Sex and Journalism: Beyond the ‘Dirty Dons’ and Randy Royals’ Syndrome
Edited by Sue Joseph and Richard Lance Keeble

Paradoxically, while sex is everywhere in the media the research into the coverage of sexuality by journalists hardly exists. A vast body of work considers gender issues (stereotyping, discrimination, the ‘male gaze’, male/female presence in media organisations, strategies for promoting equality etc). But the media’s handling of issues relating to sexuality (consensual intercourse; heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality; feelings about our bodies; sexual feelings, thoughts, fantasies, experiences; prostitution; rape; nudity) is almost totally ignored by the academy.

The text aims to be international in focus – and incorporate studies of both print (corporate and alternative; online and off-line) and broadcasting. Topics in this innovative and important text could include:

* Titillation and sleaze: The tabloid media’s handling of political sex scandals.

* The ethics of covering sex trafficking.

* How the media handles disability and sexuality.

* The activist media’s handling of lesbian/bisexuality issues in Muslim countries.

* Critical studies of the reporting of rape as an instrument of war; sex tourism in Asia; prostitution in Peru etc.

* Analysis of sex advice columns/explicit sex confessional blogs.

* Orwell’s essay on the sexy seaside postcards of Donald McGill.

* Angela Carter’s exploration of sexual issues in her journalism.

* Sex and humour in the media.

* Playboy and the myths of masculinity.

* Social media’s ‘sextalk’.

The text is likely to be published by Bite-Sized Books, London (https://www.bite-sizedbooks.com/). It publishes books (paperback and on Kindle) of around 24,000 words for just over £4. The idea is that their shortness means that they are actually read! So we are looking for tightly written, lively, original chapters. All articles will be rigorously peer-reviewed. Abstracts of 100 words should be sent to Richard Lance Keeble (rkeeble@lincoln.ac.uk) and Sue Joseph (sue.joseph@uts.edu.au) by 1 December 2018. Chapters, of 3,000 words (including references) will be required by 1 May – with publication later in-2019.