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Why the Next Generation of News Depends on Ethnography
This Anthro Life
Why the Next Generation of News Depends on Ethnography
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Speaker
Adam Gamwell
EK
Speaker
Emily Kennedy
Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy, anthropologists and journalists, explore how ethnographic methods enrich engaged journalism. They discuss their collaborative research and workshops, tracing the historical and disciplinary intersections, challenges, and evolutions in storytelling and community engagement within journalism and anthropology.
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Highlights
“She founded a center, the Center for Anthropology and Journalism, of which I'm one of the founding partners.”
“It's kind of like a— my best understanding is almost like hitting pause on your research and sort of just discussing where you're at or what you've found so far.”
“The Intersection of Journalism and Ethnography: "We've seen these conversations kind of pop here and there between the '80s, 1980s and now, but there wasn't a ton of them, right? And now it's this interesting question of like, why did that renewed kind of interest seem to be happening?”
“The Hidden Benefits of Ethnographic Methods in Journalism: "we would come across stuff in the literature that would be talking about the benefits that journalists could see if they borrowed ethnographic methods.”
“But, but otherwise, like, why the trail went cold, which I think is a great way to put it, I'm not really sure. It's still a question that I have. I'm not sure. Not sure what the answer is there.”
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Full transcript
Hi, I'm Emily Kennedy.
And we are happy to be here with you today on the pod. And one of the things that's fun is that, you know, if folks have known me and Emily, that, you know, I've run a podcast for a number of years called This Anthro Life. And while this is not a specific episode of that podcast, it is of course in that lineage, both because we're trained anthropologists and journalists and working in that space, but also 3 years ago on, on TAL, Emily joined me on the pod when, after I had met her at an applied anthropology conference. And she told this interesting story about journalism institutes kind of reinventing anthropology without knowing it. And there was like grant-funded local news research that was in North Carolina that, you know, she was looking at and it seemed like they were doing ethnography, but they didn't call it that. And what's kind of cool is that that conversation, you know, between us and between her own work too, like kind of built together and merged and expanded. And now there's like a partnership where we're working together. She founded a center, the Center for Anthropology and Journalism, of which I'm one of the founding partners.
We've done a workshop series together and we just published a research note in the Facts and Frictions journal. And, you know, we basically wanted to find a way to help formalize the conversation that we are seeing engaged journalists and journalism doing ethnographic work or things that really echo a lot of ethnographic work. So let's dive into some of the kind of behind the scenes of what we found here and what we're trying to put together in the puzzle of ethnography and engaged journalism.
Yes. article came out in the special issue of Facts and Frictions dedicated to engaged journalism. Facts and Frictions is this open access journal mainly covering journalism and journalism education. It's published by J-Schools Canada, so it is a Canadian publication, academic publication. And what I think is really interesting about Facts and Frictions is that, of course, they have got scholarly articles that are peer-reviewed, but they also have works of journalism And actually everything gets peer-reviewed, which is pretty interesting, I think. So what we pitched and then had accepted and published was called a research note. So it wasn't a full-blown scholarly article, and it also was not a work of journalism. It's kind of like a— my best understanding is almost like hitting pause on your research and sort of just discussing where you're at or what you've found so far.
And so So yeah, that's what we did. And the article is titled Ethnographic Reporting Meets Engaged Journalism and Offers Untapped Resources.
And what's funny is that was not the original title that we were trying to think through of like, how do we, how do we frame this, this conversation? Because, you know, it's funny coming at this as an anthropologist, you know, I was always somewhat nervous. I'm like stepping into the journalism space. I'm kind of like, am I allowed to be here and offer into this conversation? But it's interesting because, you know, both you convinced me and then by doing this research too, and then kind of getting to know the work and especially around engaged journalism specifically, that we came to see that was, I think, both surprising at the same time that one, your hunch was correct that like, you know, we are seeing a lot of methods happen, especially through engaged journalism that echo ethnography or ethnographic methods. But then the, as we kind of were, you know, hitting pause on the research and then kind of seeing what was happening in the conversation and wanting to share a kind of like a white paper almost. That the literature supports that argument, right? That there are folks kind of talking through these conversations. Like, they've been kind of few and far between. And that's something else that you brought to light, Emily, that was helpful, is that we've seen these conversations kind of pop here and there between the '80s, 1980s and now, but there wasn't a ton of them, right? And now it's this interesting question of like, why did that renewed kind of interest seem to be happening? I mean, aside from our work with the center, you know, but like there was this other piece happening though, that like there, as, as we had conversations with folks and we would see interest in journalists from workshops when we talked about using ethnographic methods and what they can be and why they're useful for, for this kind of, you know, community-oriented or engaged journalism.
Yeah.
Um, so I don't know, that stood out to me as something that was, that was, I don't always expect a literature review to help us kind of solidify an argument, you know, in the way of like knowing that, oh, this is backing up actually what we think we're seeing on the ground. Like that was, that was nice, I guess a nice surprise for me to see that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, and like you mentioned, the title was not our original suggestion, but that's actually pretty common in journalism. Your suggested headline is almost always changed by an editor. I think our suggested title was something like Journalism Doesn't Have to Start from Scratch. Um, and I mean, I think we'll kind of circle back to how we came up with that other headline, but yeah, we were, as we Did, you know, some research under the center and even just things like as we prepped resources or we were prepping like workshops, we would come across stuff in the literature that would be talking about the benefits that journalists could see if they borrowed ethnographic methods. And it just, yeah, came up so often that I think you and I both started to feel like, oh, well, everyone must know this, or this must just be—
Yeah.
well understood. And pretty quickly we realized there was not really a nice broad kind of coming together of all of this literature in one place. And that's really why we decided to pitch this piece, which is essentially a literature review.
Did like— I mean, I'm thinking about that. I'm curious your take on 2 that we both saw the early conversations around calls for ethnography or ethnographic methods in journalism. Again, this was like in the '80s, you know, folks, Susan Allen, Elizabeth Bird, that you had brought to the table for us to think about. But then really after the '90s, we didn't see a lot of the conversation, you know? And so there is this interesting quietude, right? And you had written about this before too, actually.
Yeah.
when we first started talking about the anthropology and journalism crossover and that there even was official, I forgot the name now, the center of, you know, there was like an earlier center of anthropology journalism that like also closed that you got the blessing of to kind of reopen in that case. But it's like this interesting piece that like the trail went cold, you know, for 30 years.
Yeah. Yeah. And I think it was called the Center for Anthrojournalism and then it later changed its name slightly to include more science communications aspects.
Right.
And yeah, when I asked people about it, like the researchers from the '80s and '90s and the people involved in the center at that time, they told me it was really just that people, you know, moved on to other things and it was being kind of pushed forwards more by individuals. And when those individuals stepped away, it sort of fizzled. And some said also it was that anthropology and journalism were trying to make a case for their own disciplines as, you know, ones that should be respected. And so by partnering with another discipline was sort of then diluting their own sort of, you know, their place. But, but otherwise, like, why the trail went cold, which I think is a great way to put it, I'm not really sure. It's still a question that I have. I'm not sure. Not sure what the answer is there.
But did you find that doing the literature review Did anything come up? Like, did you notice anything that sort of began to support why it fizzled? Because I think we know why it restarted.
Yeah. I mean, that's, and I think that's, that's the interesting question. So I guess, I mean, the, and this is a little bit of kind of thinking through both how we put the argument together and why we did. And, you know, to, to give a little bit more insight into what the paper does or is, is, you know, covering is that We, you know, on the one hand, set out to kind of make a broader argument of like different, how can different kinds of ethnographic methods, you know, like community, like embedding oneself in a community, like doing deeper listening sessions, some methods that will sound familiar again, both to ethnographers and journalists. We originally set out to kind of say, how do we put those together in conversation with engaged journalism? But then both working with the editors and like kind of going through the arguments themselves and something that you brought to the table too, Emily, was around this idea of the reckoning that journalism is facing now in this has to do with, I mean, a number of factors, you know, but like one of the major catalysts was the murder of George Floyd and how the story was covered. And then just, you know, kind of breaking down a number of sort of pillars in terms of like, how is journalism? Like, is there kind of the objective view from nowhere kind of idea? And like breaking that down, you can't not be part of a community. Like there is kind of no neutrality in one sense where it's like, you know, always kind of taking a stance on the one hand, but then also like, how is journalism kind of reckoning with both the idea of ways that it as an industry has dealt with things like racial representation and power inequalities, like in the name of being both objective and— I'm not hating on journalism, just saying this is what we kind of talk about in conversations. And it's working through these processes of how it is thinking about and working on its relationship with society.
