Press responsibility based on professionalizm - a typology of attributes

Abstract

The Press often maintains that it performs its task in a professional manner and outside bodies insist that the Press must become increasingly professional to guarantee responsible, professional conduct. Three professionalization dimensions (knowledge, orientation and structure-organisation) are discussed. Responsible, professional conduct posits that the Press will give its attention to each of the professionalization elements. The purpose of this article is to indicate some of the more important parameters which could serve as a conceptual basis for journalistic professionalization. Professionalism, however, is not a singular concept, and according to the sociology of occupations it is possible to distinguish several levels of analysis and particular points of view. It is argued in this paper that professionalization should be analysed according to all the above-mentioned dimensions. It, is further argued that the professionalization process should start at the first dimension, i.e the development of a ...