News Cultures or Epistemic Cultures? Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Data From 62 Countries

• In Event: Comparative Journalism Research: Where Do We Stand?

Abstract

In order to gain an understanding of journalists' conceptions of what being factual means, the present work supplements the existing insights of journalism studies and the sociology of knowledge and philosophy, with data about journalists' beliefs regarding the importance of detached observation and reporting things as they are, spanning over sixty countries (N=18248). More precisely, our goal is to develop a theoretical account of why journalists' possess the beliefs that they do vis-a-vis truth-seeking and knowledge-acquisition. Data point to a significant relationship between reporters' level of freedom and their conceptions of knowledge and reality. We discuss the implications of these findings for the debate about the possibilities of universality and context-dependence of journalistic fact-finding.

Authors

• Yigal Godler, Journalism Studies and Media / U of Groningen

• Zvi Reich