How do journalists work with communities and vice versa? And how do they feel about them? And then like, does it feel like it's an extractive kind of industry? And what's interesting is as we were talking about these ideas and seeing what it's wrestling with, you know, a lot of this may sound somewhat familiar to anthropologists as they think about the own, like the discipline's own history too, in that it came from a, you know, colonial enterprise and has an extractive and colonial past that like, you know, is worse, you know, but also did things like, you know, dehumanize people kind of talking about them in certain like primitive or different languages, basically just misrepresented who they were, right? And kind of used the tools of empire to—
Right.
classify and work for the quote unquote state. And, you know, again, the interesting piece is then like recognizing that those two, there, there are some levels of, of conversation that, you know, I'm using the word parallel carefully here because I don't mean to say that's exactly the same, but like there was conversations that echoed each other between anthropology having to reckon with those parts of its past.
Mm-hmm.
Which for anthropology happened starting in the '80s most explicitly, but there was really good and powerful, you know, critiques and contributions from indigenous scholars and folks from the global south, as well as from folks in the global north, rethinking it like most famously, like George Marcus's Writing Culture that basically made the argument that we have to bring positionality into the conversation of who the anthropologist is and like their own role in race and sex and power differentials and how they are telling the stories of the people and who has the right to represent. And What's interesting is like, you know, so that was in the '80s, then like that began to pick up more steam in the '90s. And that was like at the same time then that we saw these conversations of ethnography in journalism kind of die out that we were saying, you know, only to get picked up again later in the 2020s. And so, you know, again, we don't know why it went away, but like part of it I think was disciplinary insularity, which we're kind of pointing towards. But at the same time, there was this idea that like the anthropology was reckoning with itself, you know, at that time. And so I think it was a little bit less of like, let's, let's look outside and we need to kind of do some internal work and try to figure out who we are as a discipline. And so I, I actually, I, I think part of it was that of why, like, we just saw a little less of that call. And so anthropologists were literally less on call for journalists because they were trying to figure their own stuff out.
And then, you know, it kind of got forgotten, I guess, in that regard too. So I don't know. I don't know. Again, like, I'm speculating a little bit, but—
No, it's a great observation.
Yeah. Yeah.
And we didn't put that in the paper. We're, you know, more so focused on that turning point. that reckoning as connector between the disciplines. And like you said, the turning point in 2020 with George Floyd and a lot of racism in the broader industry too, and journalism having to, yeah, really take a hard look at itself and its methods and who was allowed to tell stories, who was allowed to pitch stories. And that, like we've mentioned in the article, is a big gap between when journalism really begins to do that and when anthropology had started on that journey. I think we, from the research, we saw like a 30-year gap there. So anthropology's got almost like a 30-year head start in that area, which then comes back to why we originally pitched the title that journalism doesn't have to start from scratch.
Yeah, that's, that's right. You know, we opened with the idea of a title here.
Yeah.
But yeah. And so that's, you know, I think that was, it's interesting too, because it's like, we began with that framework and then it's like, yes, it is not from scratch, but then we realized that there was actually such this deep and rich history. And like, actually to your point, the reckoning moment gave us this really rich set of conversations that like also pointed out why it's, we're not just trying to, you know, say ethnography is neat.
Right.
But like for journalism, which I mean, we think it is, but it's like, there's actually really this like deep well of history and work that anthropology has done and is still doing. This is what we both clear in the paper. And we're saying here that like this work, the reckoning work is not done for anthropology. There is still, you know, things to work with in terms of, you know, both colonial past, but then also dealing with exploitative research methods and typical, you know, bigger problems with higher education in general and research, but from a Western perspective. But it's interesting just to note this too, right? That it, began these processes of reckoning again, yeah, 30-ish years before journalism had to. And there's some interesting reasons for that too. We kind of go and think about a little bit in the paper in terms of like industry orientation, right? Academia is typically nonprofit oriented, right? Where journalism is usually, I know there's both, there's nonprofit, but primarily like the main industry is for profit. Timelines are totally different.
As you know, stories get up and research has to be done a lot faster. And so there's, there's, different kinds of insularity that journalism was able to work with. But it is to our, like what we found too interesting to us is like, it still happened though, right? Like society is still asking questions about like, how is representation happening? How are relationships, you know, acknowledged or not in, in when we're writing about people? And so that's, that's something that is interesting. And so I guess one thing I want to get your take on too is like, we read a lot for this paper, both because it was a lit review and there was a lot to kind of think through, but it's like, was there anything that stood out to you as like a breakthrough piece of literature or something that said, oh, this, or like this quote, this idea, this source, like really helped us kind of unlock our thinking of how these, these histories can be in conversation together?
Yeah, for sure. There was one that the editors of this suggested that we look at a book by Candace Callison and Mary Lynn Young. And the book is titled Reckoning: Journalism's Limits and Possibilities. But they had this, this kind of view of journalism that included anthropology. So even though it was a book that was mainly about journalism, they were already weaving anthropology into it. And one thing that they mentioned was how in the '80s, it was a time of experimental thinking in anthropology, and how that was kind of The response that journalism could be adopting. So they right there kind of called it out. They draw on the work from anthropologists Marcus and Fisher, and they talk about how anthropology had put forward— and this is what they wrote— a reckoning with how much the terrain for describing and comparing the world had changed, and proposed listening to voices outside of academia, some of whom were sharply critical at that time of the usually Western white gaze imposed by anthropology.
Right.
anthropologists. So they basically argued that this same reorientation could be directly applied to journalism while it's in this crisis that started in 2020.
Yeah, that was really interesting to see because it was like getting a sense that people are connecting the dots, they're thinking through how these are happening. But like, it was interesting too, because like why Reckoning was like a really helpful piece versus something else was because it, you know, again, thinking about the audience of this paper was primarily journalists, right? And that's typically who reads Facts and Frictions. And so, you know, we obviously have a social science crossover, but it's like basically bringing ethnography into the journalism conversation versus the other way around.
Yeah.
And so Reckoning was really helpful to see that like we are getting a nice historical view of how experimentation was happening. at a time of great change, right? In terms of for the industry and for society. And like that requires a kind of rethinking of how people explore and tell their stories, you know, through, through journalism. And, um, but just one of the things that I came away from that was getting the sense of like why we are seeing the ethnographic impulse kind of emerge in journalism. And so I think Allison Young gave us some important social context in that regard. We are seeing that like ethnography is is a discipline or a set of methods that fields tend to reach to. This is their hypothesis, tend to reach towards ethnography during, you know, under pressure or, you know, when there's, when a different kind of social or economic pressure is happening. And that's interesting because if I unpack that in my head, you know, what I, what I'm reading that as is that there is, you know, great social change or some other kind of big change happening in that we need to understand what's happening on the ground.
Like the, basically the old models or ways of doing things are breaking down. We don't yet have an understanding of what to do or what to go with next. And so To me, it makes a really nice case for the generative power of ethnography, right? Like, if you understand what's happening on the ground, then you can get local models and you can then see where's the disconnect between like, here's how the economic system is supposed to work, or here's how the journalistic, you know, system is supposed to work, where you don't share your stories with informants ahead of time, where you, you know, have to get under X deadline, you know, make sure that you don't anger this person or that person. Like a lot of these systems were breaking down. And so then ethnography is a way to say, well, what is happening on the ground? How do I actually move forward? So anyways, I mean, it was an interesting piece too, to kind of think through that. We didn't, we don't dive into too much of that in the paper either. So I'm sharing it here kind of as a background thing to think with that. Like, I like the idea of ethnography as a pressure cooker method.
Yeah.
Yeah. You know, well, we do go through, I mean, although the reckoning connector piece, I think is the most valuable and important that came out of our literature review. We do go through the, like you were talking about, kind of these ethnographic impulses that we're seeing run through journalism. And we do try to pull out and highlight where we're seeing them repeat. And of course, back that up with the literature. So we do go into kind of the practice side. And I think Anne-Christine Hermann was referenced by another researcher named Stefan Moestraat, and he references Herman's work going so far as to say ethnographic reporting is relevant not only as a practice, but as a critique of journalistic norms, which is kind of talking about what you were just describing as well. But he nicely, in his article, he describes how it can bridge theory and practice.
And so I think that in our research note, we were trying to also highlight that, that it has value for that reason too. Um, but of course, it being useful in practice is, is, is what journalists would like to hear, you know, practicing journalists, professional journalists. That's some reason why they might read Facts and Frictions and this piece. And I think that though there's still a lot that where this could go. Like, there's so, so many more places that we could have gone with it, you know, and why the research matters. I don't know. There's a— I have a lot of places that I hope the research goes next, but I know you've got some. Like, there were things you were trying to sort of inch into the paper.
Was there like a big one that stood out for you?
That in terms of where research goes that didn't make it into the paper? Yeah.
Um, or, well, Maybe it didn't make it in, but also you're hoping that it's something we could explore next.
