Studying Journalists and Journalism Across Four Decades: A Sociology of Occupations Approach

A unique research interest in the influence of society on the media led to a productive career for David H. Weaver of Indiana University, with 5 national surveys, 3 books, and dozens of research studies in the past 4 decades. In this Deutschmann Scholars essay, the author reflects on his research career and the challenges now confronting journalists around the world in the 21st century. The author then reviews the significant findings of studies in agenda-setting and media effects and observes that media scholars have neglected to establish linkages between individual journalists and the content they produce. He calls for expanded research on the attitudes of journalists and new media systems, and how these relate to the quality of news reporting.