ROLES PROFESIONALES Y FUNCIONES DEL PERIODISMO: EXPECTATIVAS Y CONFIANZA DE LOS ESPAÑOLES

Jordi Rodríguez-Virgili; Aurken Sierra; Javier  Serrano-Puche

doi:10.15178/va.2023.156.e1470

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Published: Jun 6, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15178/va.2023.156.e1470

Keywords:

Trust, functions of journalism, perceptions, media consumption, Spain

Jordi Rodríguez-Virgili

University of Navarra

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7952-5664

Aurken Sierra

University of Navarra

Javier Serrano-Puche

Universidad de Navarra

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6633-5303

Abstract

The idea that journalistic work is crucial to the proper functioning of society is deeply rooted in academic and professional circles. However, the profound changes brought about by the digitalisation of the public sphere lead us to question whether this relevance is still present in the daily lives of citizens. For this reason, this research analyses Spaniards' perceptions of the importance of journalism, their trust in news and their assessment of how journalism fulfils its functions. It also examines whether there are differences in these issues between users whose main sources of information are traditional media (print, radio and television) and those who get their information from digital sources (digital media and social networks). The study is based on surveys conducted by YouGov for the Reuters Institute Digital News Report (DNR) in 2019, 2020 and 2021 among a panel of around 2,000 Spanish digital users. Participants are adult internet users who have consumed news in the last month and are representative of the online population in terms of socio-demographic and geographic criteria. The results show that Spanish users whose main sources of information are traditional media tend to value the fulfilment of journalistic roles (disseminating information, interpreting it, and monitoring power) and trust the news more than those who get their information from digital sources. However, these "digitalists" attach more importance to journalism than "traditionalists" (70.6% consider it extremely or very important compared to 59% of those who get their information from traditional media). Part of the distrust expressed by digital users is due to the degree to which it fulfils the functions traditionally attributed to journalism. As they feel that they are less well fulfilled, digital journalists have less confidence in a task that they consider important. Finally, Spaniards believe that the media should report with plurality (76%), neutrality (70%) and fairness (62%), although there are no clear patterns between the two types of users.

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How to Cite

Rodríguez-Virgili, Jordi, Aurken Sierra, and Javier Serrano-Puche. 2023. “Professional Roles and Functions of Journalism: Expectations and Trust of Spaniards”. Vivat Academia. Journal of Communication 156 (June):24-46. https://doi.org/10.15178/va.2023.156.e1470.

Issue

Número 156

Section

Confianza Publicitaria y nuevos desafíos

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Author Biographies

Jordi Rodríguez-Virgili, University of Navarra

is an Associate Professor of Political Communication at the University of Navarra and Vice Dean of Faculty at its School of Communication. He is also a researcher at the Center for Internet Studies and Digital Life at UNAV. He was a Visiting Scholar at the Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University. In 2016, he was awarded the Excellence in Teaching in Political Communication Award at the Napolitan Victory Awards (Washington D.C.). His recent publications include articles in Media and Communication, Journal of Iberian and Latin American Research, Observatorio OBS, El profesional de la información, and KOME: An International Journal of Pure Communication Inquiry, and book chapters in publishers such as Routledge, Tecnos, and Éditions L'Harmattan.

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7952-5664

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=es&user=GG6s0R0AAAAJ

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jordi-Rodriguez-Virgili

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=16835691300

Academia.edu: https://navarra.academia.edu/JordiRodríguezVirgili

Aurken Sierra, University of Navarra

holds a PhD in Public Communication and degrees in Journalism and History, as well as a Master's Degree in Governance and Culture of Organizations from the University of Navarra. He is a researcher at the Center for Internet Studies and Digital Life at the same university. His research focuses on political communication, polarization, and electoral campaign strategies. He has published in Observatorio OBS, Revista Mediterránea de Comunicación, Revista Empresa y Humanismo, and in the L'Harmattan publishing house.

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1749-7888

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qf2ac0IAAAAJ&hl=es

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aurken-Sierra

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57222579759

Academia.edu: https://unav.academia.edu/AurkenSierra

Javier Serrano-Puche, Universidad de Navarra

Full Professor of Communication Theory at the University of Navarra, a researcher at its Center for Internet Studies and Digital Life, and Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Communication. He has been a visiting researcher at the London School of Economics (LSE). His research interests include digital news consumption, emotions in the use of technology, and media education. His publications on these topics have appeared in journals such as Media and Communication, International Journal of Communication, and International Review of Sociology, and in publishers such as Routledge, Palgrave, MacMillan, Springer, and Tecnos, among others.

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6633-5303

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=xcKzg14AAAAJ&hl=es

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Javier-Serrano-Puche

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55249953400

Academia.edu: https://unav.academia.edu/JavierSerranoPuche

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