? What impact has Covid-19 created for dating culture and how have dating apps responded to that?

Keywords: dating apps

mobile dating

internet dating dating culture

online dating

online dating services

dating apps and choices (and risks and impulsivity_

dating apps and self-presentation

dating apps and self-esteem

dating apps and LGBTQ

dating apps and Covid-19

  • Online Dating-Pew Research Center
  • Best dating apps of 2020
  • The Impact of Mobile Dating Apps on Sexual Behavior and Self-esteem in Young Women (Dissertation)
  • "Where Have All the Good Men Gone?" Gendered Interactions in Online Dating

Charles: earning for students via online using zoom. Grades 1-12.

Possible keywords: ZOOM

remote learning 

online education

Combining the above keywords, such as: Zoom AND remote learning AND K-12 AND COVID-19

Adding keywords/synonyms after you decide on how you might want to narrow your search.

  • As schools close due to the coronavirus, some U.S. students face a digital ‘homework gap’-Pew Research Center
  • COVID-19 School Closure-Related Changes to the Professional Life of a K–12 Teacher
  • The Transition From Classroom to Zoom and How it Has Changed Education
  • Remote Learning Guidance From State Education Agencies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A First Look
  • << Previous: Fall 2021 Thesis Topics
  • Next: Fall 2019 Thesis Topics >>
  • Last Updated: Aug 21, 2024 10:01 AM
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15 Amazing Journalism Dissertation Topics For Students with Research Aims

The Study Blog : Research topics

Journalism and mass media research topics for your dissertation.

Journalism is basically getting information and distributing it to various media channels such as TV, Radio, newspaper, and social media. This is the reason why journalism is quite a wide field. This means that when you are looking for a journalism research topic for your undergraduate projects, master’s thesis or a dissertation, you have access to a limitless list. However, it is important not to choose a very broad subject as it may lead to confusion. When considering a dissertation topic, narrow it down to a specific question. This will give you more focus and an easier time when carrying out the research. Ensure your research topic is also not very narrow as that would give you a hard time looking for relevant information.

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Unlike other fields, a dissertation in journalism is considered to be of good quality if the information received from the interviewee is of good quality. A dissertation in journalism is more than an expression of theoretical knowledge, it has to be more practical and real. Here are just some subjects that one may choose to focus on when working on a journalism dissertation:

Research topics in journalism/news

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dissertation topics journalism

News is the most common aspect of journalism. This is basically the most straight-forward aspect of journalism. News journalists basically have to distribute facts just the way they are. There are several research topics that can be very appropriate for this journalism aspect:

1. The future of journalism. Is true journalism dead? Is social media, paparazzi, blogging the future of journalism?

2. Propaganda models. Which propaganda models do the media houses follow? How do different countries differ in how they practice journalism?

3. Privacy and journalism. A look at the relationship between British journalism and royal family. How has journalism contributed to Henry and Meghan’s change of lifestyle?

4. Journalism and business. Where do media people draw the line? Is the main goal to inform the public or to make money? How do different media houses compromise (in terms of quality) in a bid to attract and keep investors (advertisers).

5. Political instability in African countries. How has journalism contributed to political turmoil in Kenya?

6. Women journalists in media. How are women journalists treated in the world? What are the limitations faced by women journalists? Are there places that women journalists shouldn’t be sent to?

Dissertation topics on political and investigative reporting

Investigative journalism is an aspect of journalism that aims at uncovering the truth concerning an issue, an event, or even a person. For investigative and political journalism to be effective, information distributed must be factual.

1. Media and image. How does media help establish a country’s image? How can media help change Afghanistan’s negative image in the eyes of the world?

2. Media and power hungry politicians. What role does the media play in ensuring that such politicians are kept in check?

3. Dangers of investigative journalism. A look at several journalists who have suffered while doing investigative journalism. What steps can media houses take to keep their investigative journalists safe?

4. Media in the developing countries. How have politics shaped the developing countries? Why do politicians in developing countries keep giving empty promises that are never fulfilled?

5. What has made USA to be the superpower that it is? The competition between USA and China for the top seat, what role does the media play in this?

6. Corruption and politics. A look at Kenyan government and corruption. Why do the two co-exist so efficiently? How has corruption wounded Kenyan economy?

You may also like: The little secret why your friends are earning better grades

Dissertation topics on film and animation

Film and animation involves concepts such as film making, screen writing, editing, and camera work. Film and animation is very broad and often studied separate from journalism. Here are several topics you can choose from:

1. Role of race and religion in Hollywood. How are Arabic men depicted in Hollywood cinema?

2. Hollywood and Bollywood. How can the two be compared? How have they affected the world economy? How have they changed cultures in the world?

3. Place of Nollywood on the film market. How can Nollywood filmmakers improve their industry?

4. Bollywood. How has Bollywood grown over time? How has its growth affected Indian economy?

5. Hollywood and violence. Has Hollywood led to increased cases of violence especially among the youths?

6. Television or cinema? Is television becoming more popular than cinema?

Dissertation topics on advertising/corporate communication

Corporate communication is an important aspect of mass media. Every organization needs a communication department to help in managing all communications in and out of the organization. Corporate communication helps make efficient communication between an organization with its suppliers, investors, customers, employees among others.

Advertising on the other hand involves promoting a product or a service using the known media channels. It is very popular with big corporations since it is one way you’re assured that your message will reach your audience.

So what can you cover on your dissertation?

7. What is the importance of advertising on the media? Can media exist without advertising?

8. Media is highly dependent on advertising as a means of earning an income. Does this compromise its standards?

9. Can large corporations that are doing perfectly well stay without advertising?

Research topics on business reporting

Business reporting helps analyze and report commercial activities that affect the economy. Business reporting is usually more detailed than some other aspects. It is also very factual, and requires the business reporters to make complex business reports simple for everyone to understand. There are lots of topics you can choose from when it comes to business reporting. They include:

1. Pandemics and economy. A look at different pandemics that have happened worldwide and their effect on the economy. What is the impact of Coronavirus on economy? How is it likely to cause the greatest recession to have ever been experienced?

2. Chinese economy. How has Chinese economy risen so steadily over the years? Will Covid-19 cause a halt on this steady rise?

3. Economy and social networking. How has social networking changed the way business is done? Is ecommerce the future of business?

Research topics on developmental journalism

Development is an essential part of our world. Development journalism deals with ideologies, policies, or events that help improve life. Development journalism is quite wide since it covers almost everything and anything that is meant to improve human life. Here are some topics you can choose from if you want to do a dissertation of developmental journalism:

1. Education still a distant dream for most children in poor countries. How can media handle the rising cases of illiteracy in undeveloped and developing countries?

2. FGM, rape and defilement, and domestic violence cases are still on the rise in many countries. How can media help in reducing these cases?

3. Poverty levels still alarming in developing countries. How can the media help in coming up with solutions for this?

Writing a dissertation on a journalism subject can be quite interesting. However, it is important to understand the nature of journalistic writing. Journalistic writing requires a more practical approach as compared to other fields. It is therefore important to use interviews, surveys, and other practical methods to collect data.

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1000+ FREE Research Topics & Title Ideas

dissertation topics journalism

Select your area of interest to view a collection of potential research topics and ideas.

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PS – You can also check out our free topic ideation webinar for more ideas

How To Find A Research Topic

If you’re struggling to get started, this step-by-step video tutorial will help you find the perfect research topic.

Research Topic FAQs

What (exactly) is a research topic.

A research topic is the subject of a research project or study – for example, a dissertation or thesis. A research topic typically takes the form of a problem to be solved, or a question to be answered.

A good research topic should be specific enough to allow for focused research and analysis. For example, if you are interested in studying the effects of climate change on agriculture, your research topic could focus on how rising temperatures have impacted crop yields in certain regions over time.

To learn more about the basics of developing a research topic, consider our free research topic ideation webinar.

What constitutes a good research topic?

A strong research topic comprises three important qualities : originality, value and feasibility.

  • Originality – a good topic explores an original area or takes a novel angle on an existing area of study.
  • Value – a strong research topic provides value and makes a contribution, either academically or practically.
  • Feasibility – a good research topic needs to be practical and manageable, given the resource constraints you face.

To learn more about what makes for a high-quality research topic, check out this post .

What's the difference between a research topic and research problem?

A research topic and a research problem are two distinct concepts that are often confused. A research topic is a broader label that indicates the focus of the study , while a research problem is an issue or gap in knowledge within the broader field that needs to be addressed.

To illustrate this distinction, consider a student who has chosen “teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom” as their research topic. This research topic could encompass any number of issues related to teenage pregnancy such as causes, prevention strategies, health outcomes for mothers and babies, etc.

Within this broad category (the research topic) lies potential areas of inquiry that can be explored further – these become the research problems . For example:

  • What factors contribute to higher rates of teenage pregnancy in certain communities?
  • How do different types of parenting styles affect teen pregnancy rates?
  • What interventions have been successful in reducing teenage pregnancies?

Simply put, a key difference between a research topic and a research problem is scope ; the research topic provides an umbrella under which multiple questions can be asked, while the research problem focuses on one specific question or set of questions within that larger context.

How can I find potential research topics for my project?

There are many steps involved in the process of finding and choosing a high-quality research topic for a dissertation or thesis. We cover these steps in detail in this video (also accessible below).

How can I find quality sources for my research topic?

Finding quality sources is an essential step in the topic ideation process. To do this, you should start by researching scholarly journals, books, and other academic publications related to your topic. These sources can provide reliable information on a wide range of topics. Additionally, they may contain data or statistics that can help support your argument or conclusions.

Identifying Relevant Sources

When searching for relevant sources, it’s important to look beyond just published material; try using online databases such as Google Scholar or JSTOR to find articles from reputable journals that have been peer-reviewed by experts in the field.

You can also use search engines like Google or Bing to locate websites with useful information about your topic. However, be sure to evaluate any website before citing it as a source—look for evidence of authorship (such as an “About Us” page) and make sure the content is up-to-date and accurate before relying on it.

Evaluating Sources

Once you’ve identified potential sources for your research project, take some time to evaluate them thoroughly before deciding which ones will best serve your purpose. Consider factors such as author credibility (are they an expert in their field?), publication date (is the source current?), objectivity (does the author present both sides of an issue?) and relevance (how closely does this source relate to my specific topic?).

By researching the current literature on your topic, you can identify potential sources that will help to provide quality information. Once you’ve identified these sources, it’s time to look for a gap in the research and determine what new knowledge could be gained from further study.

