Journalistic roles in flux: Exploring role flexibility of constructive journalists in Europe

This study examines the flexibility of journalistic role perceptions across reporting contexts and national settings within the framework of constructive journalism. Drawing on survey data from constructive journalists in Austria, Germany, and Italy, the study examines variations in the perceived importance of journalistic roles across climate and political reporting scenarios. Results indicate that constructive journalists adapt their role priorities situationally, emphasizing active and solution-oriented functions in climate reporting and more traditional, informational roles in political reporting. Cross-national comparisons revealed that Italian constructive journalists express stronger endorsement of advocacy-oriented and analytical roles, while Austrian and German constructive journalists favor market- and interventionist-oriented roles. These findings underscore role flexibility as a defining feature of journalistic professionalism and highlight the importance of national contexts and reporting scenarios in understanding constructive journalists’ role orientations.