Attribution of global ethical norms: Perceptions of journalistic independence and integrity in Serbia, Macedonia and Croatia. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pjesivac, Ivanka; Spasovska, Katerina; Imre, Iveta
• Is Part Of: Global media and communication. Volume 13:Number 2(2017:Aug.)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Attribution theory -- corruption -- Eastern Europe -- ethics -- independence -- integrity; Communication, International -- Periodicals; Communication, International -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Periodicals; 302.2
• DOI: 10.1177/1742766517705682
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7665

Abstract

This study examines, by comparative thematic analysis, public perceptions of global journalistic norms of independence and integrity by studying perceptions of news media corruption in three Eastern European countries: Serbia, Macedonia and Croatia. In-depth interviews with 61 representatives of the three nations revealed that, in the public eye, the breaches of journalistic independence and integrity are frequent and take different forms. The participants from Serbia, Macedonia and Croatia thought that journalists from their countries often succumb to pressures from politicians, owners and advertisers; that they receive direct bribes for positive coverage and even extort money from people; and that news media are engaged in hidden advertising and journalists are engaged in nepotism. The results show similarity of public perceptions of breaches of journalistic independence and integrity with academic and professional findings and are discussed from the point of view of the cross-country examination of the attribution theory in the context of audiences' use of situational and trait characteristics in understanding journalistic ethical norms.