Yeah. I mean, the, like, what's to me, like, you know, I, you know, I'm, I'm do a lot of work in technology working with, you know, AI and software development and, and tools and, and beyond or beside that, like, you know, generative AI is the name of the, the conversation today, whether it's agentic systems running things or just talking with ChatGPT, you know, like, It's such a common, you know, conversational set and force in play right now that is also totally up in the air. Also another, you know, boon for ethnography, I think. But, you know, obviously for the, on the writing side, like there's the journalism and any academic discipline, like there's the perceived quote unquote threat of like, you know, people cheating by just using AI to write stuff. But, you know, aside from that, like there is, I think these deeper questions in terms of Because we were framing this paper around engaged journalism, you know, so there's journalism, journalism, right? Then there's engaged journalism, which is, you know, ethnographers will sound somewhat familiar, but then also for engaged journalists too, it's like that where you're much more community involved. You're closer to the community, right? The idea is, do you want to be more reciprocal with how you either collect stories, tell stories? And this could, again, breaking some of the old rules of like maybe sharing drafts of stories. Does this representation look correct to you?
Mm-hmm.
You know, so the, there's, there's a lot that basically is just about being closer to, to community and questions of accountability or responsibility, things like that. And what's interesting is, is, you know, AI doesn't do any of that or can't do any of that. And so like, as AI becomes more of a means through which people might either get their news, might create news, you know, or like, you know, how it gets positioned in the roles, I think there's a lot of questions there. Again, so where can this research go of like, what can ethnography help us do is that as AI becomes both more embedded in journalistic practice, but then also like as people use it as a technology to get an understanding to make news, I think those are, those are the key pieces because it's not about stealing journalists' jobs or anthropologists' jobs. I mean, like, can it write and sound like us? Yes. But what it can't do is like actually bring any sort of emic or insider perspective of any of this kind of work because it both isn't alive. You know, this is a question that I actually address in a different paper that wrote around the same time, which is why I'm thinking about this, that like, it does, we do have to ask the question that if like people can't tell the difference or don't really care, does it matter? Like if they say, well, it sounds good enough to me. And so I think it is incumbent upon us in like, in this kind of research to think through like actually being engaged with a human community is something that we as humans have to do.
And anyway, so I think the AI question just makes this kind of, this kind of question urgent of like, like how can ethnography help us under pressure, like both for, both anthropology and for journalism and how we tell stories and do community representation and build together. That's, and it's an interesting and challenging point. I mean, and so I know it's not a question, but it's just an area that like we have to face, you know? And I think that both engaged journalism and ethnographic practice as part of engaged journalism can help us do that in ways that will maintain humanity, um, in the face of these big challenges.
Well, and it'll become more rare to have news written by journalists that have gone into communities and engaged with them. So finding, you know, really good methods and practices for doing that— cough cough ethnographic— then, you know, it will become more rare. It will then become, ergo, become more valued, I'd hope. And I think also publications will probably put that front and center, like you know, where they and where they do not use AI. Plus, we did see a little bit mentioned that engaged journalism can actually help with the bottom line. Like, it can help on the business side.
Yeah.
So that's another area I think where this research matters, where, you know, where else it could go would be looking further into that idea of how more engaged audiences basically can equal increased revenue. I mean, think about like a one-time reader turning into a subscriber because you've been engaging with that community. So yeah, we highlighted that too as an area for further research, and that's one that I'm really curious about. But of course, again, this was an engaged-themed entire issue, and I was really surprised actually at how there was sort of no one solid definition for what engaged—
Hmm.
Meant, because related to that, you know, business side and engaging with communities, there's also community engagement in news and journalism, and there's even like engagement audience editors. But these are usually people who are, you know, working with pieces after they've been published. So it's still a type of engagement. And I think that too can still, or it may even be one of the larger drivers more immediately of, you know, turning people into subscribers and increasing revenue. But that kind of difference between definitions was something that we found we had to try and make sense of in this paper.
Yeah, that was surprising to me too, that there's kind of like, we ended up like kind of splitting between engagement and engaged, which sounds kind of like you're splitting hairs, but at the same time it was, it did matter because we didn't, we saw both uses of both terms across the literature, like used both ways, both as a form of like audience engagement versus community engagement. And that, that was tricky because it was like, we did have to work, you know, with the editors too, to kind of make sense of that because we didn't come in expecting that there would be that kind of definitional issue. We're like, oh, engaged journalism is this thing. And I think we had even ourselves in the early draft slipped between saying engagement and engaged. And we realized you can't, like, because they don't mean, it doesn't mean one thing.
Mm-hmm.
And it was helpful to recognize that too, but I also think you're, You're right. And I'd be excited to see too that I think that there is a, there can be a deep connection between the community engagement side and the audience engagement side. And again, like both business building, revenue building for newsrooms, because think about it, it is a question of revenue. It is a question of, sorry, I'm tapping the mic. It is a question of representation, right? If you see yourselves in stories, you're more likely to want to engage with that source. And especially if you're seeing yourself engaged in ways that you say, oh, I know my neighbor participated in that story, or I helped in this thing or something where I've seen myself as part of this work. That's why Substack does really well because it's like it has this sort of personal vibe, even though it's like a giant impersonal machine. But like there's this kind of felt relationship between the authors and the audience.
And that I think has huge value for ways that you can create and produce, like thinking with ethnography, with communities that will help, I think, the bottom line of newsrooms kind of tell stories that matter to communities. And I will say too, not to be contradictory, that I also think that AI can help with scale and that kind of thing, not to write a bunch of fake stories, but just like there are questions of how we could think about the idea of how do we both be local and also help scale an idea. And so we can work with technology for that. So we're not a Luddite or anti-technological. It's just like there are ethical ways to do it and I think useful ways. And so I agree. I think this is a really interesting idea of both recognizing the engagement engaged lack of definition, but then also community and audience engagement can help each other, I think, and especially the newsroom level and at the community level.
And of course, we are big proponents of using ethnographic methods in engaged journalism. We had one peer reviewer ask us this question, what forms of engaged journalism are not ethnographic? Which, like, I think the two of us really love that idea that it could all be.
Yeah.
Ethnographic. But we did have to clarify and say, you know, there's, there's certainly some forms of engaged journalism that are not ethnographic. And again, like maybe that broader definition of engaged and engagement journalism plays into that too. But, but, but yeah, we did, we did kind of have to then further explain what we were talking about. But that being said, we of course do feel strongly that there's such a a large swath of engaged journalism that employs ethnographic methods. Maybe they don't realize they're doing it. And so if you don't mind, I can mention that the Center for Anthropology and Journalism is running, producing an engaged journalism conference. So we are inviting more conversations and we're hoping to see, you know, all orientations towards engaged journalism, engagement, engaged.
However you like to, to describe it. Um, and, and hopefully, you know, it, in the conference and surrounding the discussions that happen during the conference time, we'll maybe see some of these questions explored there too.
Yeah, no, I think so. And I hope so. And, and yeah, we definitely, you know, invite folks to, to check out the conference. We'll, we'll put some links as long as alongside the show notes and I mean, the reason that we're doing this, and, you know, if you have either, you know, heard Emily in our, my conversation a couple of years ago, and, or just if you participate in any of the, the, the Center for Anthropology and Journalism workshops that we've done, you know, a lot of our passion is just to bring together these 2 disciplines. And we're obviously, we're talking about a paper that we just wrote about it, you know, but it's like, it's, I'm excited about this, the conference too, because it's, A, it's daunting to put one of these, put a conference on, but like, It's, it's neat because it's also one of these other things that we have not seen. We haven't seen a conference dedicated to bringing these, these 2 pieces together of ethnography and journalism. And just something that I'm excited about with it too is that the theme for this year is care. I think that's, that's neat because it is, you know, a lot that we found both in the research and just what we're seeing in engaged journalism.
What does it mean to engage with the community is, is to care, right? For the people, for the place, for the stories that get told and the culture that gets, that gets perpetuated and brought through. And so it's like, I think that's a really compelling idea. And it's something that, you know, personally, I'm just interested anyway in these questions of how do we think about caring for the future for ourselves, for our communities. And so it's neat to see the ways that 2 disciplines can come together and kind of engage with that. So we're excited for it. And we hope that, yeah, I'm happy to share more about that if folks are interested and we'll put some links in the show notes. And we definitely, you know, hope to be doing this again in the future. More conferences, more workshops and things like that.
So anyway, yeah, it's been, thanks for chatting about the paper with me, Emily. This has been fun to reconnect with you here on the, on the digital platforms. Yeah.
Good to chat with you, Adam, especially about this work that took us so many months to create. And finally to see it out there in the world is great. I hope people check it out.
Yeah, cool. We'll see y'all next time.
