From Headlines to Hashtags: Journalism and Storytelling in the Age of Virality and Influence
A special issue of Journalism and Media (ISSN 2673-5172).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 26
Special Issue Editors
Interests: media use; young audiences; television studies; journalism; media influence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Reporting in the age of reels, hashtags, and algorithms is transforming both the way audiences engage with news and how journalists craft their stories. In this new era of digital journalism, journalists are grappling with the challenge of balancing truth with sensationalism, while audiences face issues such as shortened attention spans, infotoxication, and cognitive offloading. Moreover, younger audiences are pushing traditional journalists out of their comfort zones by demanding new and innovative news formats. As Gen Z and Gen Alpha increasingly consume short-form content, relying on reels, shorts, hashtags, influencers, and algorithms to discover news, traditional news formats are no longer enough to capture their attention.
This raises crucial questions: Which are the factor that shape media influence? Is AI acting as a catalyst in reshaping journalism? Are audiences placing more trust in algorithms than in traditional journalists? How does the reach of content change in this new media landscape, and what role do influencers play in shaping perceptions of news? Additionally, what is the role of media literacy in an era dominated by digital platforms and algorithmic curation?
In this Special Issue, we will approach the topic from a comprehensive, 360-degree perspective, considering multiple dimensions of how journalism is evolving in response to shifts in audience behavior, technological advancements, and new content formats. We invite contributors to examine a diverse range of audiences, from younger generations like Gen Z and Gen Alpha—who increasingly favor short-form content and social media platforms—to the so-called "silver generation," who may engage with news in more traditional ways but are still influenced by digital media dynamics. By examining this issue from various angles—ranging from the impact of social media and short-form content on news consumption to the challenges journalists face in maintaining credibility in an algorithm-driven landscape—we aim to provide a holistic understanding of the current transformations within the journalism field.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Media influences in the age of virality and sensationalism
- AI in storytelling and reporting: machines as co-creators
- Journalism in the age of short vertical videos [TikTok reels, YouTube shorts etc]
- News consumption patterns of Generation Z, A and/or silver generation
- Audience engagement strategies of Generation Z, A and/or silver generation
- How younger audiences are redefining news, trust, and reach
- The role of media literacy for journalists and audiences.
Dr. Anna Podara
Dr. Ioanna Kostarella
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journalism and Media is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- media influence
- storytelling
- journalism
- virality
- news consumption
- audience engagement
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
