New Chapter in The Routledge Handbook of Lifestyle Journalism Explores the Humanistic Turn in Health and Wellness Reporting - Department of Communication

Chair Avery Holton, a man slightly smiling with a dark blue collared shirt, and Aly Hill, a woman with brown hair and brown eyes smiling at the camera. We are proud to announce that Chair Avery Holton and Graduate Student Aly Hill, in collaboration with Mariah Wellman, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, have authored a chapter in the highly anticipated Routledge Handbook of Lifestyle Journalism, set for release on June 10. Their contribution, titled "How to Be Human: Turns in Health, Lifestyle, and Wellness Journalism," offers a timely and compelling examination of how journalists today are navigating the shifting boundaries of truth, objectivity, and personal storytelling.

This chapter anchors itself in the evolving media landscape where hard news journalists are increasingly being questioned on their authority and accuracy, while soft news journalists covering lifestyle and wellness are surging in influence—responding to strong audience demand with content that often blurs the lines between information and emotion, fact and feeling.

Holton, Hill, and Wellman trace the historical development of health journalism and juxtapose it with the rise of wellness influencers and non-traditional actors who are reshaping how the public consumes and understands health information. From the complexities of genetic testing to the communications chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapter dives deep into how journalists and audiences alike are renegotiating what it means to report on and engage with health in an era saturated by counter-information, misinformation, and calls of bias.

The Routledge Handbook of Lifestyle Journalism is the first of its kind—bringing together 30 chapters from leading scholars in journalism, communication, and media studies. It explores definitions of lifestyle journalism, current trends, consumer culture dynamics, and the interaction of lifestyle journalism with identity, emotion, politics, and society. It also looks ahead, charting future directions for scholarship and practice in this dynamic field.

We invite you to explore this groundbreaking publication and read Holton, Hill, and Wellman’s important chapter. The textbook will be available in hard copy and eBook formats starting June 10. Pre-order or learn more here: Routledge Handbook of Lifestyle Journalism