fenomenning

Fenomenning is a term used in media and cultural studies to describe the process by which events, trends, objects, or ideas are interpreted, curated, and circulated in public discourse. The concept focuses on how meaning is produced through journalist selection, expert commentary, and audience participation, transforming raw occurrences into recognizable narratives or social performances that influence collective understanding.

Origin and usage: The term draws on the word fenomen (phenomenon) and the nominalizing suffix -ning, and has appeared in European media studies since the 2010s. It is used to analyze not only traditional reporting but also online platforms, where memes, comments, and recommendation algorithms participate in shaping what counts as a phenomenon.

Key mechanisms include selection and framing by media actors, algorithmic amplification on platforms, participatory meaning-making by audiences, and the performative dimension in which individuals enact and publicize phenomena. The process often results in cross-boundary diffusion, where local events become global signals.

Researchers employ fenomenning to examine crisis communication, political discourse, consumer trends, and rumor dynamics. Examples include the viral spread of a protest movement symbol, a health trend that is marketed as lifestyle, or a scientific finding that becomes a media meme.

Critics argue that fenomenning can obscure material conditions behind narratives, overemphasize virality at the expense of impact, or reflect normative judgments about what is worthy of attention. Some scholars caution about essentializing digital culture and neglecting marginalized voices in the diffusion process.

See also: memes, virality, framing, agenda-setting.