The Formation of a Professional Identity

Abstract

Journalism education plays an important role in the formation of a professional identity. With the results from a survey of 527 journalism students in five countries (Poland, Russia, Sweden, Estonia and Finland) similarities and differences are analysed concerning students' motives to become journalists, competences and character traits, ideals and values, and relations to other professional areas such as PR and politics. The main question is whether there is a process of homogenization among future journalists as a result of globalization, or whether there are still clear differences connected to history, politics and different media systems. The results shows that it is not possible to talk about a single and similar professional identity, but rather hybrid forms of professional identities that combine some universal journalistic values with cultural heritage and social/political conditions of the different countries.

KEYWORDS:

• comparative journalism studies
• hybridization
• journalism education
• journalism students
• professional identity
• professionalization

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The project was financed by the Foundation of Baltic and Eastern European Studies in Sweden. The survey was made possible thanks to the collaboration with Maria Lukina, Moscow State University, Dominika Rafalska, University of Warsaw, Halliki Harro Loit, University of Tartu and Raimo Salokangas, University of Jyväskylä.