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Professional Ideology, Professionalization, and Education of Journalists Reconsidered

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Professional Ideology, Professionalization, and Education of Journalists Reconsidered Ingrid Bejerman Dept. of Art History and Communication Studies McGill University, Montreal October 2011 Turning the inverted pyramid inside-out: Professional ideology, professionalization, and education of journalists reconsidered A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy © Ingrid Bejerman, 2011 ii Abstract Since the rise of citizen reporters, blogging, wikis, and pro-am newsroom collaborations, both the professional and academic spheres have come to contest the very definition of a journalist. These analyses, however, often fail to consider the historical complexity of the processes of professionalization in journalism, its systematic institutionalization as an intellectual endeavor, and the fact that there is not – and never has been – a single unifying activity defined as journalism. The lack of a consensual body of knowledge within journalism studies as a field of inquiry, and journalism’s problematic status as a discipline within the critical humanities and the social sciences in general, only exacerbate this state of affairs. This thesis proposes to address these issues by reconsidering the historical narratives which shape them, in order to offer a critical review of the social advancement of the ‘profession’ and the institutionalization of journalism. The first chapter of this dissertation consists of an attempt to problematize the nature of journalism by providing a brief history of the haphazard, unplanned, and largely accidental way that journalism came into being by describing how journalism is the articulation of many genres and traditions of writing and communication. This provides a historical background for the second chapter, which explores the materialization of the values and ideologies that structure Anglo-American journalism as a profession in the nineteenth century, and which still form the basis of its occupational norms today. Following a discussion of the emergence of the reporter, both the modern ideal of objectivity in Anglo-American journalism and the rise of professionalism are situated within the broader context of modernism. The third chapter offers a review of the literature on the professionalization of journalism by considering the journalistic occupation within the system of professions, drawing on approaches from sociology, political economy, communications, and journalism studies. These chapters provide the foundation for an analysis of the emergence of journalism education, which has been historically linked to the notion of journalism as a profession. Considering journalism education as an agent of professional legitimization, the fourth chapter aims to historicize the establishment of journalism departments in a university setting in the United States and Canada by tracing the origins of models of journalism schools in order to provide a context for the study of journalism education and training. The fifth and final chapter of this thesis builds on the preceding chapters to demonstrate how all of these complex tensions contribute to the uncomfortable position that journalistic training occupies within the university. Academically, journalism draws on the humanities and the social sciences, while remaining outside of both. Pedagogically, journalism educators are asked to offer a ‘critical’ approach to phenomena while also teaching students practical skills of use to those seeking professional careers. This chapter also explores the troubled marriage between communication studies and journalism, culminating in the recent call for the reorganization of the various subjects of journalism (i.e. law, ethics, communication theory, political economy of journalism, media history, etc.) into a single field of Journalism Studies. The dissertation concludes by looking at the continuing impact of these unresolved difficulties on journalism education today. iii Résumé Depuis la montée des reporters citoyens, des blogs et les wikis, la définition même de journaliste en est venue à être contestée tant dans les sphères professionnelles qu’académiques. Cependant, ces analyses ne tiennent pas compte de la complexité historique du processus de professionnalisation du journalisme, de son institutionnalisation systématique en tant que projet intellectuel, et du fait qu’il n’y ait pas – et qu’il n’y ait jamais eu – une seule et même activité unificatrice répondant de la définition du journalisme. L'absence d'un corps consensuel de connaissances au sein des études journalistiques en tant que domaine de recherche ainsi que le statut problématique du journalisme en tant que discipline au sein des sciences humaines critiques et