How can I find a good research gap?

Finding a strong gap in the literature is an essential step when looking for potential research topics. We explain what research gaps are and how to find them in this post.

How should I evaluate potential research topics/ideas?

When evaluating potential research topics, it is important to consider the factors that make for a strong topic (we discussed these earlier). Specifically:

  • Originality
  • Feasibility

So, when you have a list of potential topics or ideas, assess each of them in terms of these three criteria. A good topic should take a unique angle, provide value (either to academia or practitioners), and be practical enough for you to pull off, given your limited resources.

Finally, you should also assess whether this project could lead to potential career opportunities such as internships or job offers down the line. Make sure that you are researching something that is relevant enough so that it can benefit your professional development in some way. Additionally, consider how each research topic aligns with your career goals and interests; researching something that you are passionate about can help keep motivation high throughout the process.

How can I assess the feasibility of a research topic?

When evaluating the feasibility and practicality of a research topic, it is important to consider several factors.

First, you should assess whether or not the research topic is within your area of competence. Of course, when you start out, you are not expected to be the world’s leading expert, but do should at least have some foundational knowledge.

Time commitment

When considering a research topic, you should think about how much time will be required for completion. Depending on your field of study, some topics may require more time than others due to their complexity or scope.

Additionally, if you plan on collaborating with other researchers or institutions in order to complete your project, additional considerations must be taken into account such as coordinating schedules and ensuring that all parties involved have adequate resources available.

Resources needed

It’s also critically important to consider what type of resources are necessary in order to conduct the research successfully. This includes physical materials such as lab equipment and chemicals but can also include intangible items like access to certain databases or software programs which may be necessary depending on the nature of your work. Additionally, if there are costs associated with obtaining these materials then this must also be factored into your evaluation process.

Potential risks

It’s important to consider the inherent potential risks for each potential research topic. These can include ethical risks (challenges getting ethical approval), data risks (not being able to access the data you’ll need), technical risks relating to the equipment you’ll use and funding risks (not securing the necessary financial back to undertake the research).

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Media Dissertation Topics

The aim of writing a dissertation or thesis is to create an original piece of research work on a clearly defined topic. However, writing a dissertation can be very difficult, especially if the student fails to have a concise research topic. Therefore, the first step to writing a successful dissertation is to identify the area that the student wants to research and then, after a little study of this area, form a clearly-defined topic. A concise research question is very important as it ensures that the dissertation is focused and flowing, and enables students to demonstrate how their research area is relevant. It is also important that the student chooses media dissertation topics that are of interest and bring new insight into the topic. However, the media dissertation topic should have enough literature for the student to form their unique argument, because a dissertation is not a PhD, and does not aim to change the field of research; rather, dissertations are focused on providing a different and unique viewpoint on the existing research and literature. The following article looks at a variety of different and relevant dissertation topics on media, including journalism, mass communication and music, and then identifies several good media dissertation topics and research questions to help the student to identify an area of interest, as well as how to form a good research question. Selecting media dissertation topics can be a challenging task, and therefore this article suggests a wide range of topics within the subject areas of freedom of expression, censorship, culture, communication, government monitoring and social networks.

Journalism and Privacy Dissertation Topics

Journalism and freedom of expression dissertation topics, the artist, censorship and media dissertation topics, cultures in media dissertation topics, music, culture, the artist and intellectual property, communication in the digital age dissertation topics, communication and government monitoring dissertation topics, communication and social networks dissertation topics.

Journalism and privacy have become very hot media-related dissertation topics, especially in the growing world of celebrities and in the developing era of everyone keeping up-to-date about happenings in the world. However, journalism has also brought the concern of privacy to the forefront, as questions are raised about privacy versus transparent journalism. Certain media dissertation topics consider how far a journalist can venture into an individual’s private life without breaching the individual’s fundamental right to privacy (Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights), and consider whether there are some different criteria applied for private individuals or popular celebrities. Some topics within journalism and privacy that you could cover within your media dissertation include:

  • Although English law does not provide a specific law for privacy, does the common law system provide adequate protection of an individual’s private life from journalists?
  • The European Convention of Human Rights has introduced the concept of proportionality; does the United Kingdom’s legal regulations and precedent adopt proportionality towards privacy of individuals and journalists?
  • The case of Princess Diana has called into question the ethics of journalism and their invasion into the private life of the public. Should there be stricter regulations?
  • The European Law of Human Rights has called for a specific law of privacy to protect individuals from journalists: Does the UK need to adopt this approach?
  • A case law approach to Journalism and show-business: Do celebrities, by nature of their career, have a reduced right to privacy?
  • The economics of journalism are very important. If there is a stricter approach to protecting the private life of the public, will journalists still be able to engage and maintain their readership?
  • The legal case of Naomi Campbell in the UK has highlighted the issue of celebrities being afforded full privacy rights like other citizens. How can the right balance be achieved by journalists?
  • Judges in the UK and the USA have argued that celebrities who court the media, by their personal actions and economic gains, should not use privacy laws when and as they wish. Discuss.
  • Across Europe there are varying approaches by the courts to protecting privacy. With the European Court of Human Rights and the EU do we need one consistent approach?
  • The case of Yahoo v Licra has brought into question the very strict protection of privacy in France. Does the French approach comply with the European Convention of Human rights under the principles of margin of appreciation?
  • Data Protection and Journalism. How does the Data Protection Act 1998 influence the issue of peoples’ privacy in journalism?
  • The UK currently has a privacy statute set out in the Human Rights Act 1998. However, does journalism operate in the public’s interest?
  • Considering privacy in journalism, two major conducts are considered offensive – publication of private facts and intrusion. How can these conducts be regulated?

Journalism and the press offer a platform for various voices to be heard. However, the flipside of protecting the privacy of individuals is the important role of the media as the public watchdog. Indeed, at the international, regional and national level, journalists serve as the public’s watchdog, activist and custodian. These roles are protected by the fundamental human right of freedom of expression. This area discusses the extent to which courts can extend their protection over journalists, and how journalists can avoid court cases. Specific topics for your media dissertation could include:

  • Reynolds v Time Newspapers is the key case for recognising the role of press as the public’s watchdog. What are the implications of this case on the courts’ approach to journalists?
  • Sources are essential to journalists. Should the freedom of expression laws be used to protect these sources from cases that can result in breach of confidence?
  • The First Amendment of the United States Constitution has a tenet that supports a very balanced approach to freedom of expression and journalism. Should the UK adopt their approach?
  • Are there any justifications for the journalist’s right of freedom of expression to be breached in the interests of a democratic society?
  • Some argue that freedom of expression and the free press is the cornerstone of a democratic society. A comparison of citizens’ attitudes to a free press in the UK and US.
  • Journalism relies on the right of freedom of expression; however, should this give journalists the license to destroy the lives of individuals? A discussion of the balance between journalism and responsible reporting.
  • The “name and shame” approaches adopted by many newspapers have been questioned as unethical, Is this so, or does this strategy confirm their status as the public’s watchdog?
  • Watchdog is a very important consumer protection programme. Is this an example of responsible journalism?
  • Breach of confidence is a major factor that contradicts Data Protection laws and regulations; how far can the journalist’s right to freedom of expression be used as a defence of such a breach?
  • Is there a different level of freedom of expression for tabloids and broadsheets? The News of the World versus The Times.
  • UK citizens have a negative right to freedom of expression under the common law. How does this impact the country’s journalism?
  • The Sunday Times vs UK case highlights how courts infringe on journalists’ freedom of expression. How can courts extend their protection over journalists?
  • Freedom of expression is protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Convention. Can journalists leverage on this legislation?

Censorship is the suppression of speech, public messages, and other similar information, that can be provided by journalists, based on the assumption that such material can be offensive, detrimental, delicate, politically incorrect or problematic as determined by government establishments or by public consensus. Therefore, censorship can be referred to as the government’s approach to controlling the media for the good of the society. The question is how far can the government go to protect society and is it really justified or merely a form of citizen control? There are two forms of censorship; the first is direct censorship, which is the banning of certain mediums and topics, while the second form is propaganda censorship, where the media and artists feed the government viewpoint. This is a controversial area, which offers various unique media dissertation topics, including:

  • Direct censorship is a direct breach of an individual’s human right to a free press. Discuss in relation to UNDHR
  • Journalists have a moral right to provide a balanced approach to the news; however, it is argued that the media is highly politicised. The case study of Fox News in the US.
  • Iran currently has a strict censorship programme in relation to its media. Does this approach protect the integrity of the country or is it a form of state control?
  • Were the dossiers released by the UK and US government prior to the Iraq war an example of the state using the media for propaganda?
  • A review of the differing viewpoints about banning pornography within an independent or democratic society: Is this a form of censorship??
  • The Spycatcher Case illustrates that the English courts will allow censorship if there is a threat to national security; however, should there be a limitation to the extent of legitimate whistleblowing, and when does whistleblowing constitute a crime?
  • Art has been an object of censorship over the years to protect the morals of the community. Some would argue that certain artistries, such as the BODYWORX art show, is immoral, but has not been censored. How does this compare to the display of foetuses and other controversial artistries?
  • Censorship, through propaganda, appears to be more subversive in a democratic society because it is hidden behind supposed legitimate laws. Case Study: The war on terror.
  • Political correctness is the new form of censorship in a democracy. Has the liberal view on tolerance caused a breach of the rights that they aim to protect?
  • The recent cases on the right of an individual to wear religious symbols have brought into question whether the UK is now censoring the right of religious association. Can this and other similar cases be classed as examples of censorship?
  • Censorship of controversial topics (violence, scandals, etc.) – Is there a balance between censorship and the ability to portray the true version of events?
  • A review of strict censorship regulations: Does censorship form a barrier to wide-ranging dissemination of creative works in the Arab world?
  • Implicit theories of censorship: Has the United States and U.K. Government institutions implemented censorship regulations that have created adverse conditions whereby journalists have to carry out personal-censorship to avoid prosecution?

