What does this research mean for the field?

Debates on diversity in German journalism are deeply rooted in historical struggles for epistemic justice, as evidenced by the practices of early non-White journalists who actively challenged colonial silences in media knowledge production. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how social inequalities and colonial silences in journalistic knowledge production were historically challenged from the 1960s to the 1980s.

August 27, 2026Journalism & Mass Communication QuarterlyOpen Access

Contradicting Epistemic Inequalities: The Case of the Journalist Navina Sundaram

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Authors

CHChristina Haritos MLMargreth Lünenborg

Discussion

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Overview

Qualitative historical analysis uncovers strategies challenging colonial silences in German journalism, indicating modern diversity debates stem from historical struggles for epistemic justice.

Key Points

To examine how social inequalities and colonial silences in journalistic knowledge production were historically challenged from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Archival analysis of personal documents and work files from Navina Sundaram, an early non-White journalist on West German television.
Application of postcolonial theory to examine editorial practices, international networks, and institutional belonging.
Identified three primary practices used to challenge standard journalistic epistemology: contesting editorial visibility, utilizing international networks, and resisting the denial of belonging.
Demonstrated that contemporary media diversity initiatives are directly tied to historical struggles for epistemic justice in German broadcasting.

Cite This Study

Haritos et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe9da10c91c1e92621cf1 https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990261471550

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August 27, 2026Journalism & Mass Communication QuarterlyOpen Access

Contradicting Epistemic Inequalities: The Case of the Journalist Navina Sundaram

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

CHChristina Haritos MLMargreth Lünenborg

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Qualitative historical analysis uncovers strategies challenging colonial silences in German journalism, indicating modern diversity debates stem from historical struggles for epistemic justice.

Key Points

To examine how social inequalities and colonial silences in journalistic knowledge production were historically challenged from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Archival analysis of personal documents and work files from Navina Sundaram, an early non-White journalist on West German television.
Application of postcolonial theory to examine editorial practices, international networks, and institutional belonging.
Identified three primary practices used to challenge standard journalistic epistemology: contesting editorial visibility, utilizing international networks, and resisting the denial of belonging.
Demonstrated that contemporary media diversity initiatives are directly tied to historical struggles for epistemic justice in German broadcasting.

Cite This Study

Haritos et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe9da10c91c1e92621cf1 https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990261471550

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark