Worlds of Journalism Study Report – 32,000+ journalists in 75 countries

The new Worlds of Journalism Study (WJS3) Report, “Journalism under duress”, is now available – https://www.worldsofjournalism.org/reports-wjs3/

Drawing on responses from over 32,000 journalists in 75 countries, this report examines how journalists across the globe navigate risk, uncertainty, and transformation in today’s rapidly changing media landscape.

Supported by UNESCO, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), WJS3 provides comprehensive insights yet into the state of journalism worldwide.

Here are the key takeaways from the Worlds of Journalism Study (WJS3) – Country Report: Turkey (2025):

📰 1. Overview of the Media Environment

• Turkey’s media landscape in 2025 is marked by heavy government control, diminished press freedom, and growing censorship of digital platforms.
• Media ownership is highly concentrated among pro-government conglomerates, leading to content homogenization and declining diversity of viewpoints.
• The broader context includes economic crisis, political polarization, and shrinking civic space, though some grassroots solidarity efforts persist.

👩‍💼 2. Journalists’ Demographics and Education

• Gender distribution: 43.9% women, 56.1% men.
• Average age: 39.9 years; average experience: 14.6 years.
• Education: 71% have a Bachelor’s degree, 19% a Master’s, 2.7% a PhD.
• 73% have formal journalism training, mostly through universities.

🏢 3. Employment and Working Conditions

• 93% work in private/commercial media; 86% in national outlets.
• Main sectors: newspapers (35%), TV (24%), online media (14%).
• 82% have full-time contracts; 74% earn all income from journalism.
• Average work week: 45.7 hours.
• 67% report frequent work-related stress.

⚠️ 4. Safety and Threats

• Demeaning or hateful speech (46%) and stalking (36%) are the most frequent threats.
• Surveillance, public discrediting, and coercion are widespread.
• Physical violence is rarer, but digital harassment and psychological intimidation are pervasive.
• 84% believe that attacks on journalists go unpunished.
• 69% report concerns about emotional well-being.

🧭 5. Professional Roles and Values

• Core professional ideals:
  • Providing accurate political information (96%)
  • Being a detached observer (94%)
  • Highlighting societal problems (85%)
• Lower-rated roles: supporting government policy (11%), promoting political leaders (15%).
• Mixed support for advocacy roles such as motivating political participation or speaking for marginalized groups—reflecting tensions between objectivity and activism.

🧠 6. Journalistic Epistemologies

• Strong belief in objectivity and truth-telling:
  • 75% agree journalists can represent objective reality.
  • 91% say journalists should alert audiences to false claims.
• At the same time, 65% believe interpretation is necessary to make sense of facts, showing awareness of contextual and constructed knowledge.

⚖️ 7. Journalistic Ethics

• 76% say ethical decisions should follow universal professional standards.
• About half agree that extraordinary circumstances may justify exceptions.
• Only 22% think ethics should be based on personal judgment.
• Some controversial methods (e.g., using hidden recording devices or unauthorized documents) are seen as “justified on occasion.”

🗞️ 8. Editorial Autonomy and Media Freedom

• Around half of journalists feel some autonomy in story selection and emphasis.
• However, only 7.9% perceive “substantial or complete” media freedom in Turkey.
• The overall perception of media freedom is among the lowest globally.

🏛️ 9. Influences on Journalism

• External political pressures dominate:
  • Government censorship (73%)
  • Media laws and regulations (72%)
  • Government officials (69%)
• Internal factors (e.g., editors, ethics, peers) have less influence.
• Time pressure (59%) and editorial policy (53%) are key newsroom constraints.
• This indicates a system where political and structural power outweigh professional autonomy.

📌 Summary Insight

The report portrays Turkish journalism as professionally resilient but politically constrained. Journalists maintain commitment to objectivity and ethics, yet operate in an environment of intimidation, limited autonomy, and systemic control. Despite digital alternatives, independent journalism faces structural suppression and a precarious future