Media, as a means of communication, has the potential to stretch and strengthen the human capacity for the transmission and exchange of information. The cultural value of media is dependent on those who control the mechanisms of media. For example, mass media, such as television, can produce significant cultural effects. Concerns about threats to media democracy have generated an exciting area for comparative research. Here are some media dissertation topics and case studies that you could research for your media dissertation:

  • What is the role of cybernationalism in China?
  • Facebook and Fears – A consideration of the ways in which social media networks have been implicated in digital terrorism.
  • Celebritisation and class conflict – A critical analysis of British ‘structured reality’ programming and its impact on class identity.
  • What is cyberviolence and how can it be regulated?
  • Following terror attacks in France, social media has been used to disseminate information in emergency situations. What are public expectations in relation to media messages and crisis management?
  • How does individualism-collectivism influence media use? A cross-cultural comparison between the USA and China.
  • Can the media be used to breach cultural divides and erase stereotypical images? An argument for responsible journalism.
  • Is the growth of media and film making, outside of Hollywood, important to ensure that all cultures are represented? The case of Bollywood.
  • In the UK do the British media fail the North/South cultural divide? A comparison of BBC news broadcasting.
  • Technological developments have influenced contemporary journalism and news culture. What is the fate of the modern newsroom?
  • Considering the ‘multicultural question’, discuss the extent to which the Hall/Morely model of audience reception remains relevant.
  • Examine postmodern views of media representation of significant cultural events.
  • Identify key debates about how media influences questions of sexual difference and the performativity of gender.

Intellectual property is a key feature of a new idea that an artist puts into practice. In the past, copyright, patents and trademarks have limited the ability to reproduce the work of the artist. However, in the current age of advanced technology, there are less effective regulations and restrictions governing whether individuals can download pirated music and films. Debate about control, ownership, and the values of the artist lead to the question of whether using the work of an artist is, in fact, stealing. This is becoming a more prominent issue within an increasingly globalised and digitised media industry, and the subject would make for interesting media dissertation topics.

  • The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is the most important intellectual agreement of the 20th century. Discuss.
  • There are legitimate situations in the name of education where breaching an artist’s intellectual property rights is permitted. Discuss.
  • Intellectual property law fails minority cultural groups, their tribal music and art because it fails to understand communitarian ownership and prioritises the individual. Discuss.
  • Copyright law is far more interested in the owner of the copyright, such as record labels, than the artists. Discuss.
  • Using The X-Factor as a case study, present reasons why economics, rather than musical style, shapes the role of the music industry in popular culture.
  • It is argued that in the UK there is no real choice in music, because there is a monopoly on record labels in the market. A comparison of the UK and Canada’s music markets.
  • Music throughout the centuries has been linked to culture. However, in the UK there seems to be a distinct lack of cultural mainstream music. Does there need to be a promotion of British music culture?
  • Do the beliefs and attitudes of consumers in the music market need to change to stop music pirating?
  • Artists are changing the music market by allowing consumers to choose their price for music purchases. How will this change the face of the music market?
  • The Americanisation of the music industry is destroying traditional musical forms. Debate whether cultural imperialism is evident in the context of music censorship in Iran.
  • At the turn of the century, 80% of global publishing and recording revenues are appropriated by only five companies: EMI (UK), Bertelsmann (Germany), Warner (US), Sony (Japan) and Universal (Canada). Debate whether this monopolisation will continue.
  • Evaluate the role of cultural intermediaries (Bourdieu, 1984) in relation to the active role that personnel in the music industry undertake in relation to the production of particular styles of music.
  • The greater control that technology affords has led to more complex patterns of everyday music usage. Discuss.

Communication in the digital age has caused fears that individual privacy will be breached. For instance, different digital technologies have different conceptualisations of privacy. As with any broad social change, as well as fear come new forms of knowledge. The digital age has provided improved access to learning and education. Further to this, advances in communication technologies have supported activism and furthered freedom of expression. Here are some media dissertation topics within this area that you could research on.

  • The Data Protection Act (DPA) is soon to be replaced by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Evaluate this change in data protection regulation.
  • France, Germany and the UK have different approaches to Data Protection. Are any sufficient to deal with digital communications?
  • Identity fraud and hacking behaviour has grown with the evolution of digital communications. Evaluate research into cybercrime perpetration by adolescents and young adults.
  • Education has been improved in the digital age with faster communication and exchanging of ideas. Has this made traditional teaching methods less important?
  • In light of the influence of micro-blogging on political campaigning, discuss the effectiveness of e-campaigning on Twitter as a more participatory process.
  • Higher education in the digital era – discuss the impact of online forums on distance learning.
  • Digital inequality may compound the existing rural-urban disparity in developing countries. Discuss.
  • How has the use of the Internet in local economies kick-started sustainable development? A comparison of rural South Africa and rural India.
  • Digital communication has been an important tool for human rights campaigners. A case study of Amnesty International’s email petitions.
  • In the past, governments have tried to censor information as a form of control. With the emergence of projects such as WikiLeaks, examine whether the Internet has brought about democratic change.
  • Does use of the internet stimulate political unrest in the Middle East?
  • Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP) is a useful analytic frame for examining the professional identity and status of media workers. Discuss.
  • The individual has the power to design their own information environment. Evaluate Harper’s (1997) notion of the ‘Daily Me’.
  • Large corporations and governments have developed new methods with which to analyse social media data. Discuss the implications that dominant uses of data mining and analytics may have for the public.

The growth of mass communication and the technology to enable this communication has brought many benefits. Technological advancement provides the individual with information at the touch of a button, as well as allowing them to participate in politics. The advancements have also provided cheaper and easier formats for communication. However, there are some significant problems, enabling governments to access individual’s private communications with greater ease. Thus, privacy of the individual is threatened. This includes ISP addresses asking for personal information on access and Internet providers allowing government access. Does this mean that although mass communication has benefits it also has significant problems? An important issue to many would mean any of the following topics could create a useful and well-read media dissertation.

  • Is it ethical for Internet providers to allow government agencies to access private, individual, personal communications in the interests of justice?
  • How does the UK government justify using mass communication interceptors, such as ISP address recording, to access private individual’s personal information?
  • What are the implications of governments using the private individual’s access of mass communication as reason to investigate their personal communications?
  • How are the boundaries blurring between mass and personal communication with the advent of blogs and social networking sites?
  • Privacy is a key factor to limit journalists accessing personal information. How can the government justify breaching the same rights of an individual’s personal information?
  • What is the nature of the participatory culture of politics and how has social media encouraged this to individuals and government?
  • In enabling governments to access the private information of the individual, what implications has this for society and freedoms for the individual?
  • Communication is key to the democratic process; how can individuals be assured of their rights and freedoms?

Digital communications are constantly changing and moving the goal posts at a rapid speed. Social networks, such as Facebook, are changing the way that many people use the Internet and are changing the face of the distinction of private and mass communication. Information is readily available, allowing the individual to participate in a virtual world. Communication is being enabled through the various platforms and mediums available to the user, such as blogs etc. The socialising processes are being updated in link with how social media is operated by connecting individuals. Social media also has its critics who accuse it of damaging personal communication and dumbing down the latest generations. It has also become the site of cyber bullying which on the internet cannot be fully governed. If the area of communication and social networks interests you, you could write about any of the following topics for your media dissertation.

  • Social networks are the new form of mass communication, where blogs and ideas are exchanged; however, as technological processes are dynamic this is not the final product of social media. Discuss
  • What are the effects of social networking sites on the economics of mass communication?
  • Can social networking sites be used as a form of mass communication to trigger sustainable development and trading outside the ambits of corporations, such as eBay.
  • Do social networks play an important role in mass communication, advertising and the economic growth of trading over the Internet?
  • Are social networks more persuasive than traditional forms of communication, especially in regards to changing attitudes of individuals towards key debates?
  • Can we use social networks and blogs as a platform of mass communication to change attitudes to consumers and companies? Social networks and consumer boycotting.
  • Social media has been described as the digitalisation of word of mouth; how effective has this format been for marketing business?
  • Cyber bullying has become a greater problem using social media. How can this be regulated?
  • How true is it that social media can have an adverse effect on social interaction and the dumbing down of the English language?

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180 Powerful Journalism Research Topics To Focus On

Table of Contents

Finding a unique journalism research topic is one of the tricky tasks that require a lot of innovation. If you are a student who is pursuing a degree in communication or media studies, then you will often be asked to write essays or research papers on interesting journalism topics. Right now, do you want to write an informative journalism research paper? Are you searching for the best journalism research topics? Go through this blog post and get the top powerful journalism research topics and ideas that will help you boost your grades.

Tips for Selecting a Good Journalism Research Topic

Journalism is a broad field of study that mainly deals with the gathering and distribution of information to various media channels such as radio, TV, newspaper, and social media. In order to complete graduation, mainly, as a part of the final year academic project, the students who are pursuing media studies must submit a research paper or thesis on journalism topics.

When you are assigned a task to prepare a journalism research paper, topic selection is the first step that you can’t skip. Remember, you can impress your professor and score high grades only if you have a unique topic.

 Journalism Research Topics

In general, there are endless unique journalism research topics and ideas available, but the real challenge lies in identifying one specific journalism topic out of them all. Hence, to help you all, here we have shared a few important tips that you can follow during the topic selection.

  • The topic you choose should match your interest.
  • The topic should be exciting and informative for the readers.
  • Avoid choosing too broad topics because they may require a lot of time to complete.
  • If your topic is too broad, narrow it down to a specific research question that is easy to write about before the deadline.
  • Instead of picking the frequently discussed research topics, go with the topic that focuses on unique issues that are fresh for the readers to learn and understand.
  • The research topic you choose should support extensive research and contain relevant sources for reference.

Additionally, check whether the research topic you have selected stands in line with your professor’s instructions. Also, before finalizing the journalism research topic you have selected, make sure it satisfies all the above-mentioned tips. The journalism research topic is said to be good only if it meets the requirements shared above.

List of Journalism Research Paper Topics and Ideas

When it comes to writing a journalism research paper, you need to invest a lot of effort and time to search and find the best journalism research topic. Hence, to make your topic selection process easier, here, we have composed a list of exclusive journalism research topics and ideas.

 List of Journalism Research Topics

Explore the complete list of ideas and pick a powerful journalism research topic of your preference.

