Deerminants of watchdog journalism

A global empirical approach

Bibliographic Data

ID6428748
AuthorsBasyouni Ibrahim Hamada (0000-0002-3861-250X, Qatar University, corresponding author), Abdel‐salam G Abdel‐salam (0000-0003-4905-6489, Qatar University)
Year2024
Volume87
Issue3
Pages191-216
Publication date2024-10-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Communication Gazette (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1748-0485 • E-ISSN: 1748-0493
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/17480485241288401
OpenAlexW4403403970
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited68

This article introduces and examines a hierarchical model of influences that identifies the variables affecting the watchdog role of journalists at three levels: the societal (press freedom and democracy), the organizational (media ownership), and the individual (editorial autonomy and perceived influences) on a global scale. Using data from 27,567 journalists in 6403 media organizations across 67 countries, the model's validity is confirmed. The findings reveal that variations in journalists’ perception of their role are more pronounced at the societal level compared to the organizational and individual levels. Furthermore, journalists tend to assume a watchdog role more prominently within public media as opposed to private or state-run outlets. Surprisingly, press freedom and democracy have a weak and insignificant impact on watchdog journalism, challenging established norms in the literature, a result that we critically discussed

Empirical research · Epistemology · Journalism · Law and economics · Media studies · Political science · Sociology · Law · Media Influence and Politics · Media Studies and Communication · Philosophy · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies

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