A groundbreaking global exploration of how emotions shape journalism
Edited by María T. Soto-Sanfiel and Virpi Salojärvi
This volume:
- Presents cutting-edge research that integrates communication studies, sociology, psychology, neuroscience, and media theory
- Situates emotion as an essential aspect of journalism’s epistemology, examining its role in both individual and collective experience
- Highlights under-researched perspectives from Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and other regions worldwide
The Handbook of Journalism and Emotions: Theory, Production, Content and Responses redefines how we understand journalism in today’s emotionally charged world, bringing together 60 leading scholars from across five continents to investigate how emotion shapes journalism theory, production practices, content, and audience engagement.
Organized into four thematic sections—Theory, Production, Content, and Responses—the Handbook covers topics ranging from emotional labor and trauma in reporting to audience reactions and emotional authority in visual storytelling. Drawing from sociology, psychology, communication, linguistics, and neuroscience, in-depth chapters highlight how emotional forces interact with journalistic values, ethics, and norms. Throughout the book, in-depth chapters respond to the growing scholarly and professional recognition of the “emotional turn” in media studies, filling a critical gap in media and communication scholarship.
Ideal for scholars, students, and professionals, the Handbook of Journalism and Emotions: Theory, Production, Content and Responses is a core reference for courses in journalism, communication, media and cultural studies, and emotion research. It is also a key resource for journalists, editors, media educators, and policymakers seeking to understand and teach the emotional complexities of modern journalism.
María T. Soto-Sanfiel, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore and former faculty at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
Virpi Salojärvi, Assistant Professor in Digital Media at the University of Vaasa and Researcher at the University of Helsinki's HEPP Hub. She is Chair of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Crisis, Security and Conflict Communication Working Group.
The above text is from the publisher's description of the book.
Title: The Handbook of Journalism and Emotion
Editors: María T. Soto-Sanfiel and Virpi Salojärvi
Published: 2026
Pages: 528