Top Research Topics on Journalism

  • What are the duties and roles of a professional journalist?
  • How have technological and scientific developments affected journalism?
  • Discuss how influential people control the freedom of journalists and the media.
  • How has social media affected modern journalism?
  • Explain the challenges that journalists in varying topographical situations face every day.
  • How can journalists change the perception of women as being materialistic?
  • A journalist should be well-versed in different topics about local and international news- Explain.
  • How do the media facilitate the stereotypical representations of females by portraying them as materialistic objects?
  • How has technology affected the mediums that journalists used to reach people?
  • Discuss the major problems that are experienced by journalists as they discharge their duties.
  • Are social media websites making third-person journalists?
  • Is social media making print media obsolete?
  • Can journalism be used to help improve marginalized sections in society?
  • How has COVID-19 revealed the role of journalists at a global level?
  • How are electronic media channels shaping modern-day journalism?
  • Discuss the impact of Yellow journalism on the sports and entertainment industry
  • How do power-hungry politicians misuse media houses and journalists?
  • Discuss the dangers of investigative journalism
  • Impact of fake journalism on people and society as a whole
  • Political scandals cause media introspection.
  • How are women journalists treated in the world?
  • What are the challenges faced by women journalists in Middle-East countries?
  • Discuss the role of journalism during World War I and World War II
  • Impact of journalism on the lifestyle change of Henry Meghan
  • Is it good to consider, social media and blogging as the future of journalism? Explain with justifications
  • What is communication?
  • Media, Censorship, and Propaganda.
  • The freedom of speech and its impact on the media.
  • The main aspects of communication.
  • The triggering topics.
  • The phenomenon of hype and its usage of the media.

Journalism Research Topics

Best Journalism Research Topics

  • How can journalists help the masses understand topical issues better?
  • What is the role of the media in reducing crime?
  • Discuss the negative implications of media in influencing violence.
  • What is the link between media and the growth of the fashion industry?
  • What is the subsequent impact of media on the growth of an economy?
  • Discuss the likely implications of partisan advertisement outlets.
  • What are your thoughts on denying an operational license to partisan media outlets?
  • Examine how media has impacted your living over the last ten years.
  • Elaborate on the potential beneficiaries of media versus society-influenced violence.
  • Investigate how the media industry has evolved because of technological advancement.
  • How has journalism contributed to political turmoil in Kenya?

Read more: Excellent Communication Research Topics To Consider

Excellent Journalism Research Paper Topics

  • How significant is the media in the war against crimes?
  • Use of mainstream media in strategic communication
  • How the media influence political patterns
  • Media use by kids and adolescents
  • How society benefits from a free media
  • Scare strategies that the media use to accomplish goals
  • How do the media influence immorality?
  • Do video games form a part of the media?
  • Media censorship and propaganda
  • How the media portrays popular culture and identity

Research Paper Topics in Mass Communication and Journalism

  • What are the benefits of international journalism ?
  • How effective are social media marketing campaigns
  • Explain how journalists altered the coverage of news relating to World War II.
  • Define media downshifting and discuss why people are reverting to newspapers again.
  • Discuss mass communication laws in the U.S.
  • Define journalism ethics and highlight its importance in news coverage.
  • Investigate why radio still commands a huge following.
  • Explain different types of media and differ according to the audience.
  • Investigate terrorism in media and highlight examples in the world today.
  • Highlight some relevant media disasters and explain how to prevent them.

Journalism Thesis Topics

  • How media houses benefit from advertising
  • Explain why video blogs are the new diaries.
  • How effective are media companies as compared to single bloggers with regard to news coverage?
  • Define fan fiction and fandom in the media.
  • Explain the critical attributes of communication.
  • Discuss the peculiarities of children’s media.
  • How do the media affect the political class in a country?
  • Key stakeholders of modern media
  • How the media influences the articulation of major social matters
  • How the media preempt situations

Unique Journalism Research Topics

  • Investigate how the government regulates the media.
  • What is the role of mass media in spreading awareness?
  • Explain how readers can confirm the truth and credibility of news articles.
  • Discuss the relevance of media in the growth of a steadfast country.
  • Explain how social media has impacted the reporting of police brutality cases.
  • What was the impact of mass media on the scope of the Vietnam War
  • Determine whether governments should have exclusive power to censor news reporters and journalists.
  • Elaborate on the main drawbacks facing journalism.
  • Discuss whether media outlets are responsible for the spread of unverified stories.
  • Analyze why media agencies should cease using metaphors in headlines.
  • Media psychology- How it applies to communication.
  • Explain the role of media in the growth of the music industry.
  • Analyze the influence of media on innovations.
  • Explain the implications of a one-sided media and why it might be dangerous to society.
  • Analyze the media violations of a person’s freedom and rights.
  • Investigate the Black Lives Matter movement and analyze the role of media in advancing it.
  • Examine how media affects the diminishing of traditions and culture.
  • Why is the press essential in spreading political rivalry among the political subject and class?
  • What role does mass media play in promoting learning activities?
  • Examine the role of mass media on the political class of America in the 18th century.

Investigative Journalism Research Topics

  • What is the role of transculturation in media translation
  • Discuss the objectification of women and its adverse psychological impacts.
  • Discuss whether politicians depend on media to retain their power.
  • Explain why mass media is more of a propaganda tool for the government.
  • Explain why the media should not include graphic images depicting violence or war brutality.
  • What are the historical development and cultural impact of media in the U.S.?
  • How some governments silence investigative journalists
  • An investigation into the key stakeholders of modern media houses.
  • How magazine covers are used to get more sales
  • How journalists can maintain high-quality reporting without necessarily spending more
  • What are the negative impacts of television advertisements on children?
  • How the media is helping call centers to create jobs and help the unemployed members of society.
  • Examine how the image of the Arab woman appears in Arab media.
  • How the media makes the USA look like the ultimate ruler
  • Conduct a comparative analysis of news reports between FOX and BBC News.
  • How mainstream media is promoting the upsurge of public misinformation and fake news
  • How influential politicians make key decisions for some media houses
  • What are the moral lines that separate investigative journalism from the violation of people’s privacy?
  • How the media is helping rebrand some countries- Case study of Nigeria.

Read more: Best Visual Analysis Essay Topics and Writing Guidelines for Students to Focus On

Interesting Journalism Thesis Topics

  • Examine some of the most significant anticipated changes to journalism in days to come
  • Is it true that the internet makes people read less about current events?
  • Elaborate on different ways by which mass media outlets benefit from advertisements and product promotions.
  • Discuss why it is not appropriate for celebrities and superstars to undergo trials by the media.
  • Define stylized writing and elaborate on whether it is acceptable in today’s internet-reliant world.
  • Discuss the critical negative influence mass media may have on students.
  • Elaborate why televisions need to stop showing sexual content.
  • Examine media and its influence in the articulation of social matters like racism.
  • Investigate the impact of new media on digital learning budgets.
  • Examine if journalism can seek the truth without breaking the journalism code.
  • What are the causes and impacts of media addiction
  • Discuss the effect of mass media on one’s emotional and psychological wellbeing.
  • Highlight how disabled people are represented by the media today
  • Discuss why we should trust the media to deliver accurate news.

Engaging Journalism Dissertation Topics

  • Discuss the representation of women journalists in the media fraternity.
  • Describe ways to regulate mass media to guarantee that students are only minimally exposed to inappropriate content
  • Discuss the reasons that make the United States of America considered a global superpower from media perspectives
  • The imperativeness of journalism for disadvantaged social groups
  • A Critical review of the methodological trends and controversies surrounding the Use of opinion poll
  • Critically analyze how the British journalists try to win over the royals
  • Homophobia in modern sports and the role of media channels in increasing such negativism Homophobia
  • Discuss the role of media in promoting same-sex marriage
  • Evaluate the role played by media in helping GenZ athletes to seek their ‘authentic voice’
  • Describe the impact of replacing sports journalism with mindless gossip columnists
  • What were the restrictions on journalists for covering the FIFA World Cup 2022?

Great Journalism Research Paper Topics

  • What is the effect of media on diplomacy
  • A case study of pollution as a social issue and the media’s role in combating it.
  • Investigate the impact of fear created by media reporting crimes.
  • Hidden messages are passed through the media.
  • Discuss the role of media as an agenda-setting tool.
  • Elaborate on the flaws representation of black women in media.
  • Discuss the use of women and their sexuality in mass media advertisements.
  • How media images represent different entities
  • Could virtual reality be the future of modern media?
  • Do the media create or react to events?
  • What moral distinctions exist between the invasion of privacy and investigative journalism?
  • Are journalists nowadays more focused on attractiveness than on delivering more accurate news?
  • Discuss the main issues that journalists face when performing their responsibilities.
  • What impact have advances in science and technology had on journalism?
  • What can journalists do to combat the idea that women are materialistic?

Captivating Journalism Research Ideas

  • Is it possible for the media to serve society’s underprivileged groups?
  • Describe how the American media presents adversaries and rivals from throughout the world
  • Does the internet really cause individuals to read less about current events?
  • Why has the internet changed the way news is reported?
  • Examine some of the key upcoming developments in journalism that are most anticipated.
  •  Can journalists continue to report on high-quality stories without spending more?
  •  Nigeria is a case study of how the media is assisting in the rebranding of some nations
  •  How powerful politicians affect some media outlets’ ability to make important judgments
  •  A description of the difficulties emerging nations face when it comes to information freedom
  • How sexual material is used on the front pages of health publications to draw readers
  •  Does the media influence events or just report on them?
  •  What impact does the internet have on how the media evolves?
  •  Why is radio still a vital type of media in the twenty-first century?
  •  Describe ways to control the media to limit the exposure of pupils to inappropriate information
  •  Do powerful and influential big media firms have too much sway?
  • Do they have to be broken up into smaller pieces?

Latest Journalism Research Topics

  • Describe the Part of the Media in the Russia-Ukraine Crisis.
  • Discuss the popular media tactics of political parties in the United States
  • Consider the necessity for real-life tales in the media of today.
  • Write about literary journalism in recent times.
  • Investigative reporting on the Brazilian drug trade
  • Mass media censorship in North Korea
  • FIFA world cup 2022: restrictions on journalists for covering the event
  • Critical analysis of how the British journalists try to win over the royals
  • Describe the effects of media misdirection and misinformation.

From the list of outstanding journalism research topics and ideas suggested above, you can use any idea as an inspiration for writing a research paper. We have a team of professional academic writers who have good knowledge of mass media and communication to craft a research paper on the best journalism topics.

Quickly avail of our writing service and get a top-quality, plagiarism-free research paper as per your requirements on time at an affordable rate.

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How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow

Published on November 11, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 20, 2023.

Choosing your dissertation topic is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it’s important to consider:

  • Your institution and department’s requirements
  • Your areas of knowledge and interest
  • The scientific, social, or practical relevance
  • The availability of data and resources
  • The timeframe of your dissertation
  • The relevance of your topic

You can follow these steps to begin narrowing down your ideas.

