Journalism quality in Latvia: looking for new values in the middle of chaos

Abstract

During the last decade, Latvian journalism has seen a lot of changes: a versatile commercial media system has strengthened its positions within the local media market, increasing demand for cheap information targeted for mass audience. The technological development, under influence of which a large proportion of audience has changed their media consumption habits, have again made us look for the answer to a question of journalism’s role in society, and its main functions. Media professionals were encouraged to find answers to these questions by the economic recession: a number of media disappeared, journalism’s market reduced, media environment changed, as well as did requirements of journalistic practice. Searching for new ways for development outside the traditional media environment, journalists have found new media models and professional approaches, and have acknowledged the importance of self-regulation and maintaining high quality standards. This article analyzes trends in Latvian journalistic development since 2004 when Latvia became a member of the European Union. By using interviews with many media editors and journalists, as well as applying media content analysis, this article seeks to evaluate current journalistic values, understanding of professional journalism, the situation in employment market, and changes within the Latvian journalistic environment during the economic recession from 2008 until 2011.