Journalism research methodologies: a historical review and prospects for the production of guidance manuals

Abstract

As a scientific area Journalism has been beset with the scarcity of specialized manuals for guidance regarding methodologies and procedures adopted in research practices.  During more than a century only one book of this type was published in English.  At the beginning of this millennium with the growing institutionalization of Journalism as an area for studies, we have identified the  appearance of new reference works for Journalism research. In this article we will first present an evaluation of these manuals  (from the pioneering ones up to the most recent ones) from the viewpoint of structure, content, types and methodologies discussed.  Secondly, we intend to indicate aspects which we consider to be relevant for the legitimatizing of the more systematic production of guidance manuals for scientific practice and for the consolidation of Journalism research.