Table of contents

Step 1: check the requirements, step 2: choose a broad field of research, step 3: look for books and articles, step 4: find a niche, step 5: consider the type of research, step 6: determine the relevance, step 7: make sure it’s plausible, step 8: get your topic approved, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about dissertation topics.

The very first step is to check your program’s requirements. This determines the scope of what it is possible for you to research.

  • Is there a minimum and maximum word count?
  • When is the deadline?
  • Should the research have an academic or a professional orientation?
  • Are there any methodological conditions? Do you have to conduct fieldwork, or use specific types of sources?

Some programs have stricter requirements than others. You might be given nothing more than a word count and a deadline, or you might have a restricted list of topics and approaches to choose from. If in doubt about what is expected of you, always ask your supervisor or department coordinator.

Start by thinking about your areas of interest within the subject you’re studying. Examples of broad ideas include:

  • Twentieth-century literature
  • Economic history
  • Health policy

To get a more specific sense of the current state of research on your potential topic, skim through a few recent issues of the top journals in your field. Be sure to check out their most-cited articles in particular. For inspiration, you can also search Google Scholar , subject-specific databases , and your university library’s resources.

As you read, note down any specific ideas that interest you and make a shortlist of possible topics. If you’ve written other papers, such as a 3rd-year paper or a conference paper, consider how those topics can be broadened into a dissertation.

After doing some initial reading, it’s time to start narrowing down options for your potential topic. This can be a gradual process, and should get more and more specific as you go. For example, from the ideas above, you might narrow it down like this:

  • Twentieth-century literature   Twentieth-century Irish literature   Post-war Irish poetry
  • Economic history   European economic history   German labor union history
  • Health policy   Reproductive health policy   Reproductive rights in South America

All of these topics are still broad enough that you’ll find a huge amount of books and articles about them. Try to find a specific niche where you can make your mark, such as: something not many people have researched yet, a question that’s still being debated, or a very current practical issue.

At this stage, make sure you have a few backup ideas — there’s still time to change your focus. If your topic doesn’t make it through the next few steps, you can try a different one. Later, you will narrow your focus down even more in your problem statement and research questions .

There are many different types of research , so at this stage, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of approach you’ll take to your topic. Will you mainly focus on:

  • Collecting original data (e.g., experimental or field research)?
  • Analyzing existing data (e.g., national statistics, public records, or archives)?
  • Interpreting cultural objects (e.g., novels, films, or paintings)?
  • Comparing scholarly approaches (e.g., theories, methods, or interpretations)?

Many dissertations will combine more than one of these. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: if your topic is post-war Irish poetry, you will probably mainly be interpreting poems. But in other cases, there are several possible approaches. If your topic is reproductive rights in South America, you could analyze public policy documents and media coverage, or you could gather original data through interviews and surveys .

You don’t have to finalize your research design and methods yet, but the type of research will influence which aspects of the topic it’s possible to address, so it’s wise to consider this as you narrow down your ideas.

It’s important that your topic is interesting to you, but you’ll also have to make sure it’s academically, socially or practically relevant to your field.

  • Academic relevance means that the research can fill a gap in knowledge or contribute to a scholarly debate in your field.
  • Social relevance means that the research can advance our understanding of society and inform social change.
  • Practical relevance means that the research can be applied to solve concrete problems or improve real-life processes.

The easiest way to make sure your research is relevant is to choose a topic that is clearly connected to current issues or debates, either in society at large or in your academic discipline. The relevance must be clearly stated when you define your research problem .

Before you make a final decision on your topic, consider again the length of your dissertation, the timeframe in which you have to complete it, and the practicalities of conducting the research.

Will you have enough time to read all the most important academic literature on this topic? If there’s too much information to tackle, consider narrowing your focus even more.

Will you be able to find enough sources or gather enough data to fulfil the requirements of the dissertation? If you think you might struggle to find information, consider broadening or shifting your focus.

Do you have to go to a specific location to gather data on the topic? Make sure that you have enough funding and practical access.

Last but not least, will the topic hold your interest for the length of the research process? To stay motivated, it’s important to choose something you’re enthusiastic about!

Most programmes will require you to submit a brief description of your topic, called a research prospectus or proposal .

Remember, if you discover that your topic is not as strong as you thought it was, it’s usually acceptable to change your mind and switch focus early in the dissertation process. Just make sure you have enough time to start on a new topic, and always check with your supervisor or department.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

  • Sampling methods
  • Simple random sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Cluster sampling
  • Likert scales
  • Reproducibility

 Statistics

  • Null hypothesis
  • Statistical power
  • Probability distribution
  • Effect size
  • Poisson distribution

Research bias

  • Optimism bias
  • Cognitive bias
  • Implicit bias
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Anchoring bias
  • Explicit bias

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

  • Researchability
  • Feasibility and specificity
  • Relevance and originality

All research questions should be:

  • Focused on a single problem or issue
  • Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
  • Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
  • Specific enough to answer thoroughly
  • Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
  • Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

Writing Strong Research Questions

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

  • Who is the author? Are they an expert?
  • Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
  • How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

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The Collection Of 13 Dissertation Topics On Journalism To Write About

When writing dissertations on the subject of journalism, there are various different topics that you can use as a basis for any title. For a start, you may wish to consider what form of journalism you wish to write about. It may be that you wish to write about television journalism, radio journalism, newspaper journalism, or even online journalism.

Another thing that you may wish to consider is what category of information you wish to be concerned with. For example, you may look at journalism in war zones, or you may wish to write about business journalism, or you can even write about the way journalists cover celebrity news.

Getting further ideas for your journalism dissertation

One of the best ways of finding inspiration when trying to think of topics and titles to use for your dissertation is to simply read what other people have written. For example, if you can get hold of them, then you can look over the past papers written by students who used to study at the same institution as you.

Alternatively, if you are unable to find any work that has been written by your peers, then you may wish to look online instead. In fact, you can find a wide range of different academic papers on the Internet. You may look for work that is available for free from websites that specialise in providing academic content or you may wish to pay for it instead. Alternatively, you may look for samples on other websites, such as those of various universities.

Before you start looking for samples, you may wish to look at the list of ideas below.

  • Should the media regulate journalistic standards?
  • How do journalists obtain information?
  • Should journalists be required to divulge their sources in the event of crimes occurring?
  • How much danger are war journalists in when reporting from the front line?
  • How has journalism changed since the rise of the Internet?
  • Are newspapers still relevant in the 21st Century?
  • Does the press deserve its reputation?
  • How have modern communication methods impacted upon the way in which journalists report the news?
  • How to people become freelance journalists?
  • How has the journalist profession changed over the past two decades?
  • What influence do journalists have on politics?
  • An analysis of how a journalist solved a major crime
  • An analysis of modern journalism techniques

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What is a thesis?

What is a dissertation, getting started, staying on track.

A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours. 

Before you begin, make sure that you are familiar with the dissertation genre—what it is for and what it looks like.

Generally speaking, a dissertation’s purpose is to prove that you have the expertise necessary to fulfill your doctoral-degree requirements by showing depth of knowledge and independent thinking.

The form of a dissertation may vary by discipline. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your department.

  • PhD This site directs candidates to the GSAS website about dissertations , with links to checklists,  planning, formatting, acknowledgments, submission, and publishing options. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus . Consult with your committee chair about specific requirements and standards for your dissertation.
  • DDES This document covers planning, patent filing, submission guidelines, publishing options, formatting guidelines, sample pages, citation guidelines, and a list of common errors to avoid. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus .
  • Scholarly Pursuits (GSAS) This searchable booklet from Harvard GSAS is a comprehensive guide to writing dissertations, dissertation-fellowship applications, academic journal articles, and academic job documents.

Finding an original topic can be a daunting and overwhelming task. These key concepts can help you focus and save time.

Finding a topic for your thesis or dissertation should start with a research question that excites or at least interests you. A rigorous, engaging, and original project will require continuous curiosity about your topic, about your own thoughts on the topic, and about what other scholars have said on your topic. Avoid getting boxed in by thinking you know what you want to say from the beginning; let your research and your writing evolve as you explore and fine-tune your focus through constant questioning and exploration.

Get a sense of the broader picture before you narrow your focus and attempt to frame an argument. Read, skim, and otherwise familiarize yourself with what other scholars have done in areas related to your proposed topic. Briefly explore topics tangentially related to yours to broaden your perspective and increase your chance of finding a unique angle to pursue.

Critical Reading

Critical reading is the opposite of passive reading. Instead of merely reading for information to absorb, critical reading also involves careful, sustained thinking about what you are reading. This process may include analyzing the author’s motives and assumptions, asking what might be left out of the discussion, considering what you agree with or disagree with in the author’s statements and why you agree or disagree, and exploring connections or contradictions between scholarly arguments. Here is a resource to help hone your critical-reading skills:

http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/criticalread.pdf

Conversation

Your thesis or dissertation will incorporate some ideas from other scholars whose work you researched. By reading critically and following your curiosity, you will develop your own ideas and claims, and these contributions are the core of your project. You will also acknowledge the work of scholars who came before you, and you must accurately and fairly attribute this work and define your place within the larger discussion. Make sure that you know how to quote, summarize, paraphrase ,  integrate , and cite secondary sources to avoid plagiarism and to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have.

The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed. The project can feel daunting or even overwhelming unless you break it down into manageable pieces and create a timeline for completing each smaller task. Be realistic but also challenge yourself, and be forgiving of yourself if you miss a self-imposed deadline here and there.

Your program will also have specific deadlines for different requirements, including establishing a committee, submitting a prospectus, completing the dissertation, defending the dissertation, and submitting your work. Consult your department’s website for these dates and incorporate them into the timeline for your work.

Accountability

Sometimes self-imposed deadlines do not feel urgent unless there is accountability to someone beyond yourself. To increase your motivation to complete tasks on schedule, set dates with your committee chair to submit pre-determined pieces of a chapter. You can also arrange with a fellow doctoral student to check on each other’s progress. Research and writing can be lonely, so it is also nice to share that journey with someone and support each other through the process.

Common Pitfalls

The most common challenges for students writing a dissertation are writer’s block, information-overload, and the compulsion to keep researching forever.

There are many strategies for avoiding writer’s block, such as freewriting, outlining, taking a walk, starting in the middle, and creating an ideal work environment for your particular learning style. Pay attention to what helps you and try different things until you find what works.

