Bridging Worlds

Abstract

Abstract This chapter discusses the field position of journalists at transnational organizations. They have permission and, in some cases, a mandate to play by different news production rules than their counterparts working for local organizations, meaning they play by heterodox rather than orthodox rules. This chapter argues that the differences are best explained by the unique field position these organizations and, thus, their employees hold as bridging agents between local and global journalism fields. In Rwanda, the local and global journalism fields intertwine most clearly in the spaces represented by transnational news organizations. As a result, reporters working in these spaces have unique opportunities and challenges. While they do not bypass local journalism norms entirely, they also face the pressure and responsibility of producing work that meets the expectations of a global journalism field, which are in many ways quite different from those of the local scene.