Most journalists in Canada feel the conditions that they work in are dangerous. More than 80 per cent of TV camera operators and half of broadcast reporters have been assaulted or threatened with injury at least once while doing their current job.
In the print sector, more than 75 per cent of photographers and almost 30 per cent of reporters have been assaulted or threatened with injury. Of those who reported assaults or threats, more than 20 per cent said it had happened three or more times.
Almost half of TV camera operators and slightly more than 20 per cent of photographers also reported suffering a physical injury in their current job that caused them to take time off work.
The findings are from the largest ever study on the state of journalism in Canada that was sponsored by the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP), Canada's largest union of media workers. The year-long study was carried out in conjunction with the McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and the Ryerson Institute in Toronto.
The questionnaire was developed and distributed by the union to broadcast and print newsrooms represented by the CEP. These included most private English language television stations, four of the top-five circulation English daily newspapers, dozens of other daily and weekly newspapers, a few radio stations and one mass circulation newsmagazine.
More than 850 reporters, print and broadcast editors, camera operators and photographers, producers, announcers, and others who gather and package the news, completed the questionnaire.
A strong desire for an independent code of ethics for the news media was also reflected in the study for the precise reasons. More than 86 per cent said they wanted owners, management and working journalists to agree on a code of ethics that everyone in the news media should follow.
An overwhelming 95 per cent said their job was essential to democracy, though many questioned the commitment to quality journalism of the corporations they work for.
About 77 per cent of the respondents claimed that promotional considerations influenced the news agenda and 58 per cent reported being assigned a story to promote paper/station/management.
Almost 70 per cent of the journalists disagreed with the statement that "the corporate owners of this publication/station value good journalism over profit." Almost one third disagreed with the statement that "the corporate owners of this publication/station respect journalists." Among print journalists only 28 per cent agreed with the above statement.
Most working journalists reported that they and their newsroom were doing a good job, but many doubted if the corporate owners of their station/publication shared their commitment to quality journalism.
A positive trend came through when 70 per cent of the Canadian journalists said that they were doing a good of job keeping citizens informed.
The issue of staffing also posed a declining trend according to the study. Most respondents agreed that understaffing was a significant problem. In print, the problem seemed to be more acute with 70 per cent agreeing that newsrooms were understaffed. According to the study, cynicism is much higher in print newsrooms hardest hit by layoffs and a reduction in resources.