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🔖 Titles
How Ethnography Is Shaping the Future of Engaged Journalism
Bridging Anthropology and Journalism: Lessons from Ethnographic Practice
Ethnographic Methods in Engaged Journalism: Uncovering Untapped Potential
The New Alliance: Anthropology’s Role in Journalism’s Reckoning
Why Journalism Needs Ethnography for Community Engagement
From Academia to Newsroom: Ethnography’s Surprising Impact on Journalism
Navigating Change: Stories Where Anthropology Meets Engaged Journalism
Community, Care, and Storytelling: The Promise of Ethnographic Journalism
The Ethnographic Approach: Transforming Journalism from the Ground Up
Rethinking Reporting: What Anthropology Offers Engaged Journalists Today
💡 Speaker bios
Emily Kennedy is a contributor to the Canadian academic journal Facts and Frictions, published by J-Schools Canada. Her work appeared in a special issue focused on engaged journalism. In her piece, Emily authored a research note—a unique format that offers a snapshot of ongoing research rather than a completed scholarly article or journalistic story. Demonstrating her versatility, Emily navigates both scholarly and journalistic approaches within the rigorous, peer-reviewed environment of the publication.
💡 Speaker bios
Adam Gamwell is a trained anthropologist and journalist who has hosted the long-running podcast "This Anthro Life." His path intersected with Emily at an applied anthropology conference, where their shared interests sparked a dynamic partnership. Their collaboration deepened after Emily appeared on Adam’s podcast to discuss how modern journalism often unwittingly reinvents anthropology through practices like ethnography. This ongoing dialogue and shared research ultimately led to the founding of the Center for Anthropology and Journalism, where Adam is a founding partner, working at the intersection of ethnographic research and journalism.
outcome, clickbait titles
How Ethnography Is Quietly Reshaping Engaged Journalism with Emily Kennedy
Why Journalists Don’t Need to Start from Scratch—Lessons from Anthropology with Emily Kennedy
Inside the Reckoning: What Anthropology Can Teach Journalism Now with Emily Kennedy
The Secrets Behind Journalism’s Next Big Innovation—You Might Already Know Them with Emily Kennedy
From Colonial Pasts to AI Futures: The Surprising Evolution of Storytelling with Emily Kennedy
What Happens When Journalists Discover Ethnographic Methods? with Emily Kennedy
Why the Next Generation of News Depends on Anthropology with Emily Kennedy
Episode SEO - keyphrase, URL, title tag, description tag
Focus Keyphrase: Ethnography in Journalism
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thisanthrolife.com/ethnography-in-engaged-journalism
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Ethnography in Engaged Journalism: Insights from Anthropology & Newsrooms
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Explore how ethnographic methods transform engaged journalism. Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy discuss practices, challenges, and future directions.
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ethnography, engaged journalism, anthropology, journalism methods, community engagement, storytelling, media innovation, research methods, journalism education, local news, newsroom strategy, cultural understanding, audience engagement, power dynamics, representation in media
Episode Title
Ethnography in the Newsroom: How Engaged Journalism is Shaping the Future of Storytelling
Show Notes
Ever wondered why some news stories feel more connected to their communities, or how journalists are changing the way they understand the people they report on? Discover the surprising connections between ethnography and journalism in this eye-opening episode!
Join us as we explore how ethnography—a powerful research method from anthropology—is revolutionizing engaged journalism. Adam Gamwell (anthropologist and host) and Emily Kennedy (journalist, anthropologist, and founder of the Center for Anthropology and Journalism) dive into the real-world impact of blending journalism methods with community engagement and storytelling.
Why does this matter? As the lines between journalism education, media innovation, and local news blur, understanding the tools that can empower newsroom strategy, cultural understanding, and meaningful representation in media is essential for anyone interested in the future of storytelling and reporting.
Tune in to learn:
Why more journalists are turning to ethnography to engage communities and deliver richer, more authentic stories
How rethinking power dynamics and representation can reshape journalism’s relationship with its audience
The key moments that sparked journalism’s current “reckoning” and what practical lessons can be drawn from anthropology’s history
Tangible ways journalists, anthropologists, and everyday readers can encourage deeper audience engagement and trust
The surprising business case for engaged journalism and why it matters for newsroom strategy and sustainability
About Our Guest:
Emily Kennedy is the founder of the Center for Anthropology and Journalism and a leading voice in the intersection of ethnography and journalism. With a unique background spanning anthropology, journalism, and community-driven research, Emily brings real-world expertise from her work with journalism institutes, workshops, and published research bridging the gap between academic insight and practical newsroom innovation.
About This Anthro Life:
This Anthro Life is your podcast for thought leadership at the intersection of culture, work, and storytelling. We bring you interviews and insights for business leaders, design thinkers, researchers, and anyone curious about how culture shapes our lives.
Explore more episodes and subscribe to our newsletter at thisanthrolife.org and join our Substack community at thisanthrolife.substack.com.
Guy Raz Intro Jan 2024
Welcome to This Anthro Life, the podcast that digs deep into how humans build meaning, create connection, and challenge the systems shaping our world. I’m your host, Adam Gamwell, and today’s episode takes you into a paradox you didn’t see coming: What happens when journalists reinvent anthropology—without realizing it?
With me is Emily Kennedy, founder of the Center for Anthropology and Journalism and a relentless connector of unexpected dots. She’s been at the pulse of newsrooms as they grapple with ‘objectivity’ in a post-2020 world and discovers how journalists are quietly borrowing from anthropology—sometimes without ever using the word ethnography.
Together, we’ll unpack the buried connections between engaged journalism, community, and ethnographic methods. Is the news industry waking up to the power—and messiness—of being closer to the communities they report on? What hidden tensions surface when worlds collide, and why did the dialogue between anthropology and journalism go cold for three decades?
We dig into who gets to tell stories, why engaged journalism might save the industry’s soul and bottom line, and why the rise of AI makes ethnographic thinking more urgent than ever.
Stick around, because the answers aren’t where you think they are.
ℹ️ Introduction
Episode Introduction
Welcome to another episode of This Anthro Life, where we dig beneath the surface of culture, institutions, and innovation to uncover the deeper stories shaping our world. Today, host Adam Gamwell is joined by Emily Kennedy, and together they pull back the curtain on a fascinating convergence: how ethnography, a cornerstone of anthropology, is finding new life and purpose within engaged journalism.
Drawing from their recent collaborative research note published in Facts and Frictions, Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy explore how journalism and anthropology have each undergone periods of reckoning—grappling with questions of representation, power, and the need to reimagine their relationships with the communities they study or report on. They'll reflect on surprising parallels in the histories of both fields, the resurgence of ethnographic methods in journalism, and the practical value of deep, community-driven research for newsrooms navigating turbulent social and technological change.
Stay with us as we unpack why these intersections matter now more than ever, how engaged journalism can learn from anthropology’s decades-long head start on reflexivity, and what this means for the future of storytelling, audience trust, and human connection in an AI-saturated era. Plus, we'll hear about emerging opportunities for collaboration—like the upcoming Engaged Journalism conference—designed to push these vital conversations even further.
💡 Speaker bios
Emily Kennedy’s work was recently featured in the special issue of Facts and Frictions, a Canadian academic journal focused on journalism and journalism education. Published by J-Schools Canada, the journal uniquely combines peer-reviewed scholarly articles and journalism pieces, ensuring rigorous review for all contributions. Emily’s piece, a research note, offered a reflective pause on her ongoing research, sharing insights and developments without being a full scholarly article or traditional journalism. Her contribution highlights her commitment to engaged journalism and innovative academic communication.
💡 Speaker bios
Adam Gamwell is a trained anthropologist and journalist who has been exploring the intersections of these fields for years. He is the creator and longtime host of the podcast This Anthro Life, where he delves into how anthropology shapes our understanding of the world. Several years ago, Adam met fellow anthropologist Emily at an applied anthropology conference, sparking an ongoing collaboration that began when she shared insights about journalism institutes unintentionally practicing anthropology. Their shared interests eventually led them to co-found the Center for Anthropology and Journalism, where Adam is a founding partner, further bridging the gap between ethnography and journalism through innovative projects and research.
📚 Timestamped overview
00:00 The section discusses how an anthropologist, initially unsure about entering journalism, found that ethnographic methods are increasingly used in engaged journalism, supported by literature, and noticed a resurgence of interest in these methods since the 1980s.
06:30 The decline in the initiative was attributed to key individuals moving on and to anthropology and journalism trying to establish their own disciplinary identities without diluting them through partnerships, leaving the exact reasons for the "trail going cold" somewhat uncertain.
07:32 The section discusses the integration of ethnographic methods into engaged journalism to address the industry's self-reckoning with objectivity, racial representation, and power inequalities, influenced by factors like the coverage of George Floyd's murder.
12:48 The text discusses the ongoing need for anthropology to address its colonial past and exploitative research methods, emphasizing that this process of reckoning with issues occurred much earlier than in journalism due to differing industry orientations, with anthropology being nonprofit-focused and journalism primarily for profit.
