New ‘democracy’ reporters on the beat: A case study of journalism during democratic backsliding
New ‘democracy’ reporters on the beat: A case study of journalism during democratic backsliding
Andrea Lorenz (Kent State) and Karin Assmann (Lorenz presenting), “New 'democracy' reporters on the beat: A case study of journalism during democratic backsliding,” paper to be presented at the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR ) Conference; 28 June - 2 July 2026, University of Galway, Ireland
Abstract: Political communication scholars have argued that norms and routines practiced by U.S. journalists either contribute or or fail to prevent efforts to erode democracy and have proposed alternative routines for news media when democracy is under threat. This study uses these proposed remedies as a framework to study a new beat cropping up in U.S. journalism: the democracy beat. Using democracy beats as a case study of journalists responding to democratic backsliding, we interviewed 24 U.S.-based “democracy” journalists at local, national, and international news outlets, applying proposed remedies as a framework analysis.
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