ABSTRACT

Contemporary journalists face a multitude of external pressures and threats, ranging from political and commercial interference to online harassment and increasing anti-press hostility. This empirical article examines how the hybridization of the media environment is reflected in journalists’ experiences of external interference. The article also explores the factors in journalists’ working environment that support their ability to maintain their external autonomy against interference. The article is based on an applied thematic analysis of 31 semi-structured interviews with Finnish journalists supplemented by 4 background interviews with organizational stakeholders. Four major developments were identified in the analysis: (1) a proliferation of publicity control, (2) an increasingly contested public sphere, (3) societal and political polarization, and (4) the personalization of journalism. The autonomy of journalism was supported by a combination of (1) journalistic professionalism, (2) internal confidence within journalistic organizations, and (3) communication and support measures. The findings suggest that the hybridization of the media environment has intensified the external interference and pressure journalists encounter in their work. These, in turn, increase the workload and mental strain related to journalistic work, having the potential to cause fatigue, chilling effects, and self-censorship in the long run.

摘要

当代记者面临着大量的外部压力和威胁，从政治和商业干预到在线骚扰和日益增加的反新闻敌意。这篇实证文章考察了媒体环境的混合如何反映在记者的外部干扰体验中。文章还探讨了记者工作环境中支持他们保持外部自主权免受干扰的能力的因素。这篇文章基于对芬兰记者的 31 次半结构化采访的应用主题分析，并辅以对组织利益相关者的 4 次背景采访。分析中确定了四个主要发展：(1) 宣传控制的扩散，(2) 竞争日益激烈的公共领域，(3) 社会和政治两极分化，(4) 新闻的个性化。(1) 新闻专业精神，(2) 新闻组织的内部信心，以及 (3) 沟通和支持措施共同支持了新闻业的自主性。调查结果表明，媒体环境的混合加剧了记者在工作中遇到的外部干扰和压力。这些反过来又增加了与新闻工作相关的工作量和精神压力，从长远来看有可能导致疲劳、寒蝉效应和自我审查。调查结果表明，媒体环境的混合加剧了记者在工作中遇到的外部干扰和压力。这些反过来又增加了与新闻工作相关的工作量和精神压力，从长远来看有可能导致疲劳、寒蝉效应和自我审查。调查结果表明，媒体环境的混合加剧了记者在工作中遇到的外部干扰和压力。这些反过来又增加了与新闻工作相关的工作量和精神压力，从长远来看有可能导致疲劳、寒蝉效应和自我审查。