Abstract:

Abstract The number of global comparative researches of journalistic culture is increasing. More and more the samples of countries for comparisons are putting Non-Western cultures at the centre of its enquiry. In this article, we analyse the self-perception of professional roles and the idea of objectivity of Swiss, Spanish and Ecuadorian journalists. In order to study these dimensions we use fieldwork based on in-depth interviews with 70 journalists from 15 media in the three countries and multilevel analysis of the context influences. The objective is to determine the journalists’ self-perception of their professional roles and the idea of objectivity as an ideal and method within their contexts. Results show that Spanish journalists tend to have an interventionist role and are opposed to the government. Swiss journalists tend towards a greater passivity and objectivity than Spanish journalists and, even though they do not see themselves as watchdogs, they have a critical position towards the centres of power. And, finally, Ecuadorian journalists believe they are neutral and impartial professionals, feeling that they must inform the citizens, and the objectivity as philosophical concept is not a goal for their profession.

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