17:19 The text discusses the breakdown of traditional systems and highlights ethnography as a valuable method for understanding real-world complexities and creating new models to navigate these challenges.
20:12 The discussion centers around the impact of generative AI on technology, journalism, and ethnography, highlighting concerns about academic misuse and advocating for engaged journalism, which fosters community involvement and reciprocity in storytelling.
21:25 The text discusses the limitations of AI in providing community engagement and accountability compared to humans, especially in journalism and ethnography, where AI lacks the insider perspective necessary for meaningful interaction and understanding.
25:58 The discussion highlights the potential for a deep connection between community and audience engagement in newsrooms, emphasizing that revenue and representation depend on audiences seeing themselves reflected in stories, similar to the personal engagement seen on platforms like Substack.
29:04 The section discusses the excitement and challenges of organizing a conference dedicated to combining ethnography and journalism, with a focus on care as this year's theme, emphasizing the lack of existing events uniting these disciplines.
📚 Timestamped overview
00:00 Exploring engaged journalism methods
06:30 Why the research faded away
07:32 Ethnography and journalism reflection
12:48 Anthropology's ongoing reckoning process
17:19 Ethnography's role in changing systems
20:12 Discussing AI's impact on journalism
21:25 AI's Role in Journalism
25:58 Community and audience engagement
29:04 Anthropology and journalism conference
Newsletter
Hey Anthro fam,
I’m excited to bring you into a thoughtful and timely episode featuring the brilliant Emily Kennedy, as we explore what happens when ethnography and engaged journalism meet, mix, and start to reshape how stories are told, communities are represented, and trust is built.
If you prefer to dive in via audio, tune in here: [insert podcast link].
Unpacking Anthropology & Journalism—Not as Distant as You’d Think
Three years ago, I had the pleasure of first bringing Emily Kennedy onto This Anthro Life after we met at an applied anthropology conference. What began as a curious conversation about under-the-radar overlaps between journalism education and ethnography has, through collaboration, blossomed into something more: joint research, a workshop series, and the founding of the Center for Anthropology and Journalism. Now, we’ve co-authored a research note in the open-access journal Facts and Frictions ([insert article link]), dedicated to making sense of the surging overlap between ethnographic practice and what’s called “engaged journalism.”
Where the Disciplines Intersect (and Why It Matters Now)
In this episode, Emily Kennedy and I dig into the surprising discovery from our literature review: for decades, journalism has been quietly borrowing from ethnography, but rarely calling it by name. Think about embedding yourself in a community, doing deep listening, and pushing against old norms—sound familiar? What’s wild is that although calls for ethnographic methods in journalism flickered across the 1980s and 90s, the conversation went cold for nearly 30 years. Why? Partly, both disciplines needed to grapple with their own limitations and legacies—anthropology with its colonial past and journalism with its claims to “objectivity,” which recent reckonings (especially post-2020) made impossible to ignore.
Ethnography as a Pressure Cooker Method
One insight from the episode that sticks with me is the idea of ethnography as the method you reach for when the old models break down and social trust is in flux. When journalism faces pressure—be it social, economic, or technological—there’s a renewed drive to connect with people on the ground, make sense of new realities, and experiment with ways of knowing. Emily Kennedy and I both see this as a reason for hope and creativity: ethnographic approaches aren’t just about research; they are bridges between theory and practice that can help build new relationships and reimagine who gets to tell which stories, and how.
AI, Audiences, and the Future of Engaged Journalism
Of course, we couldn’t talk methods and storytelling without bringing in the current zeitgeist—AI and digital scale. What’s at stake as tools like generative AI become intertwined with news reporting? There’s a very real risk of losing the “human” in human-centered storytelling. Yet, as Emily Kennedy points out, the value of authentic, ethnographically driven journalism may only rise as it becomes more rare. It’s not just about resisting tech, but about using it ethically and recognizing that community-rooted, participatory methods offer something no algorithm can fake: trust, insight, and care.
A Fluid Definition—What Counts as “Engaged”?
Another fascinating theme: nobody in journalism has settled on exactly what “engaged journalism” means. Sometimes it's about building audience relationships; sometimes it’s about being present in the community. Those lines are still blurry and actively being negotiated, and we devote some airtime to how these definitions matter for practice, business, and impact. Where you draw the line between “engagement” and “engaged” journalism shapes how you set newsroom priorities, build revenue, and earn loyalty.
Visual Suggestions for This Episode
Consider using a split-screen image: one side showing a journalist in the field, the other an anthropologist conducting participant observation—spotlighting visual parallels.
A diagram or timeline tracing the moments of reckoning in journalism and anthropology—showing key points of overlap, convergence, and divergence over the past 40 years.
A Question to Carry Forward
Listening back to this episode, I keep coming back to this: What stories or realities are we missing because the methods and perspectives we use are too narrow or discipline-bound? As we all navigate shifting work, media, and cultural landscapes—how might borrowing freely from anthropology, journalism, and even technology help us build more humane, effective futures? Where do you see ethnographic thinking showing up in unexpected places?
What connections did you make from this conversation? I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to reply or join our community discussions.
Invite to Tune In
You can listen to the full episode here. As always, if you find these conversations valuable, share This Anthro Life with a friend or colleague. Every listen, comment, and review helps us keep these nuanced discussions alive and growing. Subscribe to stay in the loop—and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and our website for more updates.
To your influence and impact,
Adam
🗞️ Newsletter
This Anthro Life Dispatch
Subject: Ethnography & Journalism: Reimagining Reporting from the Ground Up
Dear TAL Community,
This week, the conversation at the crossroads of anthropology and journalism deepens. Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy dive behind the scenes of their new research—published in the Facts and Frictions journal—exploring how ethnographic methods are quietly but powerfully transforming modern journalism.
What’s Inside:
📰 Ethnography in the Newsroom
Did you know that many engaged journalists are embedding themselves in communities, practicing “deep listening,” and building stories hand-in-hand with their audiences—even if they don’t formally call it ethnography? As Emily Kennedy notes at 00:01:03, these practices echo anthropology and bring untapped resources to journalism.
📚 Why the Revival, and Why Now?
For decades, anthropology and journalism have run on parallel tracks. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, a few visionary researchers saw the potential in combining their approaches, but the trail went quiet for years. What reignited this synergy? As Adam Gamwell shares at 00:08:11, journalism has recently faced its own reckoning—most dramatically following the murder of George Floyd—forcing the industry to rethink who tells stories, how they're reported, and what “objectivity” truly means.
Anthropology, it turns out, already grappled with similar challenges—critiquing its extractive past, bringing positionality, and centering representation—30 years earlier. As the research argues, journalism doesn’t have to start from scratch; there's a rich, hard-won body of knowledge to draw from.
🤝 Engaged Journalism in Practice
The episode peels back what engaged journalism can look like: authentic partnerships with communities, strategies for making reporting more reciprocal and less extractive, and how these shifts can even boost newsroom sustainability and subscriber loyalty (00:24:06). The bottom line? Representing people doesn’t just build trust—it can build revenue too.
🚀 Where is This All Going?
AI is changing the game, but as Adam Gamwell stresses at 00:22:12, machine-written news lacks the lived experience, care, and accountability found at the heart of real ethnographic work. As newsrooms face digital disruption, the value—and rarity—of human-centered, community-rooted reporting will only increase.
🎟️ Join the Conversation!
Big news: The Center for Anthropology and Journalism (founded by Emily Kennedy) is hosting an Engaged Journalism Conference on the theme of care. Expect boundary-pushing talks, practical workshops, and space to wrestle with questions shaping the future of storytelling.
Recommended Listen:
Tap into this fresh episode to hear Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy challenge assumptions, share learnings, and invite you to help shape what comes next.
Read the Article:
Curious about the research? Find their research note in Facts and Frictions’ special issue on engaged journalism.
Get Involved:
Interested in the conference or want to collaborate? Watch this space for registration details or reply to this email with ideas and feedback.
In Community,
The This Anthro Life Team
Substance over simplicity. Inquiry over easy answers. Stories that don’t just inform—they connect.
P.S. What does “care” mean to you in your work or community? Hit reply and let us know—we’d love to feature your perspective in a future issue.
email newsletter 3 no show mention
Hey Anthro fam,
Ever sit back and wonder—are the boundaries between anthropology and journalism…maybe just a suggestion? What if the two have secretly been borrowing each other’s tools for decades—without even realizing it? That’s the rabbit hole we tumble down in this week’s episode: where reporting meets ethnography and it actually matters for where our stories (and maybe our newsfeeds) are headed next.
Audio-first crew? Skip the read, go straight to play—link below!
Let me set the scene: Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy dig into how journalism’s recent “reckoning” (yep, the post-2020, who-tells-what-truth reckoning) echoes anthropology’s own awkward, necessary, overdue self-examination. We’re talking about the deep stuff here—who gets to tell a story, who should get to, and why both disciplines are suddenly circling each other again, after decades of polite distance.
