The End of Ombudsmen? 21st-Century Journalism and Reader Representatives

Abstract

In May 2017, the New York Times announced it would eliminate its public editor position, something a number of news organizations have done recently. Using the theory of metajournalistic discourse and textual analysis as a methodology, this study examines how actors within or on the boundaries of journalism reacted to the news and defined the ombudsman position. The data illustrated that today’s public editor should be a watchdog, perform public relations functions, be a conduit between readers and a newsroom, and build trust with readership. Finally, the author then argues the merit of the position in today’s journalism industry.