Hierarchy of Influences Model: Decoding the Impact on Journalism

Imagine Sofia, a journalist from a non-English speaking country, who faces daily challenges in maintaining the independence and quality of her work. These challenges aren't only associated with the tight deadlines or needier editorial policies but also due to a wide range of multi-level influences from individual, routines, organizational, social to ideological aspects. To disentangle these influences and understand their impact, Sofia finds a reliable framework in the Hierarchy of Influences Model.

What is the Hierarchy of Influences Model?

The Hierarchy of Influences Model is a theoretical construct used to explain the influences on journalistic work across five levels: individual, routines, organizational, societal, and ideological. These hierarchical levels interact with each other in complex ways, shaping the context, content, and effectiveness of journalism.

Core Levels of the Hierarchy of Influences Model

1. Individual Level: Influences from a journalist's personal attitudes, values, and professional beliefs.
2. Routine Level: Established patterns of news selection, portrayal, and production.
3. Organizational Level: Influence from the media organization's policies, editorial guidelines, and commercial pressures.
4. Social Systems Level: Broad social trends, audience expectations, and laws impacting journalistic work.
5. Ideological Level: The societal beliefs, cultural norms, and overarching ideologies that filter the representation of events.

Benefits of the Hierarchy of Influences Model

• Holistic Understanding: Provides a multi-level perspective to interpret the influences on journalism, offering a more comprehensive view.
• Accurate Diagnosis: Helps identify the source of influence, aiding in targeted solutions and improvements.
• Improved Quality of Journalism: Assists in maintaining journalistic standards and improving the objectivity, accuracy, and fairness of reporting.

Applying the Hierarchy of Influences Model in Journalism

1. Assess Personal Biases: Sofia, as a journalist, should regularly assess her personal attitudes and values to identify any potential influence.
2. Examine Routine Practices: She should also inspect the routine practices in place to determine if they promote fair reporting.
3. Evaluate Organizational Policies: A thorough understanding of her organization's policies and pressures can help Sofia balance commercial objectives with journalistic integrity.
4. Understand Social System Impact: Sofia should consider broader societal laws and trends that may shape her journalism.
5. Scrutinize Dominant Ideologies: Lastly, Sofia should be aware of how dominant cultural norms and societal ideologies seep into her work, and strive for impartial representation.

Conclusion

For journalists like Sofia, the Hierarchy of Influences Model serves as a valuable tool to understand, navigate, and counter the varied influences that shape journalistic work. By systematically examining each level, journalists can better comprehend the dynamic complexities of their profession, pursue truth, and uphold journalistic ethics, yielding a more accurate, balanced, and credible output.