Fictional Representations of (Un)ethical Journalistic Practices in Graham Greene’s Work: Burnt-Out Reporters

British author Graham Greene pursued a professional career as a journalist before becoming a full-time writer. After that, he continued taking on reporting assignments as a correspondent for a variety of publications. Greene knew the profession inside out, and the role of the media in shaping the public’s views through information gathering and dissemination―a topic insufficiently researched by criticism―was among his main concerns. Greene’s fictional work features an array of journalists, and the representation of (un)ethical practices of the profession is a constant reference in his narrative. In this book, I intend to fill this research gap in Greenean studies, focusing on three main topics: the author’s reflection on the journalistic practice in connection with the classic paradigm of objectivity versus empathy; his questioning of the misuse of power when gathering and disseminating information by journalists, editors and news corporation owners; and finally, the relationship between journalists and their readership’s expectations, as well as the importance of fostering critical readers that make informed trustworthy decisions regarding journalism performance.

Beatriz Valverde holds a doctorate in English Philology from Universidad de Jaén. She also holds an MA in Spanish from Loyola University Chicago. Currently, she is Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology at Universidad de Jaén. Her main research interests are Theology and Literature, specifically in the work of Graham Greene; Journalism and Literature; and Literature and Cultural Studies in English and Spanish. On these topics, she has published extensively in international journals, such as Anglia, English Studies, European Journal of English Studies, and Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, among others. In 2020, she co-edited with Dr. Mark Bosco Reading Flannery O’Connor in Spain: Andalusia in Andalucía.