Efficient researching techniques are essential to avoiding information-overload. Here are a couple of resources about strategies for finding sources and quickly obtaining essential information from them.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/reading_criticism.html

https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques

Finally, remember that there is always more to learn and your dissertation cannot incorporate everything. Follow your curiosity but also set limits on the scope of your work. It helps to create a folder entitled “future projects” for topics and sources that interest you but that do not fit neatly into the dissertation. Also remember that future scholars will build off of your work, so leave something for them to do.

Browsing through theses and dissertations of the past can help to get a sense of your options and gain inspiration but be careful to use current guidelines and refer to your committee instead of relying on these examples for form or formatting.

DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard.

HOLLIS Harvard Library’s catalog provides access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

MIT Architecture has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Rhode Island School of Design has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

University of South Florida has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Harvard GSD has a list of projects, including theses and professors’ research.

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Best Journalism Dissertation Topics | 49 Examples

Table of Contents

Comprehension of different types of journalism to write a good journalism dissertation topics

If you want to have thorough information about investigative, sports, science, or people/ celebrity journalism, nothing to worry about.

The following article on journalism dissertation titles is going to give you all the information that you want to know, as well as provide some of the dissertation topics and ideas on journalism, useful for the journalism dissertation so that you surely get the lead among your class fellows.

1) Sports Journalism Dissertation Topics:

This area mostly covers athletic competitions and events related to sports. Commercially, it is an essential section in most newspapers, and magazines, as well as in radio and television news broadcasts, though it is considered soft news. Below are some of the ideas for writing a dissertation on sports journalism , they are:

  • The impact of social media on sports journalism and how it has changed the way events are covered.
  • The role of sports journalism in shaping public opinion on controversial issues in sports.
  • A comparative study of sports coverage in traditional print media versus online media.
  • An examination of the ethical considerations and challenges faced by sports journalists.
  • The representation of women and minorities in sports journalism and the media’s influence on the portrayal of these groups in sports.
  • The influence of big money on sports journalism and how it affects the integrity of coverage.
  • A study of how fans perceive and consume sports news in the digital age.
  • An analysis of how sports journalism has changed with the adoption of advanced analytics in sports.
  • A study on how sports journalism has been affected by the rise of citizen journalism and user-generated content.
  • A case study of a specific sports team or athlete and the media coverage they receive.
  • Exploring new ways of covering sports events
  • How to stay neutral when giving your view on sports news?
  • Why sports journalism isn’t considered mainstream journalism?
  • How Sports Journalism is viewed in Digital Age?
  • Sports journalism is gendered based or not
  • How the sports journalist is viewed from the perspective of the journalism field?

Related posts:

  • 53 Sports Dissertation Topics and examples in 2023

2) Investigative Journalism Dissertation Topics:

It mainly deals with the exposing of unethical or illegal behavior or actions by individuals or organizations In this kind of journalism, one digs out for the truth and identifies lapses in whatever media is available. This type of journalism is very confrontational in nature, hence tact is always required. Some of the ideas for a dissertation on investigative journalism can be:

  • An investigation into political corruption and the role of big money in elections.
  • An examination of police misconduct and use of force.
  • A study of the impact of corporate influence on government policy and regulation.
  • An investigation into the environmental impact of industry and corporations.
  • An examination of the role of the media in shaping public opinion on controversial issues.
  • An investigation into the financial practices of large banks and financial institutions.
  • A study of the treatment of workers in low-wage industries such as fast food and retail.
  • An examination of the effects of the gig economy on workers’ rights and benefits.
  • An investigation into the healthcare industry, including issues such as rising costs and access to care.
  • A study of the impact of technology on privacy and civil liberties.
  • Considering the outcomes of investigative journalism. Will it bring a good or bad Impact?
  • Is it better to report on every matter or at times, one should let it pass by without making any noise?
  • .How the social media play role in investigative journalism?

Significance of investigative journalism as a media watchdog in the context of political reformation These factors can also make a great discussion topic for your investigative journalism dissertation.

3) Science journalism Dissertation Topics:

Science journalism is basically reporting science news and its related topics to the public. In this kind of journalism, the importance of delivering a report like a story is essential; because it engages the readers’ attention. Therefore the best idea for the dissertation that I can give you on this particular subject is to make sure that you include all the scientific details without going too much into detail. Be sure that a layman can grasp what you have written.

  • An examination of the role of science journalism in communicating complex scientific concepts to the general public.
  • A comparative study of science coverage in traditional media versus online media.
  • An investigation into the use of science in public policy decision-making and the impact of science journalism on policy formation.
  • A study of the representation of women and minorities in science journalism and the media’s influence on the portrayal of these groups in science.
  • An analysis of the coverage of climate change in the media and how it shapes public perceptions and responses.
  • A study of the impact of science journalism on public understanding of emerging technologies such as AI , gene editing , and biotechnology.
  • An examination of the ethical considerations and challenges faced by science journalists.
  • A study of the impact of social media on science journalism and how it shapes the way science is covered.
  • An investigation into the relationship between science journalism and scientific institutions such as universities and research centers.
  • A case study of a specific scientific topic or issue and the media coverage it receives.

4) Celebrity Journalism Dissertation Topics:

Running after celebrities and digging into their lives is basically celebrity journalism. It has been made famous by all the paparazzi running around these days. Great journalism dissertation ideas can be:

  • Is harassment the right way in dealing with celebrities? Does it comply with media ethics?
  • An examination of the impact of social media on celebrity journalism and how it has changed the way celebrities are covered.
  • A study of the representation of women and minorities in celebrity journalism and the media’s influence on the portrayal of these groups.
  • An investigation into the relationship between celebrities and the media, including the role of publicists and media management.
  • A comparative study of celebrity coverage in traditional media versus online media.
  • An analysis of the role of celebrity gossip in shaping public opinion and perceptions.
  • A study of the influence of big money on celebrity journalism and how it affects the integrity of coverage.
  • An examination of the ethical considerations and challenges faced by celebrity journalists.
  • A study of the impact of celebrity journalism on the entertainment industry and the way it shapes the careers of celebrities.
  • An investigation into the relationship between celebrity journalism and the fashion industry.
  • A case study of a specific celebrity or group of celebrities and the media coverage they receive.

In my opinion, ethics should be followed in journalism, and also one should always tell truth without any biases. It is significant that your journalism dissertation topics should stick to this principle because it reflects the true essence of professional journalism.

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dissertation topics journalism

Journalism Dissertation Topics (29 Examples) For Research

Mark Aug 20, 2021 Aug 12, 2021 Journalism No Comments

Journalism is all about gathering information and distributing it through different media channels. Many students pursuing their degree in journalism and mass communication seek journalism dissertation topics and project topics on journalism. Before worrying about writing, the students are advised to determine and find out the best journalism dissertation topics. Here, we have presented a […]

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A list Of Journalism Dissertation Topics

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dissertation topics journalism

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The community journalism playbook: reporting on urban planning in your detroit neighborhood, related works.

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What interventions can be used to counter misinformation effectively?

Debunking, prebunking, literacy training, and nudging approaches focus on changing individual behaviors

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Researchers have proposed two broad categories of interventions to curb the growth and spread of misinformation: system-level approaches like legislation and technology standards focus on broad systemic changes, while individual-level approaches focus on changing individual behaviors. System-level interventions may be more effective than individual-level ones in reducing the spread of misinformation, but individual-level interventions generally have fewer ramifications for freedom of expression; they also rely less on cooperation from technology companies. We discuss four common individual-level interventions in terms of their ability to counter misinformation: debunking, prebunking, literacy training, and nudging.

Debunking, or fact-checking, is the correction of misinformation. It is used after people are exposed to misinformation, and it is most successful when it includes a detailed explanation that refutes incorrect information and replaces it with facts. Research indicates that debunking is effective in laboratory and real-world settings, as well as across cultures—particularly in the short term. However, fact-checking is very time-consuming and may not fully reverse the effects of misinformation; it also fades over time in ways that may require repeated correction. In real-world use, debunking efforts have not always reached their intended targets, partly because people who are predisposed to believe misinformation tend to avoid correction. Debunking interventions may work best in specific situations or individuals, so further research is required.

Prebunking, or pre-emptive debunking, seeks to prevent people from falling for misinformation in the first place. The most common method of prebunking is psychological inoculation, in which exposure to a weak version of a falsehood builds resistance to future persuasion: a forewarning about an impending attack on a belief (e.g., “Warning: People may try to manipulate you by saying...”) is followed by a statement that pre-emptively refutes the claim (e.g., “this is not true, because...”). Prebunking interventions can reduce susceptibility to specific falsehoods and to the larger techniques used to manipulate information; they may be more effective than debunking, and brief reminders (or “boosters”) can extend their effects over time. Recent evidence also suggests that prebunking is feasible in mass real-world settings like social media. However, people must actively choose to take part—say, by watching a video, reading a message, or playing a game. It remains to be seen if prebunking works under all conditions and across cultures, but it has strong potential to forestall misinformation at scale.

Literacy training

Health, media, and digital literacy interventions help people improve at judging the quality and accuracy of information or performing online tasks. Often included in formal education or community outreach, these interventions are difficult to evaluate because they vary widely in terms of content, duration, and outcomes. More research is needed to determine which literacy interventions are most effective against misinformation, but they may be most effective when paired with other counter-misinformation tools such as debunking.

Nudges are small environmental changes meant to alter behavior in predictable and positive ways. Researchers have used several types of nudges to try to dissuade people from sharing misinformation: accuracy nudges ask people to consider the veracity of information before sharing it, social norms nudges highlight community standards of behavior about reporting information, and motivational nudges reward people for being as accurate as possible. The efficacy of nudges in preventing the spread of false information is somewhat mixed, though multiple nudges in a row may be more effective than just one. Nudges may not work for very long and they may not work as well for some audiences, but their efficacy can be enhanced by combining them with other approaches such as inoculation.

Overall, psychological research on misinformation has identified several promising ways to fight it, but further study is needed to better understand these interventions in real-world settings, across countries and cultures, over time, and in combination.

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The purpose of the A&S Seminar is to speed the transition from course work and qualifying examinations to the kind of independent research and writing required to complete the dissertation. This can be a difficult transition, especially for students in the arts and humanities, where scholarly work still remains by and large individual and solitary. The A&S Seminar facilitates this transition by offering participants the collegiality and some of the structure of the graduate seminar–e.g., production deadlines, the opportunity to share and get feedback on their work, the obligation to engage critically and constructively with the work of their fellow seminarians. Such cross-disciplinary exchange increases participants’ understanding of the methodologies of their own chosen disciplines, and it enhances their ability to explain and defend their work in the larger arena of non-experts.

