Artisan, Advocate, Steward: A Narrative Exploration of Professional Identity and Meaningful Work in Journalism

Abstract

This study challenges the view of professional identity in journalism as role-based, arguing that journalists are more than their roles. Drawing from management and organization studies, we explore how the processes of identity work and meaningfulness negotiation coevolve over the course of journalists’ careers. Through analysis of 30 Finnish journalists’ interviews, we identify three narrative identities—artisans, advocates, and stewards—and explore the coevolution patterns of identity work and negotiation of work meaningfulness associated with them. Our findings refine the distinction between roles and identities in journalism and offer practical insights for individual well-being and management issues in media organizations.