What makes a journalist? A Lexical Availability Study of Perceptions Among Journalism Students and Practicing Journalists

Journalism is a profession intrinsically tied to the social responsibility of upholding the public’s right to accurate, timely, and meaningful information. This study explored the perceptions of journalism students and practicing journalists regarding the role of communication professionals. Using a mixed-methods approach informed by lexical availability research, the study engaged a sample of 104 participants, comprising 52 journalism students (26 first-year and 26 fifth-year students) and 52 journalists, who completed an open-response lexical elicitation task with a minimum requirement of eight items per participant. The findings revealed a substantial degree of similarity between the examined cohorts. Students exhibited slightly greater cohesion in their responses, while journalists generated a more diverse lexical repertoire. Both groups prioritized journalists’ fundamental qualities as being effective communicators and upholding truthfulness. Additionally, the study highlighted the ethical dimension of journalism, with attributes such as responsibility, truthfulness, and the ability to foster change being central to the profession. The results suggest opportunities for refining journalism education by integrating insights from both groups’ perceptions. Educators and program administrators can use these findings to design curricula that enhance ethical literacy and communicative competencies, while incorporating elements such as sustainability, technology, and interdisciplinary perspectives. By aligning academic training more closely with professional expectations, journalism education can better equip future professionals with the necessary skills and values.