Competing loyalties: An analysis of multifaceted influence in non-Western journalism
One of the differences between journalism in the Global North and the Global South is the degree to which journalists are under pressure, and the type of pressure they experience. Journalists in the South generally report higher degrees of outside influence than journalists in the North, not only from the political sphere, but also from civil society, pressure groups, commercial actors as well as from the private sphere. The purpose of this contribution is, firstly, to statistically demonstrate the difference in perceived professional influence between journalists in the Global North and the Global South. This is achieved through a comparison of journalist constituencies in a group of ten Western countries versus a group of ten non-Western countries, using data from the Worlds of Journalism Study. Secondly, the contribution seeks to explain why the pressures are both more severely felt and more multifaceted in non-Western journalism than in Western journalism. One explanation is that in a society where professional structures are weak, the journalistic practice is more exposed to outside influences. But felt internal influences are also higher, calling for a broader explanation. I suggest using the framework of competing loyalties to better understand influences in non-Western journalism. The types of loyalties activated by the journalists range from allegiances to political actors, owners, civil society, ethnic groups, sources and colleagues, as well as to personal commitments.
Publisert i The 12th annual East African Communication Association conference (Kigali, Rwanda), 2023
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