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  2. Resources
  3. Research
  4. Survey of professional journalists about self-regulation bodies and challenges of digital age
  5. Data visualisation tool

Results Research Report – Journalists

Pere Masip , Jaume Suau , Carlos Ruiz

Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations - University Ramon Llull

This report presents the results of a research project aimed to ask the opinion of journalists and other relevant stakeholders about how media councils could adapt to the challenges of the digital age.

The results obtained are based on two survey conducted between August and November 2020 among journalists and members of the board of media councils from nine countries More specifically, survey to journalists was distributed among network of contacts of the European Federation of Journalists and affiliated journalists' unions in selected countries Austria, Belgium (Wallonia and Flanders), Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Spain Finally, 454 valid questionnaires were received Number of questionnaires received by country was very irregular and non valid comparative analysis was possible to carry out.

Survey to members of the board of the media councils was distributed by the research team among the members of boards of the media councils from the same countries except Poland and Italy Members of the board from Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Finland, Germany, Ireland, and Spain (includes media councils from Spain, Catalonia, and Andalusia) answered the questionnaire 61 valid questionnaires were received

A third survey was also distributed among media companies and editors in chief from the same targeted countries Research team selected the three main in terms of audience print newspapers, radio stations, TV stations and online news media from each country Although the questionnaire was distributed in three different waves in order to obtain as much answers as possible, the number of responses obtained was very low, preventing a valid analysis of the results Despite the difficulty to interpret the lack of collaboration of media companies, it could be a sign of lack of interest on media councils, at least in some countries The overall situation with covid 19 outbreak might have also affected the low response level in some of the surveys.

The objective of the research was to analyse how journalists see the job of media councils and self regulatory bodies, how these bodies are affected by the digital age, and how can they adapt to the new ethical challenges.

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1. Sociodemographics

Results based on a survey to 454 journalists conducted from August to November 2020. Journalists participants are from: Austria, Belgium (Wallonia and Flanders), Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

2. Media Councils - Knowledge

Most of the respondents know national media council (68,12%), however, for a relevant number of them media councils are unknown or they think don’t exist. Respondents think that media councils should exist, and only 6% doesn’t.

3. Ethical Dilemnas

Consult with superiors is the most frequent practice to face ethical dilemmas, followed by consult colleagues. Refer to media councils have a low importance in facing ethical dilemmas 86 but journalists consult the Code of Ethics (133). No significant differences by gender, age and years of experience.

More than one answer was possible.

4. Knowledge of the Code of Ethics

Most of the respondents have a medium or high knowledge of the national Code of Ethics. Young journalists have a high level of knowledge of Code of Ethics. Surprisingly, this is also the group of age with the least knowledge. There are not significant differences by gender. However, men have slightly minor knowledge than women.



5. Code of Ethics and the Digital

Only 1 out 3 respondents thinks that Code of Ethics are adapted to respond new ethical challenges arising from digitalization and the emergence of internet. Women journalists consider that Code of Ethics are less adapted to respond new ethical challenges than men are. Journalists with 3-5 years of experience is the group more confident in the Code of Ethics.



6. Daily practices and ethical challenges

Journalists consider that they are responsible for the new content arising from digitalisation. Journalists strongly agree that they must ensure the quality of linked content in their stories.



7. Ethics Principles and the Digital

Most of the respondents think that digitalisation requires new ethical principles. There are not significant differences by gender and age. However, young journalists assert more frequently than other age groups than digitalisation doesn’t’require new ethical principles.

Public content available on personal profiles on social networks can be used in a story after requesting authorization(67,2%). Women journalists are more cautious in using public content available on personal profiles than men journalists are.

All age groups think that public content available on personal profiles can be used for a story, however older journalists have a greater diversity of opinions. Similarly, more experienced journalist also have a greater diversity of opinion. They are more likely to use that content in all cases.

Most of the respondents consider they should not identify as journalists in public conversation on social networks. Young journalists are less likely than older ones to identify themselves as journalists on social media.

The use of social networks by journalists generates very diverse opinions, particularly regarding the professional vs private use of them. Journalists consider that they should be able to give their opinion through social networks on any subject,not only on the topics of news they published.

41,4% of respondents considers that ensure comments on news quality is not the responsibility of the journalists, but of the media outlets. Women journalists consider more frequently than men journalists that ensuring the politeness of comments on news is the responsibility of the media outlets. Age and years of experience affect what journalists think about ensuring politeness of comments on news. Younger and less experienced respondents consider that it’s media outlets responsibility.

Most of the respondents find acceptable publish relevant information provided by whistleblowers, and both, journalists and whistleblowers, should be protected. Young and less experienced journalists find more acceptable than other groups publish relevant information provided by whistleblowers, and both, journalists and whistleblowers should be protected.

Most of the respondents find appropriate to delete stories sanctioned by judicial authorities or by self-regulatory bodies. There are not significant difference by gender and age and deleted stories is the most frequent answer, however, young and older journalists are more favourable of don’t remove sanctioned stories because it affects the right to information.

96,7% of the respondents think that content produced by robots should be identified as such. There are not significant difference by gender,age,and years of experience.There are not significant difference by gender.

91,1% of the respondents think that content produced by robot sshould be governed by the same ethical standards applicable to journalists. Women journalists are slightly more favourable to consider that content produced by robots should be governed by the same ethical standards applicable to journalists.

Most of the respondents consider that clickbait and web analytics dilute some journalistic principles. Clickbait practices are considered more debatable than web analytics. Women journalists tend to consider these practices more critical than men journalists, particularly web analytics.

Fact-checkers are considered necessary, and they complement de work of journalists. Fact-checkers are not considered ideologically biased.

8. Ethics Principles and the Pandemics

Most of the respondents did not encounter any ethical problem during the Covid-19 pandemics. Young and less experienced journalists tend to encounter less ethical problems than other age and experienced groups. There are not significant difference by gender.

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