Hidden, Yet Pervasive: Social Inequality in Journalism (Research)

Social inequality is a defining feature of contemporary societies and a major driver of political polarization. In deeply mediatized contexts, journalism occupies a pivotal position: It shapes discourses on inequality while simultaneously being structured by unequal distributions of resources, power, and recognition. In this conceptual essay, we propose a taxonomy based on four inequality arenas— top-bottom , us-them , inside-outside , and today-tomorrow inequalities. These arenas intersect with three areas of study—inequality mediated by journalism, within journalism, and in journalism research. In so doing, we offer an analytical roadmap that highlights central tensions, persistent shortcomings, and potential future research priorities in the field.