Transparency and Journalism

Michael Karlsson is professor in media and communication at Karlstad University, Sweden. His research interest lies primarily within digital journalism and his work has been widely published in journals such as Digital Journalism, Journalism Studies, Journalism, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, and Communication Theory.

"Michael Karlsson is one of the preemi-nent scholars on transparency in journalism... [his] book, written in a re-freshing, self-reflective tone, offers vital insights for both researchers and journal-ism practitioners" - Michael Koliska Assistant Professor  Communication, Culture and  Technology  Georgetown University  Washington, DC, USA

• Preface and Acknowledgements1 Transparency and its Connection to Journalism1.1 Transparency: Essence, Purpose, and How it Made its Way into Journalism1.2 The Fragile Theoretical and Empirical Foundation of Transparency in Journalism1.3 Transparency as Ritual in Journalistic Practice1.4 Theoretical Points of Departure Influencing the Book1.5 The Imagined Audience, Structure, and Content of the Book2 Journalistic Transparency in History and Context2.1 The Emergence and Solidification of Transparency2.2 The Philosophical Roots of Transparency in Liberal Democratic Theory2.3 Comparing the Transparency Dimension in Governmental and Journalistic Institutions2.4 The Implicit Theory of Transparency2.5 The Performative Transparency Model2.6 Black Box and Glass Box2.7 Summary3 Can You See the Sunlight? Transparency at Work3.1 Can You See the Sunlight?3.2 Journalistic Actors3.3 Content: Stage, Aesthetics, and Delivery3.4 The Public3.5 … And transparency for all?3.6 Transparency in Practice: Not Much Sunlight Thus Far4 Algorithmic Forms of Transparency and Opacity4.1 The Increasing Role of Algorithms in Journalism4.2 Russian Dolls: Black Boxes Inside Other Black Boxes, Inside…4.3 Unpacking the Role of Algorithms in Transparent Journalistic Performance4.4 Computer Says No5 The Limits of the Transparency Myth5.1 Inevitable Cost/Benefit Trade-Offs5.2 The Need for Professional Discretion and the Ever-Present Curtain and Backstage5.3 Transparency as the Opposite of Trust5.4 Transparency is not Openness5.5 A Successful Flop: How Transparency was Adopted Despite a Lack of Evidence5.6 What is Left of Transparency?6 Transparency After All?6.1 Three Waves of Transparency in Journalism6.2 Transparency Pathways6.3 Targeted Transparency6.4 Suggestions for a Future Research Agenda6.5 Not so Disruptive After All