Ethical Orientations and Practices

Terje Skjerdal; MARENET  JORDAAN; ELSAYED DARWISH; JAMES HOLLINGS; Kenneth Andressen; Anda Rožukalne; LAVINIA  ROTILI; BIRGIR  GUÐMUNDSSON; FRIÐRIK ÞÓR  GUÐMUNDSSON

doi:10.5282/ubm/epub.128812

Ethical Orientations and Practices

Terje Skjerdal
, MARENET JORDAAN
, ELSAYED DARWISH
, JAMES HOLLINGS
, Kenneth Andressen
, Anda Rožukalne
, LAVINIA ROTILI
, BIRGIR GUÐMUNDSSON
, FRIÐRIK ÞÓR GUÐMUNDSSON

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

The Worlds of Journalism Study examines four principal ethical positions: absolutist, exceptionist, situationist, and subjectivist. These archetypes are derived from the Ethics Position Questionnaire developed by the American social psychologist Donelson Forsyth (1980), which identifies people’s ethical preferences along two dimensions: idealism (concern for consequences) and relativism (concern for principles). In WJS3, the survey measured the four archetypes through four statements. Globally, journalists expressed the strongest support
for the absolutist position, associated with high idealism and low relativism.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Journalism Under Duress
Subtitle of host publication	Worlds of Journalism Study Report (Wave 3: 2021–2025)
Place of Publication	Munich
Publisher	Worlds of Journalism Study
Pages	47-51
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5282/ubm/epub.128812
Publication status	Published - Oct 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords*

Worlds of Journalism Study
journalism
Journalism epistemiology
journalism ethic
journalism safety risks
journalistic roles
journalistic standards
journalists
journalistic culture
global

Field of Science*

5.8 Media and Communication

Publication Type*

6. Other publications

Access to Document

10.5282/ubm/epub.128812Licence: CC BY

https://www.worldsofjournalism.org/wp-content/uploads/WJS3-Report-final.pdfLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Skjerdal, T., JORDAAN, MARENET., DARWISH, ELSAYED., HOLLINGS, JAMES., Andressen, K., Rožukalne, A., ROTILI, LAVINIA., GUÐMUNDSSON, BIRGIR., & GUÐMUNDSSON, FRIÐRIK. ÞÓR. (2025). Ethical Orientations and Practices. In Journalism Under Duress: Worlds of Journalism Study Report (Wave 3: 2021–2025) (pp. 47-51). Worlds of Journalism Study. https://doi.org/10.5282/ubm/epub.128812

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title = "Ethical Orientations and Practices",

abstract = "The Worlds of Journalism Study examines four principal ethical positions: absolutist, exceptionist, situationist, and subjectivist. These archetypes are derived from the Ethics Position Questionnaire developed by the American social psychologist Donelson Forsyth (1980), which identifies people{\textquoteright}s ethical preferences along two dimensions: idealism (concern for consequences) and relativism (concern for principles). In WJS3, the survey measured the four archetypes through four statements. Globally, journalists expressed the strongest support for the absolutist position, associated with high idealism and low relativism.",

keywords = "Worlds of Journalism Study, journalism, Journalism epistemiology, journalism ethic, journalism safety risks, journalistic roles, journalistic standards, journalists, journalistic culture, global",

author = "Terje Skjerdal and MARENET JORDAAN and ELSAYED DARWISH and JAMES HOLLINGS and Kenneth Andressen and Anda Ro{\v z}ukalne and LAVINIA ROTILI and BIRGIR GU{\DH}MUNDSSON and GU{\DH}MUNDSSON, \{FRI{\DH}RIK {\TH}{\'O}R\}",

note = "TERJE SKJERDAL, T., JORDAAN, M., DARWISH, E., HOLLINGS, J., ANDRESEN, K., RO{\v Z}UKALNE, A., ROTILI, L., GU{\DH}MUNDSSON, B \& GU{\DH}MUNDSSON, F. {\TH}. (2025). Ethical Orientations and Practices. Im Hanitzsch, T., Hanusch, F., Lauerer, \& Slavtcheva-Petkova, V. [eds.], Journalism Under Duress: Worlds of Journalism Study Report (Wave 3: 2021-2025). Munich: WJS Center. https://doi.org/10.5282/ubm/epub.128812",

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doi = "10.5282/ubm/epub.128812",

language = "English",

pages = "47--51",

booktitle = "Journalism Under Duress",

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}

Skjerdal, T, JORDAAN, MARENET, DARWISH, ELSAYED, HOLLINGS, JAMES, Andressen, K, Rožukalne, A, ROTILI, LAVINIA, GUÐMUNDSSON, BIRGIR & GUÐMUNDSSON, FRIÐRIKÞÓR 2025, Ethical Orientations and Practices. in Journalism Under Duress: Worlds of Journalism Study Report (Wave 3: 2021–2025). Worlds of Journalism Study, Munich, pp. 47-51. https://doi.org/10.5282/ubm/epub.128812

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T1 - Ethical Orientations and Practices

AU - Skjerdal, Terje

AU - JORDAAN, MARENET

AU - DARWISH, ELSAYED

AU - HOLLINGS, JAMES

AU - Andressen, Kenneth

AU - Rožukalne, Anda

AU - ROTILI, LAVINIA

AU - GUÐMUNDSSON, BIRGIR

AU - GUÐMUNDSSON, FRIÐRIK ÞÓR

N1 - TERJE SKJERDAL, T., JORDAAN, M., DARWISH, E., HOLLINGS, J., ANDRESEN, K., ROŽUKALNE, A., ROTILI, L., GUÐMUNDSSON, B & GUÐMUNDSSON, F. Þ. (2025). Ethical Orientations and Practices. Im Hanitzsch, T., Hanusch, F., Lauerer, & Slavtcheva-Petkova, V. [eds.], Journalism Under Duress: Worlds of Journalism Study Report (Wave 3: 2021-2025). Munich: WJS Center. https://doi.org/10.5282/ubm/epub.128812

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N2 - The Worlds of Journalism Study examines four principal ethical positions: absolutist, exceptionist, situationist, and subjectivist. These archetypes are derived from the Ethics Position Questionnaire developed by the American social psychologist Donelson Forsyth (1980), which identifies people’s ethical preferences along two dimensions: idealism (concern for consequences) and relativism (concern for principles). In WJS3, the survey measured the four archetypes through four statements. Globally, journalists expressed the strongest support for the absolutist position, associated with high idealism and low relativism.

AB - The Worlds of Journalism Study examines four principal ethical positions: absolutist, exceptionist, situationist, and subjectivist. These archetypes are derived from the Ethics Position Questionnaire developed by the American social psychologist Donelson Forsyth (1980), which identifies people’s ethical preferences along two dimensions: idealism (concern for consequences) and relativism (concern for principles). In WJS3, the survey measured the four archetypes through four statements. Globally, journalists expressed the strongest support for the absolutist position, associated with high idealism and low relativism.

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KW - journalism

KW - Journalism epistemiology

KW - journalism ethic

KW - journalism safety risks

KW - journalistic roles

KW - journalistic standards

KW - journalists

KW - journalistic culture

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BT - Journalism Under Duress

PB - Worlds of Journalism Study

CY - Munich

ER -

Ethical Orientations and Practices

Abstract

Keywords*

Field of Science*

Publication Type*

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