Updated assessment of the competencies required from Spanish journalists in the professional workplace

Abstract

Introduction: This article aims to identify the most important competencies for the current exercise of journalism as a profession. Methods: The research study is based on an online survey questionnaire applied to a sample of professionals, professors, students and academic managers (N=103), and interviews with a sample of professionals in the field of journalism in Spain. Results: The article presents respondents' assessment of the importance and utility of disciplinary knowledge (know), professional competencies (know-how), academic competencies and other specific competencies proposed by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation of Spain (ANECA, 2004). The statistical analysis of data has been performed with SPSS. Conclusions: The main results indicate that significant importance is still assigned to the traditional competencies of the journalist profile, and that these competencies are complemented with others that are in tune with the challenges raised by technological and social changes.

Framing digital competence in media work – The case of Finland

“…In media work, DC is an essential skill, but other skills relating to the profession and specific sectors thereof remain critical. Schena et al (2018) (1) business-technological competencies referring to multi-channel publishing, (2) content communication competencies relating to editorial requirements for producing material for different digital platforms and (3) professional-user competencies regarding the need to rethink professional practices in a technological environment. Both studies suggest that technology and digital platforms are at the core of present-day journalism, and journalistic competence is understood to be the combination of journalists' traditional professional skills and technological competencies.…”

“…Digitalization is reshaping ways of working in many sectors, including changes in work tasks (Brynjolfsson and McAfee, 2014). The digitalization of media has been ongoing for several decades and has shaped the business models of media corporations (Kueng, 2017), and of the media sector as a whole (Schena et al, 2018;Marta-Lazo et al, 2020). Digitalization has transformed the daily work of journalists, who must now, for example, be able to use numerous different digital tools and content production methods (Cohen, 2019).…”

“…Digitalization is reshaping ways of working in many sectors, including changes in work tasks (Brynjolfsson and McAfee, 2014). The digitalization of media has been ongoing for several decades and has shaped the business models of media corporations (Kueng, 2017), and of the media sector as a whole (Schena et al. , 2018; Marta-Lazo et al.…”

“…Schena et al, 2018;Drok, 2019). For example, Schena et al (2018) investigate DC in journalism by identifying the most important competencies for the current practice of journalism, while Drok (2019) focuses on journalistic roles, values and qualifications in the 21st century. As there are few qualitative studies (e.g.…”

Toward a New Conceptualization of Journalistic Competency: An Analysis of U.S. Broadcasting Job Announcements

“…The technology-driven changes in the media ecosystem have forced news organizations across the globe to restructure operations and workflow, redefine job tasks and responsibilities, and reshape journalistic culture and values (Donsbach, 2014;Rintala & Suolanen, 2005;Schena et al, 2018). Journalistic competency, as a key feature to 1 University of Missouri, Columbia, USA define the profession, also has been reconfigured into the changing media environment (Godkin, 2008).…”