Autonomy From the Inside: Journalists’ Perceptions of Workplace Autonomy in Five European Countries

• In Event: Journalistic Autonomy and Perceived Influences

Abstract

This paper examines how journalists perceive workplace autonomy in five European countries, based on an email survey (N = 2,238) conducted in Britain, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Estonia. The paper argues that the workplace level functions as a link between the macro level of external pressures and the micro level of perceived influences on newswork. Using principal component analysis we explore the dimensionality of workplace autonomy based on a set of 20 survey questions. Regression analysis is then used on the dimensions found in order to determine what affects perception of autonomy in the different dimensions. The most salient explanatory variables are found on the country and organizational levels, whereas the variables age, experience, gender, managerial role and medium have no or limited effects. The results show the organizational and country levels being integrated and that and that media system/journalistic culture is the most salient factor explaining perception of autonomy.

Authors

• Henrik Ornebring, Karlstad U

• Johan Eric Lindell, Karlstad U

• Christer Clerwall, Karlstad University

• Michael B. Karlsson, Karlstad University