The transformation of normative approaches to journalism in Croatian academic literature from socialism to post-socialism

Abstract

This paper shows changes in the normative expectations of journalism through an analysis of articles published in Croatian scientific journals about journalism in three time periods: socialism, the transition period, and the period of democratic consolidation. Using qualitative content analysis we identify a total of fifteen themes related to journalism (journalistic norms, regulation, sensationalism, investigative journalism, journalism and PR, organizational aspects, war reporting, technological aspects, gender and journalism, media freedom, democratic aspects, economic aspects, journalism education, the function of journalism in a political system, and the history of journalism) and nine normative roles for journalists (gatekeeper, social-political worker, public sphere promoter, watchdog, commercial role, emancipatory role, neutral disseminator, advocacy role, defender of democracy). We used quantitative content analysis to analyze the distribution of themes and roles. The results show no unambiguous perception of journalism in academic papers during the different time periods as is generally assumed in the literature on media democratization and the media in transitional countries in general.