Bourdieu and the journalistic field

[John E Richardson]

Dear all,

I seem to remember a discussion on the subject of social theory, the
habitus & 'the media' recently. Some of you may therefore find this book
interesting:
Benson, R. & Neveu, E. (2005) Bourdieu and the journalistic field.
Polity Press: Cambridge (UK) & Malden, MA (USA)

I only bought it today, but on first glance it looks very good. An
excerpt from the introduction, for example, explains the concept of the
habitus in an immensely straight forward way that I have not seen
before. Quoting Bourdieu: "Habitus is a socialised subjectivity." Going
on, they state "the notion of the habitus expresses a reasonable
hypothesis: that individuals' predispositions, assumptions, judgments
and behaviors are the result of a long-term process of socialisation,
most importantly in the family, and secondarily, via primary, secondary
and professional education. Habitus is not unchangable. In fact, it is
constantly being modified. Nevertheless, early experiences and
practices, shaped by one's location in the social class structure, shape
those that follow" (p.3)

They then go on to explain economic and cultural capital, their
relations to habitus and the position of 'the journalistic field' in all
this (not least the way that journalistic discourse affects the
assumptions, judgments and behaviors of the general public). As I said,
it looks like a good collection & one that seems to draw on the range of
concepts that the list has been discussing over the past few weeks
(perhaps with the exception of doctor-patient discourse...)

best
John

John E Richardson
Dept of Journalism Studies
Sheffield University