1. The people behind the political
headlines
A comparison of political journalists in
Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom
and Spain
Arjen van Dalen
Centre for Journalism,
University of Southern Denmark

2. Van Dalen, Arjen (2012). The people behind the political
headlines; a comparison of political journalists in Denmark,
Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. The International
Communication Gazette 74(5) 464–83.
2

3. The people behind the political
headlines
 Journalism surveys discussed in the light of media’s role
in democracy
 Political journalism the most sacred part of journalism
 However, differences between journalists in the national
political beat and other journalists often disregarded
1. What distinguishes political journalists from other
beats? (demographics)
2. Which features are universal and which vary cross-
nationally?
(role conceptions and autonomy)

4. Demographic backgrounds
What distinguishes political journalists from
journalists in other beats?
 Masculine beat
 Academization
 Left-leaning

5. Cross-national differences
Has structural homogenization (in particular
commercialization) lead to similar political journalism?
Or do role conceptions and professional autonomy still vary?
 Role conceptions
-Deferential vs. Adversarial
-Impartial vs. Partisan
 Professional autonomy
-Political pressure
-Economic pressure

6. Cases and survey details
Denmark Germany United
Kingdom
Spain
Media system
(Hallin &
Mancini, 2004)
Dem.corp
(Small)
Dem.corp.
(Large)
Liberal Pol. pluralist
Target
population
Presseloge, Bundespress
e
konferenz
Press
Gallery,
Register of
Journalists’
Interests
Asociación
de
Periodistas
Parlamentari
os
Response
(AAPOR 1)
71
(74%)
201
(32%)
87
(31%)
66
(57%)
Surveys conducted in 2008

7. Results 1: Demographics
Denmark Germany United
Kingdom
Spain
Female 28% 29% 23% 41%
Educated
at BA level
99% 84% 90% 97%
Political
leaning
(0, left -10,
right)
4.9
(1.43)
4.4
(1.36)
4.5
(1.58)
3.7
(1.27)

8. Results II: Role conceptions

9. Results III:
Most frequently mentioned limits to freedom
Denmark (N=71) Germany
(N=201)
United
Kingdom
(N=87)
Spain
(N=66)
1 Time/space (25) Time/space (72) Time/space
(21)
Political
pressure
(17)
2 Access to
politicians and spin
(5)
Commercial
pressure (21)
Access to
politicians
and spin
(20)
Time/space
(11)
3 Commercial
pressure (2)
Access to
politicians and
spin (18)
Libel and
privacy laws
(6)
Access to
politicians
and spin (8)
4 - Political
pressure (7)
Political
pressure (5)
Commercial
pressure (1)

10. Discussion
 Implications
- practice: Influence on content?
- normative: Diversity particularly important in political
journalism
- research: More attention for differences between beats
 Spain and commercialization
-no signs of homogenization of roles (Algarra & Gaitano, 1998)
-political pressure in commercial media rather than PSB
Does commercialization lead to divergence rather than
convergence?