Editorial: Press freedom, journalism practice, and professionalization in times of uncertainty

Editorial on the Research Topic
Press freedom, journalism practice, and professionalization in times of uncertainty

Press freedom is considered as one of the most significant prerequisites for every healthy democracy (e.g., De Smaele, 2006; Besley and Prat, 2006; Norris, 2006). However, it seems to remain a rather vague concept with blurred boundaries even in western democratic societies. This is so both as a normative concept (e.g., Graber, 2017; Hallin, 2020) and as an empirical one (Freedom House, 2019; RSF, 2024). In addition, press freedom seems to remain quite “sensitive” by nature, as it is constantly, either directly or indirectly, influenced by a series of factors which affect its dynamics and impact overall journalism practice (Clark and Grech, 2017; Papadopoulou and Maniou, 2021; Maniou, 2023). Following Graber (2017) and Papadopoulou and Maniou (2021), these factors have generated several challenges, especially after the onset of the global pandemic crisis, and can be mainly categorized as legal, psychological, economic, physical, technological and political threats to press freedom.

Indeed, in recent years, the onset of the global pandemic crisis seems to have exacerbated existing threats to press freedom around the world. The measures introduced affected journalism practice and, in several cases, were interpreted as a direct attack on the media as well as a worldwide trend that has been evident for several years before the pandemic crisis, not only in authoritarian media systems but also in established democracies (Holtz-Bacha, 2022). As such, press freedom appears as the primary victim rather than a collateral damage of the global crisis.

This Research Topic seeks to explore the changing parameters of journalistic practice and its relationship to concepts of press freedom, media accountability, and professionalization.

The studies selected for this Research Topic illustrate a broad and inclusive range of research interests and methodologies demonstrating the diversity and richness within the field of media studies. Each article in this Research Topic contributes to a richer understanding of how media operate in different contexts and under different influences. By examining these multiple interactions, the studies illuminate how technological advances, societal expectations, and political frameworks collectively shape the practice and perception of journalism. This comprehensive perspective not only highlights current challenges facing the press but also underscores the resilience and adaptability of journalistic practices in response to these pressures.

Darge and Woldearegay examine the judicial system's influence on press freedom shedding light on journalists' lived experiences as they navigate the challenges of securing fair court trials. Focusing on Ethiopia, their research offers critical insights into the systemic barriers and legal pressures faced by media workers.

Zhou explores the intersection of virtual reality (VR) technology and journalism, assessing how VR affects storytelling, news values and the evolving journalistic roles. Focusing on China, this study also provides practical insights for media professionals who seek to incorporate VR technology into their work, ensuring that they can more effectively engage audiences while maintaining high journalistic standards.

Guided by Lippmann's (1922) seminal work, which underscores the critical importance of understanding public opinion and its far-reaching implications for democratic societies, Skana and Gjerazi build on this foundational work by exploring public perceptions of media social responsibility in contemporary contexts. Focusing on Albania, their work identifies key principles considered essential by the public and documents how these principles can strengthen the media's contributions to society.

dos Santos delves into the effectiveness of fact-checkers in countering myths and misinformation related to COVID-19. Focusing on two online media initiatives established in the Democratic Republic of Congo that combine fact-checking efforts with civil society engagement initiatives to improve information literacy, this study provides a broad overview of the role that independent, voluntary initiatives play in times of crisis and uncertainty.

Taken together, these studies underscore the dynamic and multidimensional nature of contemporary media research on press freedom, journalism practice, and professionalization. Ultimately, this body of work highlights the interplay between media practices, technological advancements, legal frameworks, and the evolving needs of the public, and underscores the critical role of press freedom in times of crisis and uncertainty.

Author contributions

TM: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. LP: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

References

Besley, T., and Prat, A. (2006). Handcuffs for the grabbing hand? Media capture and government accountability. Am. Econ. Rev. 96, 720–736. doi: 10.1257/aer.96.3.720

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Clark, M., and Grech, A. (2017). Journalists Under Pressure: Unwarranted Interference, Fear and Self-Censorship in Europe. Brussels: Council of Europe.

Google Scholar

De Smaele, H. (2006). “In the name of democracy,” in Mass Media and Political Communication in New Democracies, ed. K. Volmer (London: Routledge), 35–48.

Google Scholar

Freedom House (2019). Freedom in the World. Washington, DC: Freedom House. Available at: https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2019 (accessed October 5, 2024).

Google Scholar

Graber, D. A. (2017). “Freedom of the press,” in The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication, eds. K. Kenski, and K. Hall-Jamieson (New York, NY: Oxford University Press), 237–248.

Google Scholar

Hallin, D. C. (2020). “Press freedom and its context,” in Rethinking Media Research for Changing Societies, eds. M. Powers, and A. Russell (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 54–63.

Google Scholar

Holtz-Bacha, C. (2022). More than just collateral damage. Ramifications of the pandemic for freedom of the press. Publizistik 67:31. doi: 10.1007/s11616-021-00699-4

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Lippmann, W. (1922). Public Opinion. New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace, and Company.

Google Scholar

Maniou, T. A. (2023). The dynamics of influence on press freedom in different media systems: a comparative study. J. Pract. 17, 1937–1961. doi: 10.1080/17512786.2022.2030246

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Norris, P. (2006). “The role of the free press in promoting democratization, good governance and human development,” in Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting (Chicago, IL).

Google Scholar

Papadopoulou, L., and Maniou, T. A. (2021). ‘Lockdown' on digital journalism? mapping threats to press freedom during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Digit. J. 9, 1344–1366. doi: 10.1080/21670811.2021.1945472

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

RSF (2024). The World Press Freedom Index. Available at: http:////rsf.org/en/index (accessed October 5, 2024).

Google Scholar