Ethics and Media Management in Romanian Journalism
A Longitudinal Analysis Based on the Worlds of Journalism Study
Abstract
This article analyses changes in journalists’ ethical orientations and professional values in Romania by comparing data from the second and third waves of the Worlds of Journalism Study, with particular attention to newsroom hierarchy. The study is based on surveys of 341 Romanian journalists in WJS2 (data collected between 2014 and 2015) and 365 journalists in WJS3 (data collected between 2022 and 2023), representing a cross-section of the media landscape (television and radio stations, newspapers, online outlets, independent newsrooms). Focusing on four core ethical statements—absolute professional standards, ethical standards with exceptions, situational ethics, and personal judgment—the article examines longitudinal changes and positional differences among journalists without managerial responsibilities, middle management, and top management roles.
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