Från granskare till guide : om medborgarjournalistikens och deltagarkulturens påverkan på svenska journalisters professionella identitet

Sammanfattning: Title: From inspectors to guides: how citizen journalism and participatory culture affect the professional identity of Swedish journalists (Swedish title: Från granskare till guide: om medborgarjournalistikens och deltagarkulturens påverkan på svenska journalisters professionella identitet). Number of pages: 44 (48 including enclosures). Authors: Towe Bengtsson and Matilda Källén. Tutor: Amelie Hössjer. Course: Media and Communication Studies C. Period: Fall 2011. University: Division of Media and Communication, Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University. Purpose/Aim: The goal of this paper was to answer how citizen journalism and participatory journalism as well as an increasing range of information today have affected the professional identity and professional lives of journalists. In addition to this, study how journalists today respond to these changes. Material/Method: The study is based on Deuze’s theories about journalistic ideals, Jenkins’ theories about convergence culture, and on theories about professionalization and de-professionalization based on Nygren, Wiik and Torstendahl’s theories. The study is based on eight interviews with professional journalists, four employed journalists and four freelance journalists. The results are analysed based on a broad theoretical framework. Main results: The results of this survey show that the role of the professional journalist is extremely complex, with a strong ideological basis that fundamentally influences the journalist's view of the profession and of him- or herself. The survey shows that the journalist role is changing and how important the identification as a journalist still is. Furthermore, the survey shows that the role is being redefined. The role consists of two levels, an ideological level and a more practical level. The survey shows how these two levels are in harmony, but also on a collision course, and how journalists seek to clarify their ideology to distinguish themselves from others, but also how they actually adapt the ideals on a more practical level. In summary, despite a de-professionalization of the profession, the journalists keep the journalistic ideals very high, although they constantly redefine their role, as well as the ideals. They see their role as an aid to guide the readers, rather than a traditional journalist, although they still cling to a traditional perception of the ideal journalist.