This 3rd edition of the classic text on understanding, thinking about and practising journalism hones the argument that, amid the chatter, reflective and ethical journalists are the upholders of journalism’s purpose in a rapidly transforming media environment. Understanding Journalism brings theory and practice together to provide a richly informed, scholarly, accessible, engaging and practical step-by-step guide to the decision making process that is public interest journalism. All journalism students and journalists should read and learn from it.
Understanding Journalism is an injunction and a guide to students, journalists and others to think about journalism - what is is, how it is done, and what it means - at time when it has never been more important to do so.
Sheridan Burns was among the first to apply a genuine 'reflective practice' approach to journalism education - teaching students how to report effectively within ethical boundaries. The latest edition of Understanding Journalism - co-written with Benjamin J Matthews - retains that mindful approach to the enterprise and applies it to a host of fresh situations - including social media, false news and citizen journalism