des sciences sociales en général, ne font qu'exacerber cet état de choses. Cette thèse se propose d'aborder ces questions en reconsidérant les récits historiques qui les constituent. Le but est de présenter une analyse critique de l’avancement social de la «profession» et de l'institutionnalisation du journalisme. Le premier chapitre de cette thèse tente de problématiser la nature du journalisme à travers un bref historique de la manière hasardeuse, imprévue, et en grande partie accidentelle dont est apparu le journalisme. Ce survol historique met en exergue en quoi le journalisme est le fruit de l’articulation d’un ensemble de genres et traditions d’écriture et de communication. Sur cette toile de fonds repose le deuxième chapitre, lequel explore la matérialisation des valeurs et des idéologies qui ont structuré le journalisme anglo-américain en tant que profession au XIXe siècle et qui forment encore la base de ses normes professionnelles aujourd'hui. Ce deuxième chapitre aborde ensuite l’émergence du reporter pour enfin situer l’idéal moderne de l’objectivité et la montée d’un professionnalisme au sein du journalisme anglo-américain dans leur contexte plus vaste du modernisme. Le troisième chapitre propose une revue de littérature sur la professionnalisation du journalisme en considérant l’occupation de journaliste au sein du système des professions. À cet effet sont mobilisées des approches tant sociologiques, que de l'économie politique, des communications et des études journalistiques. Ces trois premiers chapitres posent les bases d'une analyse de l'émergence de l'enseignement du journalisme, lequel a été lié historiquement à la notion de journalisme en tant que profession. Considérant l'enseignement du journalisme comme un vecteur de légitimation professionnelle, le quatrième chapitre vise à historiciser la création de départements de journalisme dans les milieux universitaires des États-Unis et du Canada en retraçant les origines d'écoles journalistiques. Ceci fournit un ancrage pour l’étude de l'enseignement et la formation journalistiques qui fera l’objet du chapitre suivant. Le dernier chapitre de cette thèse s'appuie sur les chapitres précédents afin de démontrer en quoi toutes ces tensions complexes contribuent à perpétuer le statut équivoque qu’occupe la formation en journalisme au sein du milieu universitaire. Sur le plan académique, le journalisme s’appuie sur les sciences humaines et les sciences sociales, tout en demeurant en dehors de ses deux sphères. Sur le plan pédagogique, les enseignants en journalisme sont appelés à mobiliser une approche critique à l’analyse des phénomènes tout en enseignant aux étudiants des compétences pratiques et directement utiles à ceux qui envisagent une carrière professionnelle. Ce chapitre explore également les eaux troubles liant les études en communication et le journalisme, tel que cela a récemment culminé dans l’exhortation à réorganiser les différents domaines du journalisme (droit, éthique, théorie de la communication, économie politique du journalisme, histoire des médias, etc.) en un seul et même domaine, à savoir celui des Études sur le Journalisme. La thèse conclut en examinant l'impact persistant de ces difficultés sur l'enseignement actuel du journalisme. iv For Carolina and Rebeca, in memoriam v vi Acknowledgements This dissertation about professionalism in journalism reflects so much of my own trajectory; a trail of wonderful people who were not only vital in helping me achieve my goals, but who, in many ways, made me the journalist and scholar I am today. My deepest gratitude goes, first and foremost, to my supervisor, Will Straw, with whom I had the honour of working, for his knowledge, support, patience, and guidance throughout my entire doctoral endeavor. For his invaluable encouragement, sound advice, and fabulous ideas during my thesis-writing period. For having a steady hand while always allowing me the room to work in my own way. And above all, for accepting to walk me through the forest. I would have been lost without him. I feel very grateful to have been able to pursue my research in the invigorating and welcoming environment of the Department of Art History and Communication Studies at McGill University. I am particularly indebted to my academic mentor Jonathan Sterne, whose intelligence is only second to his generous heart, for pointing me towards the wonderful world of reflexive sociology, and for teaching me everything I know about teaching. To Carrie Rentschler, for her precious input in the formative parts of this thesis, and helping me pose the questions I wanted to ask. To Don McGregor, whose classes – and company – are as delightful and thought- provoking as a short story by Julio Cortázar. To Marc Raboy, Jenny Burman, Becky Lentz, and Darin Barney, who never failed to lend me a friendly ear.
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