A1 Journal article (refereed)
Incidentality on a continuum : A comparative conceptualization of incidental news consumption (2020)

Mitchelstein, E., Boczkowski, P. J., Tenenboim-Weinblatt, K., Hayashi, K., Villi, M., & Kligler-Vilenchik, N. (2020). Incidentality on a continuum : A comparative conceptualization of incidental news consumption. Journalism, 21(8), 1136-1153. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884920915355

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mitchelstein, Eugenia; Boczkowski, Pablo J.; Tenenboim-Weinblatt, Keren; Hayashi, Kaori; Villi, Mikko; Kligler-Vilenchik, Neta

Journal or series: Journalism

ISSN: 1464-8849

eISSN: 1741-3001

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 21

Issue number: 8

Pages range: 1136-1153

Publisher: Sage Publications

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884920915355

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68809

Abstract

This article seeks to contribute to theorizing the dynamics of incidental news consumption. Through an analysis of 200 semi-structured interviews with people in Argentina, Finland, Israel, Japan, and the United States, we show that intentionality in news consumption can be viewed on a continuum, which goes from deliberately setting apart time to access the news on specific outlets to skimming through unsought-for news on social and broadcast media, with intermediate practices such as respondents setting up an environment where they are more or less likely to encounter news. Drawing on structuration theory, this article conceptualizes incidental news in the context of the wider media environment and across multiple levels of analysis and explores how individual agency and social structure interact to shape information acquisition practices.

Keywords: media use; news; online journalism; social media

Free keywords: audience studies; broadcast news; incidental news consumption; online journalism; social media; transnational media studies

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 3