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Class acts: CMCI’s new faculty bring new ideas on A.I., identity, culture to Boulder

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By Joe Arney Photo by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm'18)

When asked why they choose the University of Colorado Boulder, students and faculty alike tend to cite its location, along with academic prestige, research successes and access to opportunity.

Headshot of Joe Izaguierre

Izaguirre studies how political power influences Latin identities from the lens of public rhetoric and rhetorical histories. Plenty of the source material for his book includes texts produced by activists who lived in the Colorado area.

“I hadn’t thought of this, but I’ll be able to hand-deliver the book to families who participated, instead of just dropping it in the mail,” he said. “It feels like an opportunity to have a more personal connection to the things I’ve been studying.”

Izaguirre is among the seven new tenure-track faculty joining CMCI this fall. The college also is welcoming seven nontenure-track faculty, including new appointments for professors who previously held different roles.

“I’m so excited to welcome our new faculty to CMCI,” said Lori Bergen, founding dean of the college. “As the media, communication, design and information landscape continues to dramatically change, the new perspectives these professors bring will ensure our students get a cutting-edge, immediately applicable education.”

“It was a great experience, as an instructor, to be able to work with students who were that interested in learning and participating.” Dinfin K. Mulupi, assistant professor, journalism

Design thinking

For the first time, this year’s incoming cohort includes faculty from the environmental design program, which formally integrated with CMCI over the summer. Though there are no changes for current students, faculty in the program are enthusiastic about the chance to collaborate with colleagues eager to explore new applications for their work.

Martín Paddack, a teaching associate professor who joins CMCI and ENVD following seven years at Howard University, has a wealth of interests around architecture and sustainability, including participatory design—“understanding how we identify where there is need and trying to create connections with community for design.”

Headshot of Martín Paddack

Paddack brings a diverse set of interests—architecture, sustainability, social responsibility, writing, painting, woodworking—to the classroom, as well as a global perspective: He was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Peru and Uruguay before moving to D.C. as a boy. He also taught in South America and completed a painting residency in Barcelona. He helped set up a fabrication lab at Howard to ensure students developed both practical architecture experience.

“That’s something I really like about environmental design at CU—the focus on how we can apply sustainable principles across four different areas, and an emphasis on doing hands-on fabrication so that students learn the theory, but also how to apply it,” he said.

‘Great experience’ connecting with students

Headshot of Dinfin Mulupi

“I was fascinated by their interest in learning the research behind journalism practices,” said Mulupi, a native of Kenya who came to CMCI via the PhD program at the University of Maryland, College Park.

A discussion she led critiquing news coverage of immigration, Mulupi said, sparked so much insightful discussion that she felt bad moving on to the next topic.

“It was a great experience, as an instructor, to be able to work with students who were that interested in learning and participating,” she said. “When you’re a professor, you are creating knowledge with your students, and they were so attentive and involved that I know it will be a privilege to teach them.”

Mulupi’s research looks at sexism and sexual harassment in newsrooms, and came from working on her thesis as the #MeToo movement gained momentum. She was among the first scholars to explore the topic in Kenyan newsrooms; her work has since expanded to more than 20 countries.

It’s an important topic at a time when the news industry is contracting, as “when you have a newsroom culture with sexism, harassment, racism and bigotry, you lose talented journalists who don’t feel safe and included,” she said. “I am also focusing on solutions, especially exploring how we can build safer, more inclusive newsrooms that produce news content that serves the diverse needs and interests of a wider audience.”

Headshot of Pooja Iyer

“In my industry days, I realized my own cognitive dissonance—asking how granular we could get on a target audience while having ad blockers on my computer,” said Iyer, an assistant professor in the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design. “I believe the advertising world can play a more ethical role in how and why they’re using data, and how they’re protecting customers—because there isn’t enough literacy around this.”

It’s something her student will need to consider as they graduate, she said.

“Whether you’re in creative, account management, media planning, it doesn’t matter—you will be working with data,” Iyer said. “So, how can we best empower you to be ethical about the use of that data? As educators, that really needs to be front and center for our students.”

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Meet the incoming faculty

The full lineup of new professors:

LoriBeth Greenan , associate teaching professor, APRD. Greenan is a seasoned public relations expert with experience that includes agency work and consulting.

Juan Grisales , assistant teaching professor, environmental design. Grisales completed two master’s degrees from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. His research focuses on Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Pooja Iyer , assistant professor, APRD. Iyer studies behaviors in data privacy, surveillance, propaganda and personalization in emerging media.

Joe Izaguirre III , assistant professor, communication. Izaguirre is an expert on political rhetoric, politics and Latin identities.

Angelica Kalika , assistant teaching professor, journalism. Kalika brings decades of experience in news, public relations, marketing and teaching to CMCI.

WooJin Kim , assistant professor, APRD. Kim studies A.I.’s impact on consumer perceptions and behaviors in advertising.

Sangwook Lee , assistant professor, APRD. Lee researches A.I.-driven strategic communications with an eye to ethics and effectiveness.

Nesrine Mansour , assistant professor, environmental design. Mansour joins CMCI from South Dakota State University and is an expert in architecture and the built environment.

Kristella Montiegel , assistant professor, communication. Montiegel’s research specialty is communicative practices and patterns that support those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She previously was a postdoctoral fellow at CMCI.

Dinfin K. Mulupi , assistant professor, journalism. Mulupi is an accomplished journalist and researcher who’s worked in both East Africa and Spain.

Martín Paddack , associate teaching professor, environmental design. Paddack is founder and principal at DesignMAP, in Washington, D.C. He is an architectural designer, artist and writer who has worked in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Spain, Uruguay, Peru and the United States.

In addition, three nontenure-track professors— Jon Featherstone (information science), Jason Gnerre (critical media practices) and Vicky Sama (journalism)—have each been appointed to new roles from other appointments at CMCI. Featherstone and Gnerre are assistant teaching professors while Sama is an associate teaching professor.

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MIT study explains why laws are written in an incomprehensible style

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Legal documents are notoriously difficult to understand, even for lawyers. This raises the question: Why are these documents written in a style that makes them so impenetrable?

MIT cognitive scientists believe they have uncovered the answer to that question. Just as “magic spells” use special rhymes and archaic terms to signal their power, the convoluted language of legalese acts to convey a sense of authority, they conclude.

In a study appearing this week in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the researchers found that even non-lawyers use this type of language when asked to write laws.

“People seem to understand that there’s an implicit rule that this is how laws should sound, and they write them that way,” says Edward Gibson, an MIT professor of brain and cognitive sciences and the senior author of the study.

Eric Martinez PhD ’24 is the lead author of the study. Francis Mollica, a lecturer at the University of Melbourne, is also an author of the paper .

Casting a legal spell

Gibson’s research group has been studying the unique characteristics of legalese since 2020, when Martinez came to MIT after earning a law degree from Harvard Law School. In a 2022 study , Gibson, Martinez, and Mollica analyzed legal contracts totaling about 3.5 million words, comparing them with other types of writing, including movie scripts, newspaper articles, and academic papers.

That analysis revealed that legal documents frequently have long definitions inserted in the middle of sentences — a feature known as “center-embedding.” Linguists have previously found that this kind of structure can make text much more difficult to understand.

“Legalese somehow has developed this tendency to put structures inside other structures, in a way which is not typical of human languages,” Gibson says.

In a follow-up study published in 2023, the researchers found that legalese also makes documents more difficult for lawyers to understand. Lawyers tended to prefer plain English versions of documents, and they rated those versions to be just as enforceable as traditional legal documents.

“Lawyers also find legalese to be unwieldy and complicated,” Gibson says. “Lawyers don’t like it, laypeople don’t like it, so the point of this current paper was to try and figure out why they write documents this way.”

The researchers had a couple of hypotheses for why legalese is so prevalent. One was the “copy and edit hypothesis,” which suggests that legal documents begin with a simple premise, and then additional information and definitions are inserted into already existing sentences, creating complex center-embedded clauses.

“We thought it was plausible that what happens is you start with an initial draft that’s simple, and then later you think of all these other conditions that you want to include. And the idea is that once you’ve started, it’s much easier to center-embed that into the existing provision,” says Martinez, who is now a fellow and instructor at the University of Chicago Law School.

However, the findings ended up pointing toward a different hypothesis, the so-called “magic spell hypothesis.” Just as magic spells are written with a distinctive style that sets them apart from everyday language, the convoluted style of legal language appears to signal a special kind of authority, the researchers say.

“In English culture, if you want to write something that’s a magic spell, people know that the way to do that is you put a lot of old-fashioned rhymes in there. We think maybe center-embedding is signaling legalese in the same way,” Gibson says.

In this study, the researchers asked about 200 non-lawyers (native speakers of English living in the United States, who were recruited through a crowdsourcing site called Prolific), to write two types of texts. In the first task, people were told to write laws prohibiting crimes such as drunk driving, burglary, arson, and drug trafficking. In the second task, they were asked to write stories about those crimes.

To test the copy and edit hypothesis, half of the participants were asked to add additional information after they wrote their initial law or story. The researchers found that all of the subjects wrote laws with center-embedded clauses, regardless of whether they wrote the law all at once or were told to write a draft and then add to it later. And, when they wrote stories related to those laws, they wrote in much plainer English, regardless of whether they had to add information later.

“When writing laws, they did a lot of center-embedding regardless of whether or not they had to edit it or write it from scratch. And in that narrative text, they did not use center-embedding in either case,” Martinez says.

In another set of experiments, about 80 participants were asked to write laws, as well as descriptions that would explain those laws to visitors from another country. In these experiments, participants again used center-embedding for their laws, but not for the descriptions of those laws.

The origins of legalese

Gibson’s lab is now investigating the origins of center-embedding in legal documents. Early American laws were based on British law, so the researchers plan to analyze British laws to see if they feature the same kind of grammatical construction. And going back much farther, they plan to analyze whether center-embedding is found in the Hammurabi Code, the earliest known set of laws, which dates to around 1750 BC.

“There may be just a stylistic way of writing from back then, and if it was seen as successful, people would use that style in other languages,” Gibson says. “I would guess that it’s an accidental property of how the laws were written the first time, but we don’t know that yet.”

