Political and economic factors shaping European journalistic cultures & practices

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 IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007

2. Two key questions related to economic and political factors The influence of the structures of ownership and market forces. The way journalists deal with controversial or sensitive issues. IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007

3. Political and economic factors shaping European journalistic cultures & practices Research literature on economic factors What journalists say about the economic factors The influence of structures of ownership and market forces Journalists’ working conditons Dealing with controversial issues Conclusions Based 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) IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007

4. 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 IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007

5. 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 concerned • Particularly in the case of private-owned media • The 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 IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007

6. 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. IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007

7. 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. IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007

8. 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 ? IAMCR Paris Unesco July 2007