Towards a wider conceptualization of journalism professionalism for emerging democracies’
Are professional ideals weaker among journalists in a suppressed media context than in a liberal media context? This is the question that lies behind the current study, which is conducted among journalists working for the state media in Ethiopia.
On a commonsensical level, one could assume that professional ideals are less articulated in media societies characterized by strong government control and relatively few and weak independent media outlets. However, using the case of Ethiopia, this research argues that professional ideals are indeed strongly articulated among journalists in the state-controlled media outlets. The journalists have a clear sense of what it means to be a professional reporter and how a professional media organization should be run. They adhere to recognized journalistic values, which includes support for professional autonomy; objectivity in reporting; public service; journalistic immediacy; and agreed professional ethics. The watchdog metaphor is found to be somewhat less prevalent among the state media journalists, but the journalists still argue that it is the media’s role to monitor and investigate public authorities. Furthermore, the public service ideal is found to encompass a commitment to nation-building as well. Overall, the journalists support recognized professional values on the normative level while experiencing difficulties in executing these standards in actual practice.
International reports are nevertheless prone to claim that professional standards are deficient in transitional societies. The current research responds to this by emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between professional ideals and professional practice.
On a commonsensical level, one could assume that professional ideals are less articulated in media societies characterized by strong government control and relatively few and weak independent media outlets. However, using the case of Ethiopia, this research argues that professional ideals are indeed strongly articulated among journalists in the state-controlled media outlets. The journalists have a clear sense of what it means to be a professional reporter and how a professional media organization should be run. They adhere to recognized journalistic values, which includes support for professional autonomy; objectivity in reporting; public service; journalistic immediacy; and agreed professional ethics. The watchdog metaphor is found to be somewhat less prevalent among the state media journalists, but the journalists still argue that it is the media’s role to monitor and investigate public authorities. Furthermore, the public service ideal is found to encompass a commitment to nation-building as well. Overall, the journalists support recognized professional values on the normative level while experiencing difficulties in executing these standards in actual practice.
International reports are nevertheless prone to claim that professional standards are deficient in transitional societies. The current research responds to this by emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between professional ideals and professional practice.
Publisert i Paper presented at the 21st Nordic Media and Communication Research Conference (NordMedia), Oslo, Norway, 2013
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