The Portrayal of New Media in The Simpsons through Kent Brockman’s Cases: A Solution or a Return to Traditional Journalism?
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26/11/2025 By Mária Stanková

The Portrayal of New Media in The Simpsons through Kent Brockman’s Cases: A Solution or a Return to Traditional Journalism?

Abstract 

This study examines the relationship between traditional and new media, using the character of Kent Brockman from The Simpsons as a case study. It investigates why new media are seen as potential solutions to the challenges facing traditional journalism, and whether they are suited to Kent Brockman’s situation. Methods used include semiotic and linguistic analysis, as well as text interpretation, to examine how traditional and new media, along with their respective problems and solutions, are portrayed. The results show that new media are depicted as remedies for issues such as low audience interest and irrelevance in traditional journalism. The advantages of new media — freedom, lack of censorship, large audiences, instant broadcasting and economic benefits — make them a promising alternative. In the episodes, new media help Kent Brockman regain his fame and relevance, enabling him to speak freely without censorship. Despite these benefits, Brockman repeatedly returns to traditional television. This suggests that, while new media offer potential for change, Brockman, as a figure of traditional journalism, prioritises his personal status and security over permanently adopting new media. In conclusion, new media present significant opportunities to address the problems of traditional journalism, but individual reluctance, as demonstrated by Brockman, can limit their transformative impact.

 

Key words 

Internet. Journalism. Kent Brockman. New Media. Podcasts. The Simpsons. Traditional Media. 

 

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Stanková, M. (2025). The Portrayal of New Media in The Simpsons through Kent Brockman’s Cases: A Solution or a Return to Traditional Journalism? European Journal of Media, Art & Photography, 13(2), 94-103. https://doi.org/10.34135/ejmap-25-02-05

The Portrayal of New Media in The Simpsons through Kent Brockman’s Cases: A Solution or a Return to Traditional Journalism? © 2025 by Mária Stanková is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

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