Introduction to the Special Feature

Status of the Methodologies Used in Studies on Media and Journalism

Abstract

　The feature in this volume entitled“ Current Qualitative Methods for Media

and Journalism Studies” comprises four papers. This article explains the aims of

these papers.

　　This feature was written in response to a growing sense of crisis concerning

the current state of Mass Communication Studies. One example of the concerns

that exist is that high-definition natural language processing may eventually

undermine the validity of mass-based methods.

　　In light of this, all of the researchers in this field were required to reinvestigate

ways of developing up-to-date methodologies that are inseparably

linked to resolving each existing methodology’s problems.

　　To this end, the editorial board asked each author to include in the paper

his/her research history and current methodological proposition so that readers

can understand the process by which the author developed the methodology.