Again, this indicator must be balanced between what is formally prescribed in some newsrooms and what the day-to-day routines actually show. Furthermore, it must be balanced between what the editors say about the allegedly existing procedures and what the rank-and-file journalists have to say on the subject. The former guarantee that clear procedures are generally followed, and the latter complain that teamwork and collective dynamics in the newsroom are disappearing. The economic crisis, the decreasing circulation figures, the downsizing of most newsrooms – all of these things seem to favour a climate of uncertainty, of demobilisation, and of fear of losing one’s job, which reinforces an individualistic approach to work and a disinterest in more collective initiatives.
The leading reference newspapers, such as Público and Expresso, have defined extensive internal rules for selecting and processing news. They are commonly respected and seem to be very useful, for example, in the process of integration of new journalists. However, this should be regarded as more of an exception than a rule.
In the past decade, the role of press ombudsperson in recalling the principles for news processing, and in adding a reflective voice to the speed of journalistic routines, has been important. Three of the major dailies (Jornal de Notícias, Público, and Diário de Notícias) used to have an ombudsperson, but presently none of them has one. They only exist in Public Service Radio and Television.
