What does this research mean for the field?

In Serbia's hybrid regime, journalistic labor insecurity is distributed according to political rather than market logic, prompting journalists to either compromise their professional values or embrace precarity as a mark of integrity. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the tension between economic precarity and professional journalistic aspirations under a hybrid political regime.

August 30, 2026Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

“Enthusiasts, Not Professionals”: Journalists’ Experiences of Precarity in Serbia’s Hybrid Regime

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Authors

IIIgor Išpanović ČMČedomir Markov

Discussion

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Overview

Qualitative interview study uncovers politically driven labor insecurity among journalists in a hybrid regime, suggesting political control reshapes professional standards and practices.

Key Points

To examine the tension between economic precarity and professional journalistic aspirations under a hybrid political regime.
Conducted 20 in-depth qualitative interviews with journalists in Serbia.
Assessed subjective perceptions of employment security, economic hardship, and professional coping strategies.
Journalists primarily defined precarity through low wages and limited employment prospects, with job security dictated by political alignment rather than market forces.
Responses to political labor pressures diverged between adopting nondemocratic journalistic practices and embracing financial precarity as a prerequisite for professional integrity.

Cite This Study

Išpanović et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a93f0696c1a8fb52e79c97e https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990261479301

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August 30, 2026Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

“Enthusiasts, Not Professionals”: Journalists’ Experiences of Precarity in Serbia’s Hybrid Regime

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

IIIgor Išpanović ČMČedomir Markov

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Qualitative interview study uncovers politically driven labor insecurity among journalists in a hybrid regime, suggesting political control reshapes professional standards and practices.

Key Points

To examine the tension between economic precarity and professional journalistic aspirations under a hybrid political regime.
Conducted 20 in-depth qualitative interviews with journalists in Serbia.
Assessed subjective perceptions of employment security, economic hardship, and professional coping strategies.
Journalists primarily defined precarity through low wages and limited employment prospects, with job security dictated by political alignment rather than market forces.
Responses to political labor pressures diverged between adopting nondemocratic journalistic practices and embracing financial precarity as a prerequisite for professional integrity.

Cite This Study

Išpanović et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a93f0696c1a8fb52e79c97e https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990261479301

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark