Abstract
This research aims to reveal recent trends of journalism studies in Japan
Society for Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication, the Society in what
follows. I analyzed individual and collaborative presentations made during the
Society’s workshops, which take place twice a year in spring and fall, in addition
to peer-reviewed papers in the academic journal Mass Communication
Studies, which is published about twice a year. This investigation covers the
last 16 years from 2000 to 2015.
The analysis of the 394 presentations showed that:
① Eighty-four of them（ or 21％） are“ reporting/journalism related.”
② Graduate students made about two thirds （64％） of the “reporting/journalism
related” presentations.
③ Twenty-nine presentations focus on “newspapers,” allowing them to have a
central position among the 4 major mass media.
The analysis of the 195 papers revealed that:
① Twenty-seven of them（ or 14％） are“ reporting/journalism related.”
② Graduate students wrote half of all papers.
③ Forty-four percent of all papers focus only on newspapers; 11％ only on tele
vision; and 7％ both on newspapers and television.
④ Half of all papers were written based on “examinations” of “reported content.”
