Journalism’s ethical mission in a crisis of cultural ethos. Proposing a 10-paradigm shift in the pre-political foundations of journalism practice

Abstract

Following the Kuhnian theory of scientific development, this essay proposes a 10-paradigm shift regarding the pre-political foundations of journalism practice to address the crisis of cultural ethos in Western liberal democracy societies. It aims to reshape some of the current paradigms that are at the root of the ethical limitations of journalism in Western institutions. To do so, this essay explores the insights of some twentieth-century scholars who, by closely targeting specific failings of liberalism, offer a novel theoretical approach that broadens the meanings of basic pre-political concepts. Their insights offer elements that allow reshaping some 21st-century social assumptions –paradigms– rooted in the current form of the liberal West’s society that sustain contemporary social norms and practitioners’ performance. A full account of each paradigm shift is beyond the scope of this article. Rather, the goal is to sketch a disruptive theoretical starting-point to address journalism’s ethical mission in a new social context and enhance practitioner reflexivity. Finally, I refer to the New Renaissance Project as the initiative to strengthen the ethical foundation of the pre-political paradigms that drive Western democratic institutions, including journalism, at the beginning of a new era.