Power Relations: The Performance of the Watchdog and Loyal-Facilitator Roles

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the way in which role performance reflects the relationships between journalists and power by comparing news content produced by different media organizations across countries. Specifically, we analyze the performance of the watchdog and loyal-facilitator roles in the news. In order to have a better understanding of the interplay between the two, as well as their resulting hybridization, we draw from their specific indicators to empirically compare two analytical sub-dimensions within each role. For the watchdog role, we identify both detached and interventionist orientations to monitoring, while in the case of the loyal-facilitator role, we identify an elite-supporting and a nation-supporting approach. We first compare the performance of each role and its variation across countries, news topics, and media political leanings. We then analyze a number of correlations between role sub-dimensions in order to ascertain the fluidity of role performance and the contextual, situational nature of journalistic roles overall.