When Reporting Turns Ethnographic—By Accident (Or Is It Fate?)
Picture this: Grant-funded local newsrooms rolling out practices that look suspiciously like ethnography—embedding in communities, deeper listening sessions—yet they don’t call it that. “We started noticing,” Adam Gamwell admits, “journalism institutes kind of reinventing anthropology without knowing it” 00:00:29.
What gives? Turns out, every time institutions crumble or old models break down, both journalism and anthropology look for answers…on the ground. There’s a pattern here—a “pressure cooker moment,” as Adam Gamwell calls it, when uncertainty demands us to listen closer, get involved, and—maybe—stop pretending objectivity has no context 00:17:25.
A favorite quote from Emily Kennedy: “Journalism doesn’t have to start from scratch.” Because anthropology’s already taken its lumps with representation, power, and speaking for others (sometimes with others, when it’s doing things right) 00:12:09.
The Reckoning: Why Both Fields Had to Look in the Mirror
Here’s the kicker: Anthropology started its big, messy self-reckoning in the ’80s, facing up to its colonial baggage and asking who’s being left out of the story 00:10:33. Journalism? Its major wake-up call hit around 2020 (think: George Floyd, industry-wide questions about who owns the megaphone) 00:08:27. That’s a thirty-year head start for anthropology, and a MASSIVE learning opportunity for journalism…if it’s ready to listen.
As Adam Gamwell puts it, “These processes of reckoning...began 30-ish years before journalism had to. And there's some interesting reasons for that too" 00:13:15.
Is it scary? Sure. But it also opens a pathway for richer, more accountable storytelling—inside AND outside the newsroom.
Is “Engaged Journalism” Just a Buzzword?
Get this—there’s STILL no sharp definition for “engaged journalism.” Are we talking about audience engagement, community engagement, or something else altogether? Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy wrestle hard with the terms—because if you can’t name it, can you truly practice it intentionally? 00:25:08
But then the question flips: “What forms of engaged journalism aren’t ethnographic?” a reviewer challenges. (Wouldn’t it be wild if the answer was…almost none?) 00:27:47
AI, Urgency, and the Future of Storytelling
Layer in AI—yes, that beast—and you get extra urgency. In a world where machines can crank out passable prose but can’t truly embed in a community or care about its future, real ethnography (listening, caring, representing) suddenly becomes the rarest commodity of all 00:22:40.
Which brings us to a killer takeaway: The future of journalism—maybe even your local news—may depend less on clickbait, and more on human connection. “If you see yourself in stories, you’re more likely to want to engage with that source,” Adam Gamwell notes 00:26:21.
Here are a few gems and provocations from the episode. Watch for them in the audio:
“The trail went cold, you know, for 30 years” (Adam Gamwell on why the anthropology-journalism partnership fizzled—and why it matters now) 00:06:16
“It will become more rare to have news written by journalists that have gone into communities and engaged with them… ergo, become more valued, I'd hope” (Emily Kennedy on why ethnographic work is about to get precious) 00:23:32
“Engaged journalism can actually help with the bottom line” (Emily Kennedy on the business case for empathy + deep reporting) 00:23:50
I’m curious—where do YOU see these lines blurring in your world? What’s at stake if we get this blend wrong...or right?
Jump in, tune up your thinking, and listen to the full episode here.
Want more? Keep up with Anthro Life and all our hijinks:
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Share your thoughts, favorite revelations, hot takes. And hey, if this got your brain buzzing, leave us a review—helps us bring more curious minds into the mix.
To stories that matter (and the people who dig for them),
Adam
Substack post
Ethnographic Impulses: Rethinking Journalism’s Reckoning
If you want to catch the future of journalism—or better yet, help invent it—look at the blurry places where disciplines collide and mutate. Here, the old keystones are quietly shifting. What counts as “objectivity” is openly on trial; platitudes about “community” feel hollow against the drumbeat of algorithmic churn and public distrust. And just as importantly, there’s an ancient toolset being dusted off and repurposed: ethnography.
The Estranged Twins: Journalism and Anthropology
Consider this: for decades, anthropology reckoned with its colonial past, grappling with how stories are told, who gets to speak, and whose voices are edited out. Fast forward to now—journalism is caught in a similar reckoning, confronting systemic racism, fierce critique over extractive reporting, and the collapse of norms that once felt immutable: neutrality, distance, authority.
But why the 30-year lag between when anthropologists started questioning their own discipline and when journalism began its own soul searching? Is institutional pride the culprit, a fear of diluting intellectual “purity” by cross-pollinating? Or did the gravity of crisis finally reach journalism, shaking it from insularity? What happens when two fields with mirrored crises finally look each other in the eye and say—maybe we aren’t so different after all?
Are you seeing echoes of this in your professional world? Where else do parallel reckonings simmer, unspoken?
What Exactly Are We Reckoning With?
Let’s not mince words: journalism’s “objective view from nowhere” is struggling. Everyone knows “neutrality” is porous, perhaps even a convenient myth. But rather than dismissing objectivity altogether, perhaps it’s time to ask smarter questions: What does it mean to be a reporter embedded in a community—not just reporting on but reporting with?
This is where anthropology’s invention of “positionality” lands with force. Who are you, the storyteller? What power dynamics shimmer, even—especially—when unspoken? How can you own your biases, your context, your unavoidable presence in the story? George Marcus’s “Writing Culture” cracked this open for anthropology in the ’80s; now, journalism is just starting to implement an analogous self-interrogation.
What would your professional world look like if positionality was the norm, not the exception? If your team mapped its own blindspots proactively? If “who tells the story” was always the first draft, never the footnote?
Engaged Journalism: Not Just Buzzwords
“Engagement” and “engaged” journalism—try parsing ten articles and not getting whiplash from the shifting definitions. Is it audience engagement (clicks, comments, subscriptions), or community engagement (genuine dialogue, being answerable to the people at the heart of the story)? Is it a marketing strategy, or a reimagining of what journalism can do—and who it’s for?
What if we stopped treating “the audience” like metrics on a dashboard, and instead saw them as co-producers of meaning? Is it time for newsrooms to admit that the lone-wolf reporter with an omniscient eye is a relic—and that real trust, and real relevance, can only be built through reciprocal engagement?
Here’s where ethnography’s potential sizzles. Deep listening, prolonged observation, co-creation of accounts. Methods pioneered in village squares and urban slums, now desperately needed in newsrooms and digital comment sections.
What if every reporter borrowed the ethnographer’s skeptical, attuned ear—the ability to sit with ambiguity, contradiction, and context?
Ethnography as a Pressure Test
There’s a heretical idea lurking: could it be that journalism’s most valuable innovations aren’t technical—or even journalistic—but anthropological? When the old models fracture, when audiences scatter and trust evaporates, what gives us a real map of “the ground” but ethnography’s slow, attentive practice? Noticing what’s not said, showing up long enough to see beneath the surface.
When fields are under pressure—AI changing the rules, economic models shattered, public trust in freefall—disciplines reach for ethnography as a sort of pressure-cooker technique. Not just for gathering “color,” but for understanding: what is actually happening here, for real people, in real time?
Have you seen the slow, stubborn methods of ethnography creep into your own work? Do the best insights bubble up not from clever frameworks but from giving things—relationships, settings, questions—time?
The AI Conundrum: What Machines Can’t Touch
Let’s look ahead. If news becomes machine-written, does “engaged journalism” lose its meaning? AI will never knock on a neighbor’s door or drink terrible coffee while waiting for the crux of a story to reveal itself. Can an engine simulate attentiveness, contextual nuance, trust earned through persistence?
What if, in the coming world of automated content, every article still written by a human journalist—someone who’s actually been there—becomes a rare and valuable thing? Scarcity breeds value, after all. How might newsrooms foreground and monetize this “human touch”? Will they?
Maybe, perversely, the value of ethnographic, on-the-ground journalism will spike precisely because machines cannot (yet) replicate what happens when humans deeply engage with others, with stakes and presence.
Economic Questions: Can “Care” Be Profitable?
It’s not just idealism. Early evidence suggests that news organizations engaging deeply with communities see more loyal audiences, more subscribers, better business outcomes. Is “care” actually a viable economic strategy?
How would your work change if success was measured not just in reach, but in reciprocal, ongoing relationships? What if your industry defined “value” as something built and sustained together, rather than delivered from on high?
Calls to Action: Tell Us Where This Goes
Where do you see ethnographic impulses cropping up outside traditional anthropology—especially in fields under stress?
If you work in journalism or media: How is the reckoning with representation, power, and bias unfolding around you? What would ethnographic ways of seeing add to your work?
For the skeptics and optimists alike: Can newsrooms (or your organization) genuinely “engage” authentically, or is this the latest buzzword treadmill?
