Economic Beat Journalists: Which Audience Perceptions, What Conception of Democracy?

Economic coverage often takes the perspective of audience rather than financial insiders by applying news values such as domestication and identification, especially in democratic-corporatist countries since Great Recession. While research has looked into how this mainstreaming economic materializes content (role performance), less is known about democratic motives perceptions which drive conception). This paper argues that insight role conceptions particular journalists’ their will help better understand its consequences. The addresses question: do journalists perceive journalistic role, view these reflect? Conceptually, a distinction made between citizen, consumer, participant. question addressed through representative survey among population Danish journalists, including 50 journalists. Their views are compared to 52 political beat 40 health 804 generalists. results suggest primarily see light competitive model democracy, informing advising, but not empowering citizens fostering participation or facilitating deliberation.