The researchers hope that their work, which has identified specific aspects of legal language that make it more difficult to understand, will motivate lawmakers to try to make laws more comprehensible. Efforts to write legal documents in plainer language date to at least the 1970s, when President Richard Nixon declared that federal regulations should be written in “layman’s terms.” However, legal language has changed very little since that time.

“We have learned only very recently what it is that makes legal language so complicated, and therefore I am optimistic about being able to change it,” Gibson says. 

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Researchers at MIT have found that the use of legalese in writing “to assert authority over those less versed in such language,” reports Noor Al-Sibai for Futurism . “By studying this cryptic take on the English language, the researchers are hoping to make legal documents much easier to read in the future,” explains Al-Sibai.

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California tried to make Google pay news outlets. The company cut a deal that includes funding AI

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A lawmaker, wearing glasses and a pink blazer with a black and white patterned shirt, sits on a chair at a state capitol dais with an American flag behind her.

State lawmakers give up on bills to force tech companies to pay media outlets for using news. Instead, they agree with Google on a program to help local newsrooms and to explore artificial intelligence.

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California lawmakers are abandoning an ambitious proposal to force Google to pay news companies for using their content, opting instead for a deal in which the tech giant has agreed to pay $172 million to support local media outlets and start an artificial intelligence program.

The first-in-the-nation agreement , announced today, promises $175 million for local journalism across California over the next five years, but represents a significant departure from the bill pushed by news publishers and media employee unions earlier this year. 

Instead of Google and Meta being forced to negotiate usage fees with news outlets directly, Google would deposit $55 million over five years into a new fund administered by UC Berkeley to be distributed to local newsrooms — and the state would provide $70 million over five years. Google would also continue paying $10 million each year in existing grants to newsrooms.

The Legislature and the governor would still need to approve the state money each year; the source isn’t specified yet. Google would also contribute $12.5 million each year toward an artificial intelligence “accelerator” program, raising labor advocates’ anxieties about the threat of job losses. 

Publishers who initially pushed for the proposal forcing Google to pay them said the deal was still a win. The UC Berkeley fund will be overseen by news industry groups; the money will be distributed according to the number of journalists employed at each publication, with some  reserved for smaller or ethnic media outlets.

“This is a first step toward what we hope will become a comprehensive program to sustain local news in the long term, and we will push to see it grow in future years,” Julie Makinen, board chairperson of the California News Publishers Association, said in a statement.

In an interview, Makinen said that the deal was “not what we had hoped for when set out, but it is a start and it will begin to provide some help to newsrooms across the state.”

“Sometimes, the political realities, they are what they are,” she said. “And there’s many of them in this state and in this election year.”

Unions representing media workers accused the news companies and lawmakers of settling for too little. 

Senate Democratic leader Mike McGuire, whose chamber earlier this year passed a bill “to hold Big Tech companies accountable for the profits they make off” linking to news articles, also raised concerns. In a statement, he said the deal “lacks sufficient funding for newspapers and local media, and doesn’t fully address the inequities facing the industry.” 

The agreement replaces two bills lawmakers had pursued the last two years as they tried to secure a cut of tech money to prop up California’s struggling local news industry. Following a nationwide trend, media companies have hemorrhaged jobs over the past two decades as advertisers fled print media for the internet and technological advancements reshaped how readers consume news. The state has lost one-third of its newspapers since 2005 in a trend experts say worsens civic engagement, polarization and misinformation.

To try to keep their readers, publications increasingly rely on social media and online search. Google controls the lion’s share of search in a way the U.S. Justice Department and one federal judge have said violates antitrust law .

The proposals to impose fees on Google’s use of news content in its search results prompted a flurry of tech company lobbying. In the past 18 months, for instance, Google spent more than $2.1 million lobbying lawmakers against those bills and others — more than triple what it spent in the same time period two years earlier, according to a CalMatters review.

The first bill, introduced in February 2023 by Oakland Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks , would have required platforms such as Google and Meta to either pay a fee or negotiate with news outlets for using their news content. 

It was sponsored by the news publishers association, whose members include major newspapers including the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times. (CalMatters is also a member.) The bill passed the Assembly last year, but Wicks paused it to try to bridge a split among media companies over how the money would be divvied up.  

Australia and Canada both passed similar measures in recent years — but the political headwinds were different in the tech companies’ home state. 

Google has argued the bill would unfairly force it to pay for sending free traffic to news sites, and disadvantage smaller sites. In a legislative hearing in June, the company’s vice president of global news partnerships, Jaffer Zaidi, called the proposal “profoundly unconstitutional and problematic” since it could compel platforms to show content that they were forced to pay for.

The second bill, introduced this February by Orinda Democratic Sen. Steve Glazer , would have imposed a fee on major tech platforms to provide news outlets a tax credit to employ local journalists. The measure would have raised $500 million a year.

In response to the Wicks bill, Google temporarily removed links to California news websites from its search results and in response to the Glazer bill, Google said it might stop funding nonprofit newsrooms nationwide . At the time, McGuire called the threats “an abuse of power.” 

Glazer shelved his bill in May , after failing to scrounge up the two-thirds majority he needed, and said he would focus on trying to improve the Wicks bill. He later resurrected it; it passed the Senate in late June and is in an Assembly committee.

Negotiations ramped up over the summer. 

Tech companies doubled down on threats to stop linking to news sites in California if Wicks’ bill passed, and publishers had an incentive to support an agreement that would give them the money quicker. In Canada, the government has estimated Google is paying $73 million a year to news outlets under its new journalism industry law, but proponents of California’s deal say the money has been slow to be distributed. 

Another factor: Some proponents said it was unlikely Gov. Gavin Newsom, who pledged no tax increases this year, would sign Wicks’ bill, which could be seen as a tax on tech companies. Newsom in a press release today praised the deal, though his spokesperson Alex Stack on Tuesday denied the governor was involved or had taken a position on the bill.

“This agreement represents a major breakthrough in ensuring the survival of newsrooms and bolstering local journalism across California — leveraging substantial tech industry resources without imposing new taxes on Californians,” Newsom said in a statement. 

Various local print newspaper copies. Photo by Dai Sugano, Bay Area News Group

By committing to pay into the new UC Berkeley fund, tech companies succeeded in killing the bills they opposed while appeasing both legacy print media and some digital-only news outlets with five years of support. The agreement is similar to a deal Google cut in France more than a decade ago, creating a “digital publishing innovation fund” when publishers there pushed for regulations. 

“This public-private partnership builds on our long history of working with journalism and the local news ecosystem in our home state,” Kent Walker, an executive at Google’s parent company Alphabet, said in the press release announcing the agreement. 

Wicks called it “a cross-sector commitment to supporting a free and vibrant press.” In contrast, Glazer said it was “completely inadequate and massively short” of what Google is paying in Canada, and “seriously undercuts our work toward a long-term solution to rescue independent journalism.”

The Media Guild of the West, which represents reporters in Southern California, slammed the agreement and accused publishers and lawmakers of folding to Google’s threats. 

“Google won, a monopoly won,” said Matt Pearce, the group’s president. “This is dramatically worse than what Australia and Canada got … I don’t know of any journalist that asked for this.”

The guild said it was particularly concerned the deal involved a program promoting artificial intelligence technology, which it saw as a concession to the tech industry that could result in a further loss of reporting jobs. The Pacific Media Workers Guild, which represents journalists in Northern California, also opposes the deal.

The AI program appears to only be partly related to journalism: In its announcement, Wicks’ office said the program will give businesses, nonprofits and researchers “financial resources and other support to experiment with AI to assist them in their work” addressing challenges such as environmental issues and racial inequities. OpenAI will contribute tech services, said former lawmaker Bob Hertzberg, who helped negotiate the deal, and proponents expect other tech companies to join in.

The AI accelerator would also create “new tools to help journalists access and analyze public information.” Makinen, of the news publishers association, said more details of the program “need to be made public as soon as possible,” and said she wants to see “more of those resources directed toward publishers.”

Others, including an association of mostly smaller, digital news outlets, said the threat of tech platforms refusing to link to news articles would have been devastating. 

Chris Krewson, president of Local Independent Online News Publishers, pointed to Canada , where Facebook no longer links to Canadian media in response to the new law there. That caused readership and ad revenue to plummet for small news outlets, Krewson said. 

The organization’s major funders include Google and Meta; CalMatters CEO Neil Chase, an association board member, last weekend urged member publications to support the deal. 

“I just don’t know that this industry should be in the position of saying no to any help it can get,” Krewson said. “And I don’t think it makes us more or less reliant (on tech platforms) than we already have been.”

For the record: This story has been updated to clarify the status of Sen. Steve Glazer’s bill.

CalMatters data reporter Jeremia Kimelman contributed to this story. 

CalMatters CEO Neil Chase has been involved in the deal as a board member for Local Independent Online News Publishers. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the organization, newsroom or its staff. The CalMatters staff is represented by the Pacific Media Workers Guild, which is separate from the Media Guild of the West and says it has not been involved.

Jeanne Kuang Capitol Reporter

Jeanne Kuang is an accountability reporter who covers labor, politics and California’s state government. Previously, she wrote about homelessness and economic inequality as part of CalMatters’ California... More by Jeanne Kuang

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  21. Best Journalism Dissertation Topics

    1) Sports Journalism Dissertation Topics: This area mostly covers athletic competitions and events related to sports. Commercially, it is an essential section in most newspapers, and magazines, as well as in radio and television news broadcasts, though it is considered soft news. Below are some of the ideas for writing a dissertation on sports ...

  22. PDF A Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing

    PREFACE Writing a PhD dissertation or thesis is probably the most challenging task that a young scholar attempts to do. We have traveled this journey ourselves and helped numerous students to achieve their goal of successfully completing a PhD. If you are about to embark on your own journey, you will want to start at the beginning of this book and work your way through the chapters which are ...

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  24. The Community Journalism Playbook: Reporting on Urban Planning in your

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  26. Arts & Sciences Dissertation Seminar

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  28. MIT study explains why laws are written in an incomprehensible style

    Researchers at MIT have found that the use of legalese in writing "to assert authority over those less versed in such language," reports Noor Al-Sibai for Futurism. "By studying this cryptic take on the English language, the researchers are hoping to make legal documents much easier to read in the future," explains Al-Sibai.

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  30. Wisconsin's Great Waters 2024 Photo Contest and Writing Project

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