Environmental Journalist Migration: How Entrepreneurial Creativity Facilitates Social Entrepreneurship in Taiwan

Abstract

Journalism, which provides the public with reliable information, can be perceived to be a social service for the public interest. Modern journalism might evolve into social entrepreneurship, with a focus on creating value for the public amid institutional pressures. Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of various factors on the social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) of environmental journalists. Study 1, with 287 respondents, confirmed the factor structures of the scales that were used. Study 2, with 352 respondents, confirmed the five precursors to SEI, namely, prior experience, empathy, moral obligation, social support, and self-efficacy, and two aspects of entrepreneurial creativity, namely originality and usefulness. Additionally, two aspects of SEI were identified: conviction and preparation. Accordingly, social support (followed by prior experience, empathy, and usefulness) was the most influential factor on entrepreneurial conviction. Social support (followed by usefulness, prior experience, and empathy) also had the greatest influence on entrepreneurial preparation. Conversely, moral obligation negatively affected both entrepreneurial conviction and preparation. The results have considerable theoretical implications for social services and journalism scholarship by suggesting entrepreneurial creativity as a mediator facilitating journalists’ SEI, social responsibility as a substitute for moral obligation, and emphasis on the effects of social support and self-efficacy.