The Hierarchy of Influences on Professional Role Perceptions Among Chinese Online Journalists

Abstract

This research seeks to understand the journalistic profession in contemporary China, given the growth of online journalism, the transformation of the media system, and the emergence of transnational journalism culture. Based on a nationwide sample of 1751 full-time online journalists from 205 online news organizations in 31 provincial level units and other aggregate-level data from secondary sources, the study applies Shoemaker and Reese’s Hierarchical Model to examine the factors that drive the formation of professional role perceptions among Chinese online journalists. The final results of hierarchical linear models provide evidence for the significant influences of individual level, routine level, and organizational level factors. However, social institutional-level and social system-level factors are not significant predictors of professional role perceptions.

Keywords:

• China
• hierarchy of influences model
• journalism
• journalists
• multilevel analysis
• role perceptions