South Korea – (C5) Journalist’s job security
Longer term contracts are still the norm. But new hires under the same terms are declining.
Indicators: Control / Watchdog
South Korea – (C4) Journalism professionalism
The infrastructure, such as professional organisation, solidarity, opportunities for training, values of investigative journalism, and so forth, is in place. Whether these are fully utilised in the intended way is another question.
South Korea – (C3) Transparency of data on leading news media
Most of the information is available in accessible formats.
South Korea – (C2) Independence of the news media from powerholders
Although it may look like a free press on the surface, leading South Korean news media are not completely free from the influence of government and conglomerates.
South Korea – (C1) Supervising the watchdog ‘control of controllers’
There exists ample media outlets and people who scrutinise journalists’ behaviour, although the majority of the time it is one-note criticism by the other side of the political spectrum. But the general audience has exposure to both sides, which has the negative side-effect of increasing cynicism.
Portugal – (C9) Watchdog function and financial resources
Journalistic investigation has some priority, but the number and extent of investigations are limited by financial means.
Portugal – (C8) Professional training
Journalists’ training is not a high priority among those leading training, except for technical skills attached to the new convergence efforts.
Portugal – (C7) The watchdog and the media’s mission statement
News media only indirectly refer to the watchdog function in their mission statements.
Portugal – (C6) Practice of access to information
No legal barriers exist to accessing public information, with a law guaranteeing access to public documents, but access is sometimes difficult in practice.
Portugal – (C5) Journalist’s job security
There is a relatively high level of job security in the legal framework, but the economic crisis and the weakness of media outlets make job security much more fragile in practical terms.
