The "intimization" of journalism and documentary storytelling
Description
Documentary as a Genre – in Text, TV and Podcasts – has become a central focus for media organizations, partly influenced by streaming services. Both traditional press and broadcast media are investing in documentaries, either as investigative journalism or as a close relative to the reality genre. One of the most notable characteristics of recent TV documentaries in Norway (and beyond) is their production in a serialized format, often fronted by a well-known figure—frequently a celebrity affiliated with the media company itself —who shares personal stories. This trend has been referred to as the "intimization" of journalism and documentary storytelling. What does this mean for the evolution of the genre, and how are documentary series being used as part of media companies’ marketing strategies and their efforts to strengthen audience engagement?
Turid Borgen, associate professor in journalism and documentary at the University of Stavanger (UiS) in Norway. Turid defended her Ph.D. at JMK and is now on a guest stay at JMK – after several years as vice-dean and dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences at UiS. She has also previously worked as journalist and editor at NRK. Her research interests range from the development of the editor’s role to the evolution of contemporary documentaries and the role of the documentarian.
