ABSTRACT

This book offers an analysis of journalists’ professional views against a variety of political, economic, social, cultural, and linguistic contexts.

Based on data gathered for the Worlds of Journalism Study, which conducted surveys with more than 27,000 journalists in 67 countries, the authors explore aspects such as linguistic and religious influences on journalists’ identities, journalists’ views of development journalism, epistemic issues, as well as the relationship between journalism and democracy. Further, the book provides a history of the evolution of the Worlds of Journalism Study, as well as the challenges of conducting such comparative work across a wide range of contexts. A critical review by renowned comparative studies scholar Jay Blumler offers food for thought for future endeavours.

This unprecedented collaborative effort will be essential reading for scholars and students of journalism who are interested in comparative approaches to journalism studies and who want to explore the wide variety of journalism cultures that exist around the globe.

It was originally published as a special issue of Journalism Studies.

chapter |11 pages

Introduction: Comparing Journalistic Cultures Across Nations

What we can learn from the Worlds of Journalism Study

chapter |19 pages

Quelle Différence?

Language, culture and nationality as influences on francophone journalists’ identity

chapter |20 pages

Journalism and the Islamic Worldview

Journalistic roles in Muslim-majority countries

chapter |19 pages

A Welfare State of Mind?

Nordic journalists’ conception of their role and autonomy in international context

chapter |15 pages

New Roles for Media in the Western Balkans

A study of transitional journalism

chapter |15 pages

In Media We Trust

Journalists and institutional trust perceptions in post-authoritarian and post-totalitarian countries

chapter |21 pages

Expanding Influences Research to Insecure Democracies

How violence, public insecurity, economic inequality and uneven democratic performance shape journalists’ perceived work environments

chapter |16 pages

News Cultures or “Epistemic Cultures”?

Theoretical considerations and empirical data from 62 countries