PRACTICE REVIEW: JOURNALISM ETHICS AND CONFESSIONAL JOURNALISM

Confessional journalism has become a staple of contemporary journalism, either in the form of first-person real-life experiences (often ghosted by journalists) or regular columns by journalists detailing intimate details of their lives. The form is now recognised as a distinct genre but what has not received attention, except as an internal debate within journalism itself, are the consequences of this form of writing for journalism and journalists. There is mounting evidence that editors are exerting pressure towards this form of writing, favouring particular types of writers. This review investigates the compelling ethical implications for writers and their subjects within the genre and argues that these implications are producing distinctive journalistic responses and strategies.     

JOURNALISM EDUCATION IN BRITAIN

The number of undergraduate journalism students in Britain has risen fivefold since 1994/95 as journalism education undergoes the rapid expansion previously seen in other countries. This study analyses this expansion in Britain, demonstrating that it has led to a growing proportion of journalism graduates in newsrooms, despite residual, industry concern that journalism is not the best first degree subject for would-be journalists. The study examines findings from a survey of British journalism undergraduates concerning what motivated them to become journalists. Its first phase was conducted when, or soon after, 661 students arrived at 10 British universities. Students were also asked about ambitions regarding specialisms in journalism. A similar questionnaire was administered to a “completion” sample of 234 students shortly before these university programmes ended. This asked why some had by then rejected journalism as a career. Findings are contextualised with international studies of journalism students.     

ENVISIONING JOURNALISM PRACTICE AS RESEARCH

As pressure grows on journalism academics to publish scholarly outputs and attract external research income, many express frustration over the uncertain status of journalism practice in relation to the requirement for making a contribution to knowledge (Harcup, 2011). Simultaneously, work in education theory has highlighted contextual shifts in arts and humanities education that signify a pressing need for journalism studies as well as other disciplines to define their position regarding practice within research. Recent reflections on practice and research within journalism education (Niblock, 2007) suggest the discipline is seeking forms of scholarship that cohere better with its industry-facing character. This paper seeks to originate both a methodological framework and an epistemological perspective that acknowledges practitioner perspectives as accumulated knowledge. Drawing on concepts of reflexivity and habitus, it will negotiate and evaluate a range of potential models of practice as research, and discuss their implications for furthering the profile of journalism scholarship.     

Spotlight

Against a backdrop of pessimism about the future of investigative reporting, this study reports major findings of a survey of mainly US-based investigative journalists (N?=?861). Although respondents reflect some of the current negative discourse, they also report high perceptions of autonomy and job satisfaction and say resources for investigative reporting are maintaining and even increasing. The survey provides empirical indication of the migration of investigative journalists to nonprofit newsrooms, with nonprofit journalists offering especially positive appraisals of the state of their craft. Also explored are investigative journalists’ professional role conceptions as well as perceptions of the nature of their relationship with the public and public policymakers.     

STRUCTURING THE SCIENCE BEAT

Science journalism, as one specialisation within journalism, has undergone remarkable changes in the past two decades; not only in content but also in the way work in the newsroom is structured. This paper takes a closer look at science beats and their organisational variance. Observational studies conducted in German newsrooms are reviewed and concepts from organisational theory are discussed. Two heuristic concepts are introduced for the analysis of journalistic work processes in newsrooms, the beat concept and the mental editorial plan. The paper then constructs four ideal types of science beats to describe possible development trends within newsrooms: the current news science beat, the creative science beat, the audience- and business-oriented science journalism team, and the science beat as a specialised correspondents' office. The latter cooperates with various other beats or departments and is engaged in dynamic topic teams. For this new work-structure, the paper argues, a high level of journalistic proficiency is demanded of science journalists to sustain and improve the quality of science journalism in changing newsrooms.     

科研数据共享中的数据安全规范研究--以澳大利亚高校科研数据共享政策为例

科研数据的开放共享必须在确保数据安全的前提下进行。澳大利亚高校的科研数据管理实践起步较早,并且在不断的实践过程中逐步建立起了成熟的政策体系。论文以澳大利亚高校的科研数据共享政策为研究对象,采用网络调研法和内容分析法,重点对其政关于数据共享主体和客体的保护规范进行调研,以此角度出发对其科研数据安全规范进行了深入研究,以期为尚在起步阶段的我国高校科研数据共享的实践以及科研数据共享政策的制定提供借鉴。     

江苏省高校图书馆科研现状及对策

本文运用文献资料、访问调查等方法,对江苏省普通高校图书馆78名经常从事科研工作的馆员,从学术研究成果的类别,及从事科研工作的目的等内容进行了调研。结果表明．78名馆员中大多数从事科研的主要目的是职称晋升与上岗需要,导致了研究方向杂乱、科研成果水平偏低等现实问题。     

高校科研管理体制机制创新的“路径依赖”分析

从“路径依赖”概念分析我国高校科研管理存在经费多来源于政府投入、重“管理”轻“服务”、重“数 量”轻“质量”以及评价重“成果”轻“转化”4个方面的路径依赖效应,然后从正式制度、非正式制度和传统文化以及 特殊利益集团等方面分析路径依赖的成因,并通过案例分析,采用新制度经济学框架提出高校科研管理体制机制创新 的建议。