The anatomy of internal interference in public service media : How do journalists interpret whether editorial interference constitutes unacceptable encroachment on their autonomy?

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14230%2F25%3A00144218" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14230/25:00144218 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14648849241255339" target="_blank" >https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14648849241255339</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/14648849241255339" target="_blank" >10.1177/14648849241255339</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

The anatomy of internal interference in public service media : How do journalists interpret whether editorial interference constitutes unacceptable encroachment on their autonomy?

Original language description

This study examines the suspected transmission of political pressure through management to journalists in public service media, where independence is crucial for fulfilling its democratic mission. Such interference is often covert and performed without hard evidence, making it difficult to prove. To provide insight into these practices, this study explores the case of RTVS, the public service broadcaster in Slovakia, during a conflict that arose after the appointment of a new director general in 2017. Using semi-structured interviews with journalists and managers (N = 16), it introduces an inductively developed classification scheme for internal interference and examines the context and conditions under which the journalists considered it to be politically motivated and as an illegitimate encroachment on their autonomy. The study shows that perceived internal interference by management takes two forms: interference in editorial content at various levels (and through multiple tools and means) and the use of disciplinary mechanisms. When journalists experience internal interference with a possible political background, trust in their superiors and the perception of their motives are crucial factors influencing their reactions and interpretation of the situation. However, for a variety of reasons that the study analyzes in detail, the RTVS journalists distrusted their superiors' moral integrity, professional skills, and political independence, which resulted in the departure of a large part of the TV newsroom. The article concludes with suggestions for methodological implications for further research on perceived interference.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

50800 - Media and communications

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA22-30563S" target="_blank" >GA22-30563S: Rethinking the Role of Czech Public Service Media: Expectations, Challenges, and Opportunities</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journalism

ISSN

1464-8849

e-ISSN

1741-3001

Volume of the periodical

26

Issue of the periodical within the volume

6

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

19

Pages from-to

1251-1269

UT code for WoS article

001224938200001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85193360115