The Future of Design + Journalism: A Manifesto for Bridging Digital Journalism and Design

Abstract

In this introduction to the special issue Design + Journalism, we present a manifesto about the future of design and journalism. This manifesto discusses the key areas that need attention in order to develop a more robust bridge between design and journalism. The manifesto is structured by the following three notions: (1) Recognizing design contributions in the field; (2) Integrating design into digital journalism studies through cultural shift; and (3) Widening the scope of the journalism design industry-academia interface. First, we argue that design artifacts, requirements, methods, and implications ought to be recognized as scholarly contributions in digital journalism studies. Second, we need a profound cultural shift in digital journalism studies, which entails conceptualizing design as a cultural practice, understanding design as a continuous process of shaping, and updating pedagogical approaches. Third, we argue that transversal integration between academia and industry should be more heterogeneous in terms of geopolitics, cultural norms, and values. A varied set of industries should be engaged beyond North America and Western Europe. We argue that integrating these three aspects in digital journalism studies will strengthen the understanding of design as an integral part of journalism and digital journalism studies.

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