Your vibe – new standard or hype? Journalistic credibility in the digital public sphere
By Katja Schupp and Mirco Liefke | This essay analyses the shift in how journalists construct and present credibility in the context of social media. It begins with the observation that journalistic authenticity is increasingly shifting away from institutionally underpinned credibility towards personalised, emotionally driven forms, described in platform jargon as ›vibe‹. The essay situates this development within a media-historical continuum stretching from the printing press through traditional mass media to digital platforms. It demonstrates that with every media innovation, the criteria of credibility and the public sphere also change. Whilst traditional mass media rely on objectivity, standardisation and institutional legitimacy, personal presence, emotional resonance and algorithmically amplified visibility are gaining importance within the digital platform environment. The essay views this shift not as a rupture, but as an expression of the ongoing singularization of the public sphere in general and the mediated public sphere in particular. The interplay between platform logics and cultural change is giving rise to a form of journalism that relies more heavily on individuality and performative authenticity. Finally, it is argued that journalistic credibility must be renegotiated under these conditions, presenting an opportunity to intertwine institutional and personal forms.