News media and the emotional public sphere. Introduction

This introduction provides the conceptual and theoretical context that informs a multidisciplinary approach to the relationships between news media and emotions and their influence on the dynamics of the public sphere. It also highlights the importance of the emotional dimension of the public sphere to understand why rationalistic perspectives on both the media and the public sphere do not suffice to capture the complexities of social and political life in contemporary democracies. This Special Section of the International Journal of Communication presents theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and empirical research that contribute to our understanding of the relationships and mutual implications of news media, emotions, and the public spher