Journalism,the sociology of knowledge,and science studies: A narrative literature review

Abstract

Journalism’s role in the production and legitimation of knowledge has received increasing attention at the intersection of journalism studies, sociology of knowledge, and science studies. This narrative review maps four key interdisciplinary intersections: collective memory, paradigm repair, boundary work, and trading zones/boundary objects. It traces the historical foundations—from Halbwachs’s collective memory and Kuhn’s paradigms to Gieryn’s boundary work and Galison’s trading zones—and examines how these concepts have been applied in journalism studies. These distinct but complementary research traditions show that journalism serves as an active “agent of memory,” shaping what societies and communities remember and forget; that journalists engage in discursive practices of paradigm repair to restore professional legitimacy when norms are violated; and that boundary work strategies are used to delineate journalistic jurisdiction. It also shows how trading zones and boundary objects enable collaboration between journalists and other expert communities. In each area, we balance theoretical contributions with empirical studies and highlight critical debates. A common thread running through the four areas examined is how journalism maintains and negotiates its cultural and epistemic authority as a knowledge-producing practice in an evolving media landscape.