Professionalism and the Coverage of Protest: How an Ethos of Professionalism in Journalism Guided the Ways in Which Journalists Reported on an Anti-Trump Demonstration

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although there has been a great deal of research on professionalism within the context of journalism, much of this research is highly generalised in nature rather than focused on the reporting of specific events. Through a series of interviews with print and television journalists, this paper investigates the extent to which many of the tenets that are said to characterise professionalism in journalism resonated with and may have even guided journalists when reporting on the protests against Donald Trump when the then American President visited London in 2018. The paper explores how certain aspects of professionalism relate to the practice of journalism, especially when reporting on protests. Particular focus is given to investigating how journalists guaranteed their “detachment” from the protests, as well as what it means for the journalists to have practiced “balanced” reporting in this case. Although the journalists claimed to be “balanced”, protesters and protest organisers were still not treated as fully legitimate actors as was evident from how protest organisers were typically denied any opportunity to articulate their grievances in depth.