External Interference in a Hybrid Media Environment

Abstract

Contemporary journalists face a multitude of external pressures and threats, ranging from political and commercial interference to online harassment and increasing anti-press hostility. This empirical article examines how the hybridization of the media environment is reflected in journalists' experiences of external interference. The article also explores the factors in journalists' working environment that support their ability to maintain their external autonomy against interference. The article is based on an applied thematic analysis of 31 semi-structured interviews with Finnish journalists supplemented by 4 background interviews with organizational stakeholders. Four major developments were identified in the analysis: (1) a proliferation of publicity control, (2) an increasingly contested public sphere, (3) societal and political polarization, and (4) the personalization of journalism. The autonomy of journalism was supported by a combination of (1) journalistic professionalism, (2) internal confidence within journalistic organizations, and (3) communication and support measures. The findings suggest that the hybridization of the media environment has intensified the external interference and pressure journalists encounter in their work. These, in turn, increase the workload and mental strain related to journalistic work, having the potential to cause fatigue, chilling effects, and self-censorship in the long run.

Riskinäkemykset ja turvakäytännöt suomalaisten tutkivien toimittajien työssä

“…Bennett ja Serrin 2005). Nykyisessä mediaympäristössä tätä tendenssiä voimistavat yhteiskunnan medioitumiseen liittyvät trendit, jotka ovat saaneet yhä suuremman osan yhteiskunnallisista toimijoista panostamaan aktiiviseen maineenhallintaan ja imagonrakennukseen (Hiltunen 2022). Näiden pyrkimysten ja kriittisen journalismin välillä vallitsee yhteensovittamaton jännite, joka heijastuu erilaisten vaikutusyritysten kautta journalistien työhön yhä useammin myös Suomessa (emt.…”

Toimittajien kokema lobbaus suomalaisessa politiikan uutisoinnissa

“…Medialobbaamisen merkityksen lisääntymisen on arveltu selittyvän osin sillä, että vies tintäammattilaisten määrä on lisääntynyt (Lounasmeri 2018, 377;Tyllström 2013, 47-50) ja viestintäresursseiltaan suuret organisaatiot ovat kasvattaneet mediaviestintäänsä (Mykkä nen ja Ikonen 2019). Lisääntyneestä vaikuttamisesta huolimatta suomalaisen journalismin on nähty säilyttäneen autonomiansa melko hyvin (Hiltunen 2021(Hiltunen , 2120, vaikka erilaisten viestinnän tapojen ja journalismin välinen raja onkin hämärtynyt. Journalistisessa työssä eri laisiin painostaviin, rajoittaviin ja suostutteleviin vaikutusyrityksiin on perinteisesti pyritty vastaamaan tukemalla toimittajien omaa itsenäistä työtä ja identiteettiä sekä kehittämällä mediaorganisaatioita (Luostarinen 1994, 73-89).…”

Digital corporate communication and public sector organizations

“…Finally, digital corporate communications within the public sector also draws the attention of the fourth estate on the purpose of public sector communications. Journalists critique whether tax-funded organizations should engage in practices that resemble corporate public relations (Arolainen, 2014;Hiltunen, 2021), as these are often perceived to be overly promotional, less truthful, and at times, even deceitful. Such accounts can be interpreted as a longing for the more traditional one-way communication practices of public sector organizations, which no longer respond to the current communication environment.…”

“…Another paradox is evident. While public sector communication on social media is often presented as advancing openness, transparency, and dialogue with citizens (Lovari & Valentini, 2020), journalists have noted that public sector representatives often appear reluctant to provide public information, as the organizations seek to protect their public image (Hiltunen, 2021). While public sector organizations' direct interaction with citizens is important, equally important is that journalists maintain access to public sector organizations' documents and the ability to critically assess their actions and practices.…”