What’s it all mean? Examining metajournalistic discourse concerning big data

Abstract

Utilizing social construction as a foundation, this study examines discourse surrounding big data. By analysing metajournalism published from 2000 to 2017 by nineteen trade presses (N=379), it attempts to ascertain how the industry defines the term, the tone surrounding it and the practices associated with it. It finds that a non-lexical definition of big data does not exist within the industry; discourse is binary and wildly optimistic or pessimistic; and big data journalism will significantly affect journalistic practices.