Opposing Practices Contrary to Journalistic Ethics

When asked what they consider to be realistic ways of opposing the practices of the media where they work or those hierarchically superior in their working environment, journalists mainly answer “withdrawing their signature” (43.5%), “arguing” (31.5%), and “collegial solidarity and self-organized collective resistance” (26.5%). However, ¼ of journalists choose to note that “there are no realistic ways to oppose”.

For the same question, given the option of up to three choices by each participant, lower percentages of choice are “resignation” (21%), “informing the union” (20%), withdrawing the report (17.5%) and publicizing the issue in question on social media (16%).

Asked at a personal level how often they come into conflict with their hierarchical superiors, six out of ten journalists answer “sometimes”. 23.5% respond “never”, while 11% say “very often”.

45% of journalists say they “sometimes” withdraw reports, while 5.5% say they “always” do so as a form of opposition. At the same time 43.5% respond that they “never” do so.

Overall, 57% of journalists say they withdraw their signature from a story when there is a reason to do so, with varying degrees of frequency: “sometimes” say 44.5%, “very often” respond 12.5%. 37.5% choose to “never” withdraw their signature from the story.

Six out of ten journalists say that, in the current period or in the recent past, they have “never” turned to their union to take action on an issue that needs opposition. “Sometimes” reply 24%, “very often” say 5.5%. 11% of the sample chose not to answer the question.

“Never” is the answer of 49% when asked how often they have gone on strike in the current period or in the recent past. “Sometimes” say 32%, “very often” respond 9.5%.

Almost proportionately, 36% say they resign “sometimes” and 7% “very often”. “Never” reply 47.5% of journalists.

When asked about collegial solidarity, 49% of journalists say that they have personally “sometimes” been involved in acts of collective reaction in the newsroom where they work in support of a colleague or have received such support themselves. 17% chose “very often” but 24% respond “never”.

57% of journalists have “never” made public the respective incident in their work environment (Editor’s note: which might go against journalistic ethics). 26% and 9.5% say they do it “sometimes” or “very often” respectively.