Tumultuous relationship between Journalism and PR thawing

28 February 2012

Tumultuous relationship between Journalism and PR thawing says Waikato researcher

A University of Waikato student’s study has found the tumultuous relationship between public relations practitioners and journalists isn’t as rocky as it once was.

Summer Research Scholarship student Steven Hitchcock has been examining the shifting dynamic between journalists and public relations practitioners, and has found that journalists are becoming increasingly reliant on PR.

Hitchcock’s research is part of a larger study being undertaken by Professor Kay Weaver looking at the changing face of journalism and the impact this has on the news media in New Zealand.

The research has attracted interest from a wide variety of journalists and news media organisations keen to participate in the discussion about the changing media environment and how they are adapting to the use of new technology, changing audience expectations and increasing financial pressures.

“Traditionally, or maybe anecdotally, people think journalists and PR practitioners are quite opposed,” says Hitchcock.

“This comes from the impression that PR practitioners aim to get their corporate agenda into news media. In a similar way we have this belief that journalists are this public watchdog, always relaying the objective and absolute truth.”

Hitchcock says financial pressures, the tabloidisation of news and more demanding deadlines have changed journalists’ minds, and now instead of seeing a move to PR as a “move to the dark side”, many journalists see this as a fairly normal and understandable career change.

“Times have really changed, especially in the world of journalism, and I think that is principally because of financial pressures.

“The relationship isn’t what it once was. Amid the 24 hour rolling deadline, high stress, low pay environment that journalists are working in - more and more they are looking to PR practitioners as people who can help them and make their job easier.”

To conduct his research Hitchcock interviewed 30 journalists and PR practitioners on how they understand themselves as communicators in New Zealand.

Both journalists and PR practitioners see themselves as conduits through which information is passed to the public. The point of difference is journalists see themselves as obligated to the public interest, whereas PR practitioners are obligated to the client or organisation, says Hitchcock.

A future study will look at the results of this changing relationship on news.

ENDS

© Scoop Media