Jonathan Ayling: Worlds of Journalism Study shows concerning trend, but without free speech there is no free press

The third survey of journalists undertaken by the Worlds of Journalism Study was recently released, providing valuable insights into journalists’ perspectives in our country. Free speech is the foundation of freedom of the press. Along with the right to information, it is crucial in ensuring a transparent democratic society.

The data tells an interesting story regarding journalists' motivation in New Zealand. When asked how important different roles of journalists are in their work, after listing educate the audience at 3.99 (on a scale of 1, unimportant, to 5, extremely important), the second highest rated role of journalists was to counteract disinformation at 3.95. This role, which did not feature at all in the 2015 survey, has quickly become a central part of the perceived purpose of journalism to Kiwi journalists.