Work

Decoding inequalities in the journalistic field: A theoretical approach to how symbolic violence shapes journalistic career trajectories

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Achieving diversity is a fraught process in the journalistic field, with persistent inequalities shaping the experiences of marginalized journalistic actors. By combining Bourdieu’s field theory and Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality, we offer a conceptual framework tracing how marginalized journalistic actors experience symbolic violence and symbolic dominance in different journalistic fields around the globe. These experiences can stem from journalists’ lack of appropriate forms of capital, the “right” journalistic habitus and an understanding of the doxa shaping what journalism is: what it ought to look like and who can be considered a legitimate and authoritative member of a given journalistic field. We illustrate this conceptual framework using possible career trajectories of (marginalized) journalists to highlight various forms of symbolic violence experienced by (dis)empowered actors along the three main stages of journalistic careers—namely becoming a journalist, being a journalist and potentially leaving journalism later on.

Source: Journalism

DOI: 10.1177/14648849261416555

Authors: Kim Löhmann, Phoebe Maares

Institutions: University of Vienna, University of Tübingen

Language: English

Topic: Media Studies and Communication

Subfield: Communication

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900