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More of the Same or a Different Breed Altogether?: A National Comparison of Role Perceptions and Ethical Stances among Finnish Political Journalists

Jari Väliverronen
Jari Väliverronen
   | May 26, 2018
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Published Online: May 26, 2018
Page range: 51 - 66
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2018-0001
Keywords
© 2018 Jari Väliverronen, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Journalists’ general ethical stances

Statement Political journalists (Nmin=80) All other journalists (Nmin=344) General reporters (Nmin=190) News specialists (Nmin=40)
Journalists should always adhere to codes of professional ethics, regardless of situation and context 4.65 (.58) 4.65 (.60) 4.65 (.62) 4.78 (.57)
What is ethical in journalism depends on the specific situation 2.52 (.1.45) 2.62 (1.37) 2.66 (1.35) 2.30 (1.36)
What is ethical in journalism is a matter of personal judgment 2.30 (1.39) 2.39 (1.23) 2.32 (1.19) 2.15 (1.19)
It is acceptable to set aside moral standards if extraordinary circumstances require it 2.04 (1.24) 1.99 (1.15) 2.01 (1.12) 1.88 (1.17)
Mean of all answers 2.88 2.91 2.91 2.78

Comparisons of political journalists’ stances on ethical practices against other groups, statistically significant differences

Practice All other journalists General reporters News specialists
Using confidential business or government documents without authorisation POLJOUR * POLJOUR **
Getting employed in a firm or organisation to gain inside information OTHERS * GENREP **
Using hidden microphones or cameras
Using re-creations or dramatisations of news by actors OTHERS ** GENREP ***
Claiming to be somebody else OTHERS * GENREP **
Exerting pressure on unwilling informants to get a story OTHERS ** GENREP *** NEWSSPEC **
Making use of personal documents such as letters and pictures without permission NEWSSPEC *
Publishing stories with unverified content Paying people for confidential information OTHERS * GENREP *
Altering photographs
Altering or fabricating quotes from sources
Accepting money from sources

Comparisons of political journalists’ role perceptions against other groups, statistically significant differences

Role All other journalists General reporters News specialists
Provide analysis of current affairs POLJOUR *** POLJOUR ***
Monitor and scrutinise political leaders POLJOUR *** POLJOUR ***
Provide information people need to make political decisions POLJOUR *** POLJOUR *** POLJOUR **
Report things as they are OTHERS * GENREP * NEWSSPEC *
Be a detached observer OTHERS *** GENREP *** NEWSSPEC *
Monitor and scrutinise business
Promote tolerance and cultural diversity OTHERS * GENREP **
Let people express their views OTHERS * GENREP ** NEWSSPEC **
Educate the audience
Tell stories about the world OTHERS *** GENREP *** NEWSSPEC **
Motivate people to participate in political activity POLJOUR *** POLJOUR ***
Provide the kind of news that attracts the largest audience OTHERS ** GENREP ** NEWSSPEC **
Set the political agenda POLJOUR **
Influence public opinion OTHERS *** GENREP ** NEWSSPEC *
Support national development OTHERS ** GENREP ** NEWSSPEC *
Provide advice, orientation and direction for daily life OTHERS *** GENREP *** NEWSSPEC ***
Advocate for social change OTHERS *** GENREP *** NEWSSPEC **
Provide entertainment and relaxation OTHERS *** GENREP *** NEWSSPEC ***
Be an adversary of the government
Convey a positive image of political leadership
Support government policy

