The roles and ethics of journalism: A comparative study of journalistic cultures in two student cohorts.

This study compares the journalistic values and ethical perceptions of two cohorts of postgraduate journalism students at the University of Melbourne: those who completed undergraduate studies in Australia (Master of Journalism, MOJ) and those from the People's Republic of China (Master of International Journalism, MIJ). It finds that Australian-educated students place greater importance on the adversarial and interpretative roles of journalism, while Chinese-educated students emphasize the mobilizer and disseminator functions. Although differences in perceived ethical difficulties are generally minor, Chinese-educated students report more challenges resolving issues related to taste and decency. The findings highlight the enduring influence of differing journalistic cultures on students’ attitudes and suggest implications for Australian journalism education amid growing international enrolments.