Traditionally, the study of journalism has been undertaken in rationalist terms. This has had particular implications for the study of the journalistic audience focusing on news serving a primarily informational purpose and not as a pleasurable experience. Drawing on fan theory, as well as the cultural concepts of emotion and affect, this article argues that the keen ritual engagement that characterises the investment of fans helps illuminate the dynamics of online participation in relation to news consumption. Ultimately, it argues that this approach enables a better conceptualisation of the online news audience and forms of engagement.
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