In-House Broadcasting Ethics and Objectivity

Abstract

In-house broadcasters are uniquely positioned to experience any potential tension between journalism ethics and the desires of the organizations which employ them. This might impact broadcasters' framing of certain information on-air. Prior research indicates that in-house broadcasting is boundary work, that broadcasters are subject to social pressures according to the Sociology of News paradigm, and also that many areas of media can influence public perception based on agenda-setting and media framing. Media use agenda-setting and framing in sports to specifically highlight players, performances, and benefit the teams and leagues involved. Using interviews with 10 in-house broadcasters collected through snowball sampling, this research explored in-house broadcasters' experiences with objectivity, organizational pressure, journalism ethics, and associated impacts on how broadcasters frame information on-air. In-house broadcasters have a different definition of objectivity, which allows them to withhold negative information and spin other information positively. In-house broadcasters attempt to maintain internal relationships to balance objectivity and organizational pressure. Framing on the air is impacted by the need to engage audiences, avoid controversial topics, and keep commentary focused on facts associated with the game.