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Changes in Canadian Journalists' Views about the Social and Political Roles of the News Media: A Panel Study, 1996–2003

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2005

David Pritchard ,
Paul R. Brewer  and
Florian Sauvageau
David Pritchard
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Paul R. Brewer
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Florian Sauvageau
Affiliation:
Université Laval
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Abstract

Abstract. This article presents the findings of a panel study of Canadian journalists, focusing on changes in their views about the social and political roles of the news media between 1996 and 2003. The results reveal substantial changes in journalists' views over the seven-year period. In particular, the analysis documents an erosion of the importance journalists attach to core roles of Canadian journalism, such as accurately reporting the views of public figures, providing analyses of complex problems, and giving ordinary people a chance to express their views. The change was found almost exclusively among English-language journalists rather than French-language journalists, suggesting the possibility of an emerging cultural divide in opinions about such roles.

Résumé. Cet article présente les résultats de deux enquêtes menées auprès d'un même groupe de journalistes canadiens, l'une en 1996, l'autre en 2003, et montre les changements importants intervenus en quelques années dans les valeurs professionnelles des journalistes. L'enquête de 2003 fait voir l'érosion de certaines fonctions centrales du journalisme, comme le reportage fidèle des propos des personnalités recontrées, l'analyse des enjeux difficiles, et le souci de donner la parole aux gens ordinaires. Ces changements se manifestent presque exclusivement chez les journalistes anglophones, ce qui permet de croire à l'émergence d'un écart entre journalistes anglophones et francophones dans la perception de leur rôle.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , June 2005 , pp. 287 - 306
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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