What does “care” mean in your professional practice? Is it naive… or the future’s most undervalued resource?
Let’s connect the dots together. Where else do these surges of self-doubt, reinvention, and hopeful cross-pollination need to happen? Where is your industry’s reckoning overdue? Drop your thoughts in the comments, challenge my provocations, or share stories of the places you see hope—or friction.
Because if our institutions are being pressured to change, perhaps we must all become ethnographers now.
If this sparked ideas, share the post or recommend it to someone wrestling with similar questions. And if you haven’t yet, why not subscribe? There are more stories—and more reckonings—ahead.
first person blog episode reflection
Ethnography and Journalism: Rethinking How We Tell Stories Together
How cultures of inquiry shape newsrooms, communities, and the future of storytelling
Storytelling isn’t just a way to pass time or transmit information. The stories we tell — and who gets to tell them — inform the contours of our communities, the trust we cultivate, and the futures we can imagine. We live in an era saturated with narrative: podcasts, newsfeeds, TikToks, Substacks. But when the ways we make and share meaning feel in flux, what does it actually take to report on, represent, and remain accountable to our communities?
Recently, I had a fascinating conversation with Emily Kennedy, co-founder of the Center for Anthropology and Journalism, that brought these questions into sharp relief. As an anthropologist who spends time thinking about the ethics and mechanics of storytelling, the interplay between ethnography and journalism feels especially urgent. What can journalism learn from anthropology’s long and at times troubled dance with community-centered research? How are the norms of newsmaking shifting amidst reckonings over representation and power? And with AI looming over media and academia alike, does ethnography’s patient, immersive approach matter more than ever — or is it just slowing us down?
Three major topics emerged in our dialogue:
The “reckoning” moments that drive disciplines towards critical self-examination and change
The resurgence (and gaps) of ethnographic methods in engaged journalism
The implications of community engagement, technology, and why genuine participation remains stubbornly hard to define
Let’s take a closer look at what’s at stake for those of us interested in how knowledge is produced and shared.
Reckonings: When Disciplines Must Confront Themselves
There are moments in any field — journalism, anthropology, technology — when business as usual falters. When long-unquestioned assumptions about power, representation, and “objectivity” get called to account. These crucibles are rarely comfortable, but they’re absolutely necessary.
Emily Kennedy and I discuss how anthropology’s major self-examination began in the 1980s, fueled by critiques from Indigenous scholars and those outside the Western academic establishment. Foundational works like Writing Culture forced a reckoning with the discipline’s entanglements in colonialism, power, and the authority to represent others. Positionality ceased to be an afterthought — it became central to the craft.
Three decades later, journalism faces its own season of reckoning. The murder of George Floyd, ongoing racial injustices, and rampant misinformation shattered presuppositions about who gets to report, whose narratives are amplified, and how “objective” a journalist can truly be. Emily Kennedy points out that journalism, compelled by social upheaval, is now questioning the extractive and sometimes alienating practices of classic news reporting.
A curiosity that undergirds this entire discussion: Why did anthropology begin its reckoning thirty years before journalism, and what does it mean for a field to have a “head start” in wrestling with complicity, power, and reflexivity? Does this allow one discipline to act as a scaffold for the other? Or do the distinct rhythms of academia and the news industry ensure each must stumble through its own transformation?
Ethnography’s Slow Methods in Journalism’s Fast World
While the idea of “anthropologists as journalists” or vice versa might once have felt odd, today there’s a convergence in practice that’s hard to ignore. The term “engaged journalism” has gained traction, with newsrooms adopting more immersive, community-centered approaches. Yet as Emily Kennedy and I dug into the literature, a surprising gap became clear: Despite countless recommendations since the 1980s for journalists to borrow from ethnography, there’s no comprehensive synthesis or canon that journalists actually turn to.
What makes ethnography so beguiling — and so challenging — for journalism? At its core, ethnography privileges deep listening, participant observation, and acknowledging the researcher’s presence in the field. These practices unearth local logics and subtle forms of knowledge that mainstream reporting can easily overlook. They invite uncomfortable questions about extractiveness and reciprocity. Michael Agar once called ethnography a “pressure cooker” method, useful during moments of social turbulence when old playbooks break down and we need new ways to comprehend what’s happening on the ground.
Yet, journalism and anthropology are animated by different economies of time, labor, and expectation. Journalists often work under fierce deadlines and economic constraints; academics dwell in slower cycles of review and debate. Even as journalists reach for ethnographic techniques, are they simply appropriating its tools, or are they open to the radical reorientations around power and accountability that ethnography demands?
Another curiosity: When journalism integrates ethnography, does it risk diluting both fields’ disciplinary identities? Or could such cross-pollination generate more just and inclusive forms of storytelling, especially at a time when audiences yearn for substance and pattern recognition over superficial narratives?
Engagement, Technology, and the Elusive Promise of Participation
“Engaged journalism” sounds promising — but what does it actually mean in practice? Is it a buzzword, a business strategy, or a genuine repositioning of the journalist’s relationship to community?
Emily Kennedy notes that despite the theme of “engagement” dominating entire journal issues, there’s little consensus on its definition. Sometimes it denotes audience engagement (think post-publication comments or subscription metrics); other times, it’s about forging deeper, reciprocal partnerships with communities throughout the reporting process. The ambiguity matters, not least because the business models of news are in flux. Early research suggests that audiences are more apt to become loyal subscribers when they see themselves reflected in stories and have tangible relationships with reporters.
Against this web of definitions, the encroachment of AI presents a profound new challenge. AI can churn out copy, mimic tone, even produce plausible news stories. But it cannot embed in a community, conduct a searching interview, or reckon with how the very act of reporting reshapes what’s knowable. In an era of synthetic media, will the slow, in-person labor of ethnography become rare and thus newly valuable? Will newsrooms begin to tout their commitment to “AI-free” community reporting? Will editorial transparency or declarations of method take on renewed significance, marking stories rooted in real relationship-building as premium offerings?
Perhaps the most intriguing metapuzzle: As technological platforms scale participation and dialogue, could ethnographic thinking illuminate practices of care, nuance, and deep engagement that both journalism and tech urgently need?
Conclusion: The Future Is Co-Created
What’s clear is that neither anthropology nor journalism has solved the dilemmas of representation, power, or engagement. Both remain unfinished projects, with ongoing reckonings, blind spots, and opportunities for transformation. Yet as the boundaries between disciplines blur, and as communities grow more insistent about being partners rather than subjects in storytelling, new hybrid models are already emerging.
The promise of ethnographic reporting lies not in methods alone, but in a stance of humility: a readiness to pause, listen, and recalibrate our sense of what stories do, whom they serve, and how they’re made. Journalism, facing technological, economic, and social pressures, stands to gain not just tactical “tips” from anthropology, but deeper practices of reflexivity and repair.
I invite you to reflect: Where do you see moments of reckoning—personal, professional, or communal—prompting new forms of representation and care? What would you want from journalism, or researchers, to feel truly seen and included? And in your corner of the world, how might the principles of ethnography — deep listening, reciprocal engagement, and sustained relationship — inform the stories you participate in and share?
If these questions resonate, I encourage you to explore organizations working at the intersection of anthropology and journalism, and to stay tuned for conferences and initiatives that aim to deepen this important dialogue. The future of storytelling is not only about new technologies or business models, but about old and enduring questions of how we see one another — and how, together, we construct our shared realities.
👩💻 LinkedIn post
🚦 Exciting Update: Our research note, "Ethnographic Reporting Meets Engaged Journalism and Offers Untapped Resources," is now published in the special Engaged Journalism issue of Facts and Frictions! Collaborating with Emily Kennedy to explore how ethnographic methods and anthropology’s hard-earned lessons can advance engaged journalism has been both energizing and deeply relevant.
Why does this matter? Journalism is facing a “reckoning” — grappling with questions of representation, power, and community accountability, accelerated by events like the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Anthropology confronted similar questions beginning in the 1980s, giving the field a ~30-year head start in experimenting with ways of listening, contextualizing, and amplifying local voices.
3 Key Takeaways for Human-Centered Leaders and Builders:
Ethnography offers toolkits, not just theory: We’re seeing growing interest from journalists in ethnographic methods—deep listening, community immersion, and reflective storytelling—that can both critique and reinvent journalistic norms for greater trust and resonance.
Crises drive methodological innovation: Disciplines turn to ethnography under social and economic pressure—when old models break down and new models for working closely with communities become essential.
Business, not just ideals: Engaged journalism isn’t just good for communities; there’s emerging evidence that deeper audience engagement supports newsroom sustainability and revenue, transforming occasional readers into loyal stakeholders.
We’re committed to growing this conversation—join us at the upcoming Engaged Journalism Conference (stay tuned for links in the comments). Let’s reimagine journalism together, making care, context, and community central.
