Between absolutism and exceptionism: ethical orientations of journalists in Latvia

• In Event: Journalistic Ethics in Times of Turmoil

Abstract

Professional ethics and the necessity to work in alignment with its norms in times of disinformation is almost the only thing that helps journalists work to stand out in the vast ocean of information and information creators. Creators who do not opt to follow any professional principles to serve society with its social values in mind.
In this study, we will compare data gathered in two rounds of the global Worlds of Journalism Study (WJS). Because of its longitudinal nature, the data will allow us to measure weather and how has changed Latvian journalist understanding and perception of professional ethics principles as the second wave of WJS (2013-2014, N=340) was carried shortly after the great 2008 economic crises, but the third wave of WJS (2021, N-486) was held on the brink of Covid-29 and just three years after the Latvian Media Ethics Council was founded and a year after the Latvian public media ombudsman's institution was introduced.
According to Hanitzsch et al. (2019), ethical orientation varies from country to country, and it can be seen from many different perspectives mapping them within the theoretical grid of absolutism, situationism, subjectivism, and exceptionism. In this paper, we will look at whether and to what extent journalist beliefs and professional principles have changed over time. The correlation will be used to investigate whether there are interrelations with such variables as a journalist's gender, age, range in the editorial office, education, income, work experience, sense of representing specific professional roles for society, perceived (internal and external) influences and specific beliefs on what is and is not acceptable in journalism practice, etc.

Short Bio

Līga Ozoliņa is a researcher and a head of Communication and Media Studies master’s study program as well as a head of Journalism bachellor’s program at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU). She is a PhD student in the Social Sciences doctoral study program at RSU. Līga has been involved in two study waves of the Worlds of Journalism Study (2013-2014 and 2021). Her academic interests cover journalist professional identity, journalist professionalization, entrepreneurial journalism, media digitalization.

Author

• Līga Ozoliņa, Rīga Stradiņš University