Metajournalistic Discourse and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia

This chapter presents an analysis of metajournalistic discourse surrounding coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. ‘Metajournalistic discourse’ refers to statements that provide articulations of the meaning and role of journalism which, alongside other factors, influence both its production and reception. Drawing on the work of scholars who have approached COVID-19 as a ‘critical incident’ for journalism, the chapter examines examples of journalists and media commentators reflecting on and appraising the quality of journalism during the pandemic. Through this analysis, it identifies three broad ways in which metajournalistic discourse is deployed: (1) as a process of discursive reproduction wherein metajournalistic discourse reiterates contrasting and contesting models of journalism; (2) as a process of contestation, in which the field reflects on its values and practices in the face of both an immediate situation and wider currents of change; and (3) as a process of adaptation, which involves journalists reflecting on how to navigate novel challenges. In illustrating their arguments, the authors discuss key issues and controversies for journalism during the pandemic, including alarmism, objectivity, politicisation, misinformation and the public ‘performance’ of journalism at livestreamed press conferences.