The Faces of News, Now and Then: An Historical Profile of Journalist in Australia and Overseas

Abstract

Journalism researchers in the United States have made the study and survey of US journalists a habit since the 1970s, when Johnstone, Slawski and Bowman's pioneering study of US journalists and their work habits was published. Since that time, Australian researchers have made several attempts to emulate this work and create an accurate profile of The Australian Journalist, most notably through Henningham's 1992 study, and Julianne Schultz's work as part of the international Media and Democracy Project. Although these are the recognised works, there is some evidence in the earlier literature which enables us to paint a picture of the Australian journalist, at least since the 1970s. This paper has been developed as part of a pilot study for a National Survey of Australian Journalists, which is planned to begin in 2005. It serves to provide the background to the development of the contemporary Australian journalist, and to establish some historical framework for the current pilot study and the eventual National Survey.