Journalism Is Not A Profession, Discuss.
The definitional standards of a profession serve as the foundation for the claim that journalism is a profession. There is disagreement over the notion that journalism is not a profession. Some contend that journalism is less of a career and more of an activity or vocation. Dictionary definitions are a typical place to start researching concepts, however Tapper and Millett (2015) contend that they don't always get to the core of a particular idea. We look at instances from the literature that seek clarification on the nature of professionals and a profession in an effort to comprehend the essence of what it means to be a profession that we can situate journalism in. According to Dyrud (2020), professionalism is when a person uses judgment to exercise specialised knowledge and skills, when they identify as a member of a community based on shared practices and values, when they have a sense of duty and service, and when the community determines the norms of acceptable practice and values. Lester (2015) explains that the word "profession" originates from the Latin verb profiteri, which means to profess in the sense of accepting a formal pledge or commitment, such as taking an oath in a monastery. This might be taken to mean that entering a career necessitates a dedication to learning its information and abilities as well as embracing its values. If there is any consensus on the requirements for an occupation to qualify as a profession, it stays true to its etymological origin. Although there are many features of journalism that are similar to those of conventional professions, such as specialised expertise and ethical standards, the sector has undergone a reevaluation due to its growing nature and influence. This essay examines both arguments to demonstrate whether or not journalism meets the definition of a profession as given in the previous definitions.
The ethical standards, educational background, professional groups and organizations, and training are the main reasons why journalism may be considered a career. Journalists are supposed to uphold a set of ethical norms and values that serve as their guidelines. These criteria consist of accountability, impartiality, fairness, and accuracy. Journalism is a profession with its own set of moral guidelines and behavior expectations, according to Ward (2013). Ward emphasizes how crucial it is for journalists to uphold ethical standards as part of their job duties. Once more, research, interviewing, writing, editing, fact-checking, and multimedia production are among the specific talents needed in journalism. Through instruction, practice, and training, these abilities are refined. Journalists receive formal education and training to acquire the abilities and know-how required for their line of work. Students are taught media law and ethics, writing and reporting methods, and journalistic concepts at journalism colleges and programs (Schudson, 2005). A lot of journalists take part in training programs and internships to hone their professional abilities. According to Kovach, journalists are professionals because they get official training to provide them with the knowledge and abilities needed to carry out their duty as society's information producers. (Rosenthal and Kovacek, 2007). Furthermore, institutions, governments, and professional associations acknowledge journalism as a separate discipline with its own set of guidelines and conventions. Press councils, or other regulatory organizations, are present in many nations where they supervise journalistic standards and handle public complaints. Further in solidifying journalism as a distinct field journalist often belong to professional organizations that advocate for press freedom, uphold ethical standards, and provide resources and support to journalism as a professional field (Weaver and Willnat, 2012).
Journalism can also be argued not as a profession on the bases of lack of formal licensing regulation for journalists, Varied Educational backgrounds and Commercial pressures and ethical concerns. According to Vos & Willnat (2016), the absence of standardized credentialing requirements and oversight bodies in journalism raises questions about the professional status and what distinguishes it from established professions like medicine or law. The authors further state how there are no mandatory certificates of journalist which proves doubt about the professionalism to the globe. Again, it can also be argued that journalism is not viewed as a profession because of the varied educational backgrounds. Wahl-Jorgensen (2015), states that diverse educational backgrounds of journalists contribute to lack of professional homogeneity in the field. The author further stated that journalist often come from a wide range of academic disciplines and do not undergo standardized training and that further challenging the notion of journalism as a unified profession with clear boundaries. Finally, the commercial pressures and ethical concerns on news organizations and journalists undermine the professional autonomy and ethical standards of journalism. Luckhurst (2008) states how profit-driven imperatives has compromised journalistic integrity and independence, casting doubts on whether journalism can be considered a true profession.
Based on the evidences presented it can be clearly presented that journalism can indeed be considered a profession. The specialized skills, expertise and training requires in journalism demonstrates a level of professionalism that distinguishes it from mere hobby or amateur pursuits. Though there are several debates against it being a profession due to varied backgrounds and licensing issues journalism is still regarded as a vital profession that plays a crucial role in informing the public, upholding democracy and holding power to account.
References
Dyrud, M. A. (2020). What is Professional? Session ETD 445. Dregon Institute of Technology.
Kovach, B., & Rosenstiel, T. (2014). The Elements of journalism: What Newspeople should Know
and the Public should expect. Three Rivers Press.
Luckhurst, T. (2008). Journalism as a profession: A critical Appraisal. Media, Culture & Society,
30(1), 31-55.
Tapper., A. & Millett S. (2015). Revesting the concept of profession. Conscience, leadersip and the
problem of Duty heads.
Tester, S. (2015). On Profession and being Professional. Stan Tester Developments.
Schudson, M. (2005). Journalism as a profession: A comparative Analysis of the United States and
Erurope. Political Communication, 22(1), 27-41.
Wahl-Jorgensen, K. (2015). The Future of Journalism. Routledge.
Weaver, D. H., & Willnat, L. (2012). Investigative Journalism as a Profession: A comparative
Analysis of Codes of Ethics. Journalism Studies, 1396), 897-915
Comments