Constructing Experts Without Expertise: Fiscal Reporting in the British Press, 2010–2016

Abstract

Thi s v e r sio n is b ei n g m a d e a v ail a bl e in a c c o r d a n c e wit h p u blis h e r p olici e s.S e e h t t p://o r c a . cf. a c. u k/ p olici e s. h t ml fo r u s a g e p olici e s. Co py ri g h t a n d m o r al ri g h t s fo r p u blic a tio n s m a d e a v ail a bl e in ORCA a r e r e t ai n e d by t h e c o py ri g h t h ol d e r s .

The power of primary definers: How journalists assess the pluralism of economic journalism

“…In economic journalism, experts and other key institutional actors, such as representatives of research institutions, banks, ministries or central banks, are often used as authoritative sources, commentators and analysts (Basu, 2018; Berry, 2019; Chadwick et al, 2020; Harjuniemi and Ampuja, 2019; Walsh, 2020). Such authoritative actors are, in the analysis of Hall et al (1978: 58) the ‘primary definers’ of news, as they are given privileged access to the media to establish a ‘ primary interpretation’ of the topic in question.…”

Talouden asiantuntijoiden uskottavuuden hierarkia suomalaisten talous- ja politiikan toimittajien silmin

“…Chadwick ja kumppanit (2020) kiinnittävät huomiota siihen, miten journalismi hyödyntää arvovaltaisimpia talousasiantuntijoita arvioidakseen poliitikkojen talouspoliittisia päätöksiä kriittisesti. Isossa-Britanniassa toimivien taloudellisten tutkimuslaitosten medianäkyvyyttä tutkinut Walsh (2021) arvioi samaan sävyyn, että journalismissa talouden asiantuntijoiden kyky arvioida talouspolitiikkaa kumpuaa asiantuntijalaitosten oletetusta puolueettomuudesta tai itsenäisyydestä.…”

The “Hierarchy of Credibility” among Economic Experts: Journalists’ Perceptions of Experts with Varying Institutional Affiliations

“…Chadwick and colleagues (2020) argue that in journalism practice, those economic policy experts considered most independent or above partisan politics are given the ability to assess the feasibility of economic policy ideas. Similarly, Walsh (2020) argues that the perceived independence and respect of experts are essential factors when journalists evaluate their competence and credibility. In their analysis of the relationship between economic journalists and economists in Brasil, Pedroso Neto and Undurraga (2018) argue that economists tend to see the views of mainstream economists as more credible than the views of more heterodox economists.…”

“…When reporting on and analysing economic policy, journalists routinely turn to economic experts representing such institutions as banks, research institutes, government agencies, think tanks and labour market organisations (Harjuniemi and Ampuja 2019;Basu 2018;Chadwick et al 2020;Walsh 2020). The scholarship on journalistic representations of the financial crisis and the ensuing euro crisis has concluded that experts played a pivotal role in providing the public with justifications regarding such economic policy ideas as austerity (Berry 2019;Cawley 2016;Vaara 2014).…”

“…Given the ability of experts to disseminate economic ideas and influence policy-making (Helgadóttir 2016), as well as shape public discourse on economics, it is hardly surprising that journalism scholarship has started to pay attention to how journalists construct the authority and credibility of economic policy experts (Chadwick et al 2020;Walsh 2020). However, given the variety of economic expert groups that provide journalists with information and insights (for instance, banks, government authorities, research institutes), the scholarship lacks analyses of how journalists assess the credibility of different types of expert groups.…”