#ethnography #engagedjournalism #anthropology #community #mediainnovation
Viral engagement LinkedIn post with question
How can journalism and anthropology unlock new approaches to building trust and understanding in today’s fractured information landscape?
In our latest episode of This Anthro Life, Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy trace the surprising overlaps—and crucial differences—between ethnographic research and engaged journalism. Drawing on their collaborative research note for the journal Facts and Frictions, they unpack why more journalists are turning to community-oriented, ethnographic methods, and how anthropology’s decades-long reckoning with positionality, representation, and power is informing this shift.
Key takeaways:
Why the “ethnographic impulse” surges in times of social or industry upheaval 17:19
How both fields are rethinking extractive practices and striving for true community engagement 09:06
The business case for engaged journalism: connecting community engagement with audience growth and sustainable revenue 24:06
The urgent questions posed by AI for researchers, journalists, and communities alike 21:25
Whether you're a business leader, researcher, strategist, or journalist, if you’re navigating rapid culture change and questioning “best practices,” this conversation surfaces frameworks and questions you won’t hear anywhere else.
👇 How do you see the roles of ethnography or engaged journalism evolving in your work or field? Join the conversation—and check out the episode for actionable insights.
#Anthropology #Journalism #Ethnography #EngagedJournalism #CommunityBuilding #Podcast
Listen here: [link to the episode]
Linkedin - why this is important
Just finished listening to the latest conversation between Adam Gamwell and Emily Kennedy on "This Anthro Life," where ethnography meets engaged journalism. 🎙️
This discussion is a must for anyone navigating newsroom innovation, audience engagement, or the evolving role of storytelling in our professions. The parallels between anthropology’s reckoning with representation and journalism’s current challenges are striking. Both fields are facing urgent questions about accountability, community, and the future of trust. 🤝
Their insights remind us: We don’t have to start from scratch. There’s a trove of anthropological thinking that journalism (and other industries) can learn from — especially as we respond to shifts in technology, business models, and community expectations.
If you care about deeper connections, inclusive narratives, and building sustainable careers in storytelling or research, this conversation is essential listening. 🧭
Let’s keep pushing the boundaries, ask critical questions, and build communities that care!
#journalism #anthropology #engagedjournalism #ethnography #community #storytelling
YouTube Summary
Ethnography & Engaged Journalism: Changing How We Tell Stories | Behind the Scenes with Adam Gamwell & Emily Kennedy
{add video link}
What happens when the worlds of ethnography and engaged journalism collide? In this video, I dive deep with fellow anthropologist and journalist Emily Kennedy to unpack why these disciplines are more intertwined—and essential—than ever. This isn’t just a theoretical conversation; we reveal actionable insights on ethnographic reporting, audience engagement, and how journalism is evolving in real-time.
If you’re a business leader, human-centered strategist, or a curious researcher who’s tired of surface-level takes, you’ve found your people. We dissect how journalism is borrowing from ethnography, why this matters for community engagement, and what YOU can do to tell richer, more resonant stories—whether you’re in media, design, or any industry driven by culture change.
Spoiler: The conversation is packed with hands-on advice, and we even challenge usual thinking about AI, audience development, and the future of storytelling. If you crave substance over hype, you will leave this video buzzing with new frameworks you can use immediately.
🔥 What you’ll learn (with timestamps):
00:02:08 — Understanding how journalism is already using ethnographic methods (sometimes without knowing it!)
00:03:08 — How to recognize ethnographic impulses in newsrooms and community strategy
00:12:07 — Lessons from anthropology’s 30-year “reckoning” and what journalism can learn today
00:16:22 — Why journalism turns to ethnography under pressure and how you can leverage these tools in your own work
00:22:11 — The power of engaged journalism for audience growth, community-building, and even revenue!
00:25:18 — Decoding “engaged” vs. “engagement” journalism: How to cut through jargon and build real connections
00:28:38 — Opportunities to join the conversation: Workshops, conferences, and the future of ethnographic reporting
Ready to level up your storytelling & leadership?
Smash that LIKE button if you learned something new, subscribe for more conversations at the edge of anthropology, journalism, and human-centered strategy, and drop your thoughts or questions in the comments below—I read every one!
Resources & Links:
{link 1}
{link 2}
{link 3}
Connect with us:
Twitter: @AdamGamwell
Center for Anthropology & Journalism: Website
Facts & Frictions Journal: Read our research note
#Ethnography #EngagedJournalism #HumanCenteredDesign #Storytelling #FutureofNews
Whether you’re building corporate culture, designing products, or reporting for your local community, discover how ethnographic thinking can transform your approach—and boost the impact and revenue of your work. Tap in—you’ll never look at storytelling the same way again!
YT Keywords and hashtags
Focus Keyword:
Ethnography and Engaged Journalism
YouTube Title:
Ethnography and Engaged Journalism: How Anthropology Is Transforming Modern Reporting
Tags:
Ethnography and Engaged Journalism, anthropology, journalism, engaged journalism, ethnographic reporting, Adam Gamwell, Emily Kennedy, Facts and Frictions, community engagement, journalism methods, newsroom innovation, AI in journalism, journalism conferences, anthropological research, storytelling techniques, Center for Anthropology and Journalism
Hashtags:
#Ethnography #EngagedJournalism #Anthropology #Journalism #Storytelling #CommunityEngagement #AIinJournalism #Research #Podcast #ThisAnthroLife
Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this conversation about ethnography and engaged journalism, please like and subscribe to the channel. For more in-depth content, visit This Anthro Life website and check out the Anthrocurious Substack.
TAL Outro Mar 2024
As we wind down another exploration here on This Anthro Life, let’s take a moment to reflect on the rich conversation brought to us by Emily Kennedy. Today, we dove deep into the curious intersection where ethnography meets engaged journalism—a place where centuries-old anthropological methods are finding new resonance in newsrooms, and where reporters are stumbling into ethnographic territory without even realizing it.
Together with Emily Kennedy, we uncovered how these two disciplines, long separated by academic walls and professional boundaries, are converging out of necessity and opportunity. The reckoning in journalism—a demand for more community-grounded, reflective, and equitable reporting—mirrors anthropology’s own ongoing self-examination. And as we learned, the methods anthropology began refining decades ago could be just what journalism needs to navigate today’s crises of trust, technology, and representation.
So let’s give a huge thank you to Emily Kennedy for her insights, for tracing the threads of history, and for inviting us all to imagine the possibilities when these fields collaborate. I’m deeply grateful for her vision and her generosity in sharing it with us.
Now, I want to extend that reflection to you, our listeners. Think about the stories you trust—whether they’re news articles, podcasts, or even dinner table anecdotes. What makes you feel included, understood, or represented? Do you see echoes of ethnographic listening in the journalism you consume?
Here’s a question for you to ponder: In a world awash with information—and now, AI-generated content—how do you decide whose stories matter, and which voices deserve amplification? When was the last time you saw a piece of journalism that made you feel seen as part of a community, not just a consumer?
Thank you, as always, for tuning in, sharing your curiosity, and supporting This Anthro Life. If you’re feeling inspired to dig deeper, we recommend the book Reckoning: Journalism’s Limits and Possibilities by Candace Callison and Mary Lynn Young—an essential read for anyone interested in the future of storytelling, journalism, and social research. Or check out the open access journal Facts and Frictions for more on engaged journalism.
Don’t forget, you can continue the conversation with us over on the Anthrocurious Substack blog. Leave a comment, share your reflections, or suggest what and who you want us to explore next.
If this episode sparked a new perspective—or you know someone who’s wrestling with issues of media trust, community, or technology—share This Anthro Life with them. And if you haven’t yet, hit that subscribe button, so you won’t miss future episodes and anthro-adventures into the unseen patterns shaping our world.
Until next time, keep asking the deeper questions—and stay curious.
Episode SEO - keyphrase, URL, title tag, description tag
Focus Keyphrase:
Ethnography in Journalism
Suggested URL:
/ethnography-in-journalism-next-generation-news
SEO Title Tag:
Ethnography in Journalism: Why the Future of News Needs Deep Listening
SEO Description Tag:
Discover how ethnographic methods are reshaping engaged journalism and why understanding communities is vital for the next generation of impactful news.
🔖 Titles
How Ethnography Is Shaping the Future of Engaged Journalism
Bridging Anthropology and Journalism for More Human-Centered News
Why Journalism Needs Ethnographic Methods Now More Than Ever
The Ethnographic Edge in Reporting: A New Era for Newsrooms
Learning From Anthropology: Transforming Journalism Through Deep Engagement
Engaged Journalism and the Untapped Power of Ethnography
Rethinking News: How Ethnography Can Build Trust and Community
Closing the Gap Between Journalists and Communities With Ethnographic Approaches
The Next Generation of News: Insights From Anthropology and Ethnography
Building Better News by Listening: What Journalism Can Learn From Ethnographers
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