IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007 1

Political and economic factors shaping European journalistic cultures & practices

Jacques GUYOT, Université Paris 8 Vincennes

CEMTI EA 3388

Centre d’étude sur les médias, les technologies & l’internationalisation

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Two key questions related to economic and political factors

1. The influence of the structures of ownership and market forces.

2. The way journalists deal with controversial or sensitive issues.

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Political and economic factors shaping European journalistic cultures & practices

1. Research literature on economic factors

2. What journalists say about the economic factorsa) The influence of structures of ownership and market forces

b) Journalists’ working conditons

c) Dealing with controversial issues

3. ConclusionsBased on review of research literature and interviews with 76 media profesionals in 9 European countries (Britain, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain)

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1- Research literature on economic factors

Few studies in an economic perspective due to : Lack of interest from academic circles for economic organization of media. Focus on relationships between media professionals and political authorities

within national media landscapes shaped the prevalence of state-owned or PSB media.

Clear cut distinction between former communists countries and european democracies :

Quick shift towards privatization in a context of democratic transition: from propaganda to information

Slower process : end of monopolies, deregulation policies, privatization and creation of new channels, concentration. from information to infotainment

Main trends in recent investigations : Intense competition Decline of PSB Increasing role of advertisers and economic actors Concentration

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2- What Journalists say about the economic factorsa) The influence of structures of ownership and market forces

Structures of ownership : Reluctance to acknowledge influence.The others are concernedParticularly in the case of private-owned mediaThe importance of middle managers, i.e. executives appointed by owners.

Market forces :Strong impact, particularly in audiovisual sector.Special attention now paid to audience rating, including in public and independent media.Important role of advertisers (financing, agendas and formats).The shift towards entertainment and style-life oriented news and tabloïd formats.Bias in study : most interviewees are senior editors or journalists occupying steady positions with high wages. They admit it is easier for them to resist pressures

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2- What Journalists say about the economic factorsb) Journalists’ working conditions.

Competition leading to empoverishment of media Reduction of advertising revenues. The price of information : foreign correspondents and news desks VS

private TV, Internet and free papers. Proletarianization of journalists.

Short-term contracts.Trainees occupying regular jobs. Young inexperienced freelance journalists working for different media. Lower incomes.

Tension between two visions to protect editorial independence. Demand for more regulation and legal framework. Demand for more professional standards (the young generation and new

forms of journalism). A lonely and individualistic journalist.

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2- What Journalists say about the economic factorsc) Dealing with controversial issues

Variety of controversial issues. National topics : violence during football matches, urban unrest, bombing. International issues : referendum on EU Constitution, terrorism, war in Iraq Business matters linked to conflicts of interests with advertisers,

shareholders or owners. Coverage of society gossiping or trivial events on ordinary people.

Most issues are controversial. The rules and professional codes, best way to deal with sensitive topics. Professional codes of ethics : a pious hope

Interactions of factors. Ideological pressures. Conflict of interests with advertisers, shareholders or owners. The journalistic elite. Journalistic ethical standards related to the use of images : war and privacy.

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Conclusions

New forms of censorship : Mixture of political intervention and economic pressures Self-censorship from journalists who interiorized economic and

market constraints How to defend editorial independence and media pluralism.

The journalistic culture facing media concentration : Short-term multi-media contracts VS new forms of journalism Need for regulation and professional training. Collective responsibility VS individualistic approach. A crisis of identity. What does it mean to be a journalist when there is

less collective culture in terms of carreer prospects and professional ethics ?