The Character in Journalism: Reconciling Narratology and Ethics

Abstract

Abstract: The concept of character, traditionally discussed with reference to the literary analysis of fictional texts, may also serve as a useful analytic tool in the context of nonfictional writing, such as the narratives of history or journalism. The relevance of introducing the notion of character into critical analyses of journalistic texts is intensified in the present by the growing personalization both of political and social life and of media discourses. This article relies on contributions from the field of literary theory and media studies to map out the conditions and the implications of the construction of characters in journalistic practice.