Role perceptions of journalists

Role Political journalists (Nmin=73) All other journalists (Nmin=326) General reporters (Nmin=183) News specialists (Nmin=37)
Provide analysis of current affairs 4.64 (.56) 4.28 (.80) 4.26 (.80) 4.39 (.74)
Monitor and scrutinise political leaders 4.61 (.61) 3.69 (1.31) 3.88 (1.16) 4.39 (.80)
Provide information people need to make political decisions 4.51 (.78) 3.57 (1.26) 3.80 (1.09) 4.17 (.74)
Report things as they are 4.41 (.71) 4.56 (.73) 4.57 (.74) 4.68 (.52)
Be a detached observer 4.23 (.77) 4.51 (.74) 4.54 (.76) 4.56 (.63)
Monitor and scrutinise business 3.79 (1.12) 3.53 (1.25) 3.65 (1.15) 3.98 (.99)
Promote tolerance and cultural diversity 3.64 (.99) 3.92 (1.02) 4.06 (.95) 3.98 (.85)
Let people express their views 3.55 (1.03) 3.84 (1.02) 3.99 (.94) 4.12 (.75)
Educate the audience 3.48 (.95) 3.45 (.99) 3.36 (.98) 3.43 (.98)
Tell stories about the world 3.45 (.99) 4.13 (.85) 4.10 (.83) 4.07 (.66)
Motivate people to participate in political activity 3.33 (1.08) 2.53 (1.13) 2.66 (1.12) 3.00 (.98)
Provide the kind of news that attracts the largest audience 2.96 (1.05) 3.34 (1.01) 3.39 (.95) 3.56 (1.00)
Set the political agenda 2.69 (1.09) 2.34 (1.04) 2.44 (1.03) 2.45 (.93)
Influence public opinion 2.59 (.96) 3.09 (.98) 3.05 (1.00) 3.03 (.96)
Support national development 2.56 (1.07) 2.93 (1.02) 2.95 (.98) 3.05 (1.19)
Provide advice, orientation and direction for daily life 2.46 (.93) 3.26 (1.01) 3.28 (.87) 3.32 (.99)
Advocate for social change 2.37 (1.01) 2.95 (1.03) 2.97 (1.09) 3.00 (.93)
Provide entertainment and relaxation 2.27 (.96) 3.02 (1.08) 3.00 (1.01) 2.98 (.97)
Be an adversary of the government 2.25 (1.10) 2.05 (1.06) 2.11 (1.08) 2.27 (.99)
Convey a positive image of political leadership 1.35 (.64) 1.23 (.53) 1.26 (.57) 1.22 (.42)
Support government policy 1.13 (.41) 1.20 (.45) 1.22 (.47) 1.23 (.53)
Mean of all answers 3.17 3.22 3.27 3.38

Journalists’ opinions on controversial ethical practices

Practice Political journalists (Nmin=63) All other journalists (Nmin=313) General reporters (Nmin=177) News specialists (Nmin=38)
Using confidential business or government documents without authorisation 1.90 (.47) 2.06 (.52) 2.08 (.51) 1.98 (.52)
Getting employed in a firm or organisation to gain inside information 2.30 (.49) 2.13 (.55) 2.10 (.54) 2.15 (.53)
Using hidden microphones or cameras 2.32 (.47) 2.27 (.52) 2.25 (.52) 2.22 (.48)
Using re-creations or dramatisations of news by actors 2.32 (.59) 2.04 (.62) 1.99 (.58) 2.08 (.63)
Claiming to be somebody else 2.49 (.50) 2.32 (.52) 2.29 (.50) 2.40 (.50)
Exerting pressure on unwilling informants to get a story 2.53 (.50) 2.25 (.63) 2.20 (.65) 2.20 (.60)
Making use of personal documents such as letters and pictures without permission 2.59 (.50) 2.69 (.48) 2.65 (.51) 2.79 (.41)
Publishing stories with unverified content 2.64 (.48) 2.53 (.55) 2.54 (.54) 2.60 (.50)
Paying people for confidential information 2.73 (.45) 2.56 (.52) 2.57 (.53) 2.58 (.55)
Altering photographs 2.82 (.39) 2.73 (.47) 2.68 (.50) 2.80 (.41)
Altering or fabricating quotes from sources 2.97 (.16) 2.97 (.22) 2.97 (.23) 3.00 (.00)
Accepting money from sources 3.00 (.00) 2.99 (.15) 2.98 (.21) 3.00 (.00)
Mean of all answers 2.55 2.47 2.48 2.48

Sampling information

Political journalists Other journalists
Number of respondents 80 345
Data collection period Dec. 2013 – Oct. 2014 Mar. 2013 – Aug. 2013
Data collection method Online Phone/email
Response rate (%) 61 50–55*
Average age of respondents (years) 51 43
Gender distribution in sample (W/M; %) 36/64 55/45
eISSN:
2001-5119
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
2 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Social Sciences, Communication Science, Mass Communication, Public and Political Communication
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