Dr. Claudia Mellado, Professor of the School of Journalism at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, leads the international research project "Journalistic Role Performance Project" (JRP), which has been hosted by this prestigious academic institution since 2015, and to which the current Rector's Office led by Dr. Nelson Vásquez Lara has reaffirmed its support, based on the important achievements it has generated in terms of research, human resource training and internationalization, projecting the university beyond national borders. Nelson Vásquez Lara has reaffirmed its support, based on the important achievements it has generated in terms of research, human resource training and internationalization, projecting the university beyond national borders.
The vision of the Rector's Office, together with the commitment of Prof. Claudia Mellado and a multidisciplinary team of outstanding academics from 37 