Hårdknuder som vejen frem

Hvordan journalistikkens fremtid ligger i fagets nødvendige og uløselige opgaver

Abstract

Journalism as a profession has a centuries-long tradition behind it, which, since the mid-1800s, through the designation 'the fourth estate', has been linked to it as a prerequisite for representative democracy. The problem, however, is that democracy is a fundamentally debatable concept, and it can therefore be difficult to reach agreement on which quality standards to focus on. Journalists' tasks differ fundamentally depending on whether the democratic ideal (for example) is procedural, competitive or deliberative. Any specific journalistic product can be criticised on the basis of different ideals, and will therefore always appear unsatisfactory. This is a conundrum from which journalists cannot escape – a conundrum, it should be noted, which reflects the fact that we are constantly negotiating our understanding of democracy, thereby keeping the democratic horizon open. In this article, drawing on the work of Hartmut Rosa and Jacques Derrida, I shall argue that it is precisely these intractable problems that endow journalism with its value. Journalists must, of course, produce content that resonates with the public, but the underlying knots prevent journalists' work from being streamlined to a level where artificial intelligence could take over the task without any democratic value being lost. I would argue that journalists must learn to embrace these professional 'hard knots', because it is here that the profession finds its energy and its legitimacy.