Deconstructing independence in independent journalism: a three-dimensional model of analysis

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14195/2183-5462_47_1

Keywords:

independent journalism, business models, political economy of the media, critical media

Abstract

Through a content analysis of 25 independent journalism organizations and 13 interviews with journalists, this article proposes a model for deconstructing independence in independent journalism across three dimensions: economic, organizational, and cultural. The economic dimension concerns financing models adopted, the organizational dimension comprises institutional and organizational logics, as well as production routines, and the cultural dimension focuses on the values and social mission of these organizations. At the economic dimension, the results found that the most common funding sources for these organizations are individual donations, foundation donations, and grants, with twenty-one of the organizations opting for an open access model. At the organizational level, newsrooms are more horizontal, focusing on cooperation and offering better working conditions. Finally, at the cultural level, independence is used as a slogan of distinction and alternativity, emphasizing the creation of a new professional culture.

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Published

2025-11-14

How to Cite

Gonçalves, M. (2025). Deconstructing independence in independent journalism: a three-dimensional model of analysis. Media & Jornalismo, 25(47), e4701. https://doi.org/10.14195/2183-5462_47_1

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 47 (2025)

Section

Articles

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