Profile of Chilean Journalists

Chilean news people are the target of criticism and appear among the least reliable professionals in public opinion studies. Journalists have been labeled as passive, acquiescent and cautious. Nevertheless, there was no empirical evidence to prove or reject the validity of these accusations. This research provides evidence contributed by the accused. The study, based on a national survey, focused on measuring news people’s support of values relevant to autonomy in journalism and their perception of the importance that media attribute to them, the use of journalistic practices that require personal initiative, and the resistance to pressure exerted upon news people by outside and inside agents. Furthermore, it analyzed several personal characteristics of news people associated with autonomy. The study provides qualitative explanations for the primary findings in the empirical study though group discussions and in-depth interviews. The research validated much of the criticism on Chilean news people, who conform their practice to journalistic routines. This analysis should be especially useful to news people and professionals and researchers in the field of communications.