Who Justifies Questionable Reporting Practices? Answers from a Representative Survey of Journalists in Germany

Based on a secondary analysis of representative survey data of journalists in Germany (n= 1536), this paper draws attention to two variables that are important when it comes to explain whether journalists accept questionable reporting practices, such as paying people to obtain information or using c...

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Main Authors: Philip Baugut, Sebastian Scherr
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Freie Universität Berlin 2017-07-01
Series:Global Media Journal: German Edition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00038861/GMJ13_Baugut_Scherr_final.pdf
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author Philip Baugut
Sebastian Scherr
author_facet Philip Baugut
Sebastian Scherr
author_sort Philip Baugut
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description Based on a secondary analysis of representative survey data of journalists in Germany (n= 1536), this paper draws attention to two variables that are important when it comes to explain whether journalists accept questionable reporting practices, such as paying people to obtain information or using confidential government documents without permission. First, perceived role achievement is important, as journalists who do not feel able to achieve an active role tend to accept questionable reporting practices more often. Second, however, this relationship is only true for journalists having a moderate tendency to the political left. Findings are explained by means of the theory of cognitive dissonance.
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spelling doaj.art-28acb87b9ee54aefbcde801b2e83bd3b2024-03-02T10:58:10ZdeuFreie Universität BerlinGlobal Media Journal: German Edition2196-48072196-48072017-07-0171115Who Justifies Questionable Reporting Practices? Answers from a Representative Survey of Journalists in GermanyPhilip BaugutSebastian ScherrBased on a secondary analysis of representative survey data of journalists in Germany (n= 1536), this paper draws attention to two variables that are important when it comes to explain whether journalists accept questionable reporting practices, such as paying people to obtain information or using confidential government documents without permission. First, perceived role achievement is important, as journalists who do not feel able to achieve an active role tend to accept questionable reporting practices more often. Second, however, this relationship is only true for journalists having a moderate tendency to the political left. Findings are explained by means of the theory of cognitive dissonance.https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00038861/GMJ13_Baugut_Scherr_final.pdfPolitical leaning of journalistsjournalismGermanyjournalistic role perceptionquestionable journalistic reporting practices
spellingShingle Philip Baugut
Sebastian Scherr
Who Justifies Questionable Reporting Practices? Answers from a Representative Survey of Journalists in Germany
Global Media Journal: German Edition
Political leaning of journalists
journalism
Germany
journalistic role perception
questionable journalistic reporting practices
title Who Justifies Questionable Reporting Practices? Answers from a Representative Survey of Journalists in Germany
title_full Who Justifies Questionable Reporting Practices? Answers from a Representative Survey of Journalists in Germany
title_fullStr Who Justifies Questionable Reporting Practices? Answers from a Representative Survey of Journalists in Germany
title_full_unstemmed Who Justifies Questionable Reporting Practices? Answers from a Representative Survey of Journalists in Germany
title_short Who Justifies Questionable Reporting Practices? Answers from a Representative Survey of Journalists in Germany
title_sort who justifies questionable reporting practices answers from a representative survey of journalists in germany
topic Political leaning of journalists
journalism
Germany
journalistic role perception
questionable journalistic reporting practices
url https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00038861/GMJ13_Baugut_Scherr_final.pdf
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