Acknowledgements

This volume is the culmination of research I conducted within the argumentation in newsmaking project. Since 2014, the members of the project and I have been publishing various theoretical reflections and data analysis of newsroom discourse from the viewpoint of argumentation theory, which marked a significant step forward in the investigation of newsmaking (e.g., Burger & Delaloye, 2016; Rocci & Luciani, 2016; Zampa, 2014, 2015b, 2016; Zampa & Perrin, 2016). In particular, my doctoral dissertation “News values as endoxa of newsmaking. An investigation of argumentative practices in the newsroom” (Zampa, 2015a) Università della Svizzera italiana, constitutes a first systematic and all-encompassing investigation of the newsroom as an argumentative interaction field. This book is much indebted to my previous work, as it constitutes a further elaboration of the matters discussed there.

My sincere gratitude goes to all people who – directly and indirectly – contributed to the research behind this book and to my scientific growth – especially at the Institute of Argumentation, Linguistics and Semiotics of Università della Svizzera italiana, at the School of Applied Linguistics of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and within the graduate program “Argupolis II”. I would like to give particular thanks to Mark Aakhus, Laura Delaloye Saillen, Sara Greco, Jérôme Jacquin, Jens Kjeldsen, Nanon Labrie, Marcin Lewiński, Gilles Merminod, Dima Mohammed, Steve Oswald, Rudi Palmieri, Chiara Pollaroli, Eddo Rigotti, Jacky Visser, Renske Wierda and above all my PhD supervisors, Andrea Rocci and Daniel Perrin.

Thanks to the staff of Tagesschau, 10vor10, Téléjournal and Corriere del Ticino, who welcomed us researchers in their newsrooms, thus making it possible to bring knowledge of newsmaking another step forward.

Thanks to the editors of the “Argumentation in Context” book series, Frans van Eemeren and Bart Garssen, to the staff of John Benjamins and to the anonymous reviewers, whose insightful comments have helped improve the manuscript. All the more, thanks to my proof-reader and friend, Michael “Bommer” Baumtrog, for his precious aid and advice.

Thanks to the wonderful people I met during these years in Lugano and Zurich and to my old friends who stood by my side at all stages of the process. Most of all, thanks to Elena, Irina, Josephine and Gabriele for their constant presence and unshakable support.

Finally, from the bottom of my heart, thanks to my parents, Giuliana and Agostino, and to my sister Anna: they are the backbone of all my professional achievements. Even more, thanks to Marina, meine Wahlverwandte.