Rethinking Journalism in the Age of Podcasts: Perspectives, Possibilities, Boundaries

Dear Colleagues,

Podcasts have evolved from a niche format into a mainstream medium, reshaping content creation, media consumption, and audience engagement. Their unique storytelling techniques, interactive dynamics, and capacity for fostering intimacy and emotional connection set them apart as an innovative media form (Bonini 2022, Lindgren 2021). The rapid evolution of podcasting is driven by technological advancements, new industry players, shifting audience behaviors, and broader societal transformations (Newman & Cherubini 2025, Dowling 2024).

While existing research on podcasts has extensively examined content, organizational frameworks, and economic dimensions—particularly within the realm of journalism studies—many fundamental questions remain unexplored. As podcasts increasingly shape media markets and redefine journalism’s core functions and identity, there is an urgent need for further exploration.

This special issue seeks to advance the academic discourse on podcasting by welcoming contributions that provide new insights, theoretical advancements, and empirical analyses on the role of podcasts in contemporary media landscapes. We invite submissions from the perspective of journalism, media and communication research or related disciplines that examine, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Political Podcasting and Disinformation: The role of podcasting in election campaigns and political communication; the spread of fake news, conspiracy theories, and disinformation through podcasts; their impact on journalistic integrity.
• Audio Storytelling: The significance of audio storytelling in podcasts; their role in fostering intimacy, emotional engagement, and audience loyalty, as new forms of journalistic narrative.
• Audience Behavior and Engagement: The podcast consumption and usage motivations; interactions and listener participation; collaborative content creation, with potential implications for journalistic storytelling and audience interaction.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Algorithms: The role of AI in shaping content discovery and personalization; the influence of platforms on content visibility, audience behavior, and monetization models; AI and other technologies driving the transformation of media houses into digital organizations.
• Monetization and Economic Dynamics: The impact of advertising, sponsorships, and crowdfunding in the podcasting industry on journalistic independence and content production.
• Local Journalism and Civic Engagement: The use of podcasts as a tool for hyperlocal journalism and civic engagement, fostering community dialogue, and enhancing local journalistic practices.
• Genres and Ethical Challenges: The growing popularity and challenges of journalistic podcast genres such as true crime, news, or investigative formats; reporting strategies like transparency and self-reflection inherent in podcasting.
• New Actors and Media Roles: The emergence and relevance of new actors in podcasting, including influencers, activists, and non professional creators; blurred lines and boundaries between entertainment and journalism; diversity among podcast creators and (new) skills and education for podcasters.
• Future of Podcasting: The technological innovations in podcasting such as live podcasts, video podcasts, or AI driven audio tools, and their impact on content distribution, audience engagement, and the evolving practices of podcast journalism.

We look forward to your contributions and are happy to answer your questions at any time.

References

• Bonini, T. (2022). Podcasting as a hybrid cultural form between old and new media. In M. Lindgren & J. Loviglio, The Routledge Companion to Radio and Podcast Studies. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003002185-4
• Dowling, D. (2024). Podcast Journalism: The Promise and Perils of Audio Reporting. Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/dowl21322
• Lindgren, M. (2021). Intimacy and Emotions in Podcast Journalism: A Study of Award-Winning Australian and British Podcasts. Journalism Practice, 17(4), 704–719. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2021.1943497
• Newman, N.; Cherubini, F. (2025). Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2025. https://doi.org/10.60625/risj-vte1-x706

Dr. Michael Graßl
Dr. Vera Katzenberger
Prof. Dr. Jonas Schützeneder
Guest Editors

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• podcast
• digital journalism
• media transformation
• AI and innovation
• platforms and monetization
• audio storytelling
• political communication