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

Kód výsledku v 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>

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

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

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

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

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

50800 - Media and communications

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/GA22-30563S" target="_blank" >GA22-30563S: Re-konceptualizace role českých médií veřejné služby: očekávání, výzvy a příležitosti</a><br>

Návaznosti

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

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

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

Název periodika

Journalism

ISSN

1464-8849

e-ISSN

1741-3001

Svazek periodika

26

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

6

Stát vydavatele periodika

US - Spojené státy americké

Počet stran výsledku

19

Strana od-do

1251-1269

Kód UT WoS článku

001224938200001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-85193360115