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Abstract

In May 2017, the New York Times announced it would eliminate its public editor position, something a number of news organizations have done recently. Using the theory of metajournalistic discourse and textual analysis as a methodology, this study examines how actors within or on the boundaries of journalism reacted to the news and defined the ombudsman position. The data illustrated that today’s public editor should be a watchdog, perform public relations functions, be a conduit between readers and a newsroom, and build trust with readership. Finally, the author then argues the merit of the position in today’s journalism industry.

Keywords

journalism studies ombudsmen metajournalistic discourse textual analysis media ethics

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The End of Ombudsmen? 21st-Century Journalism and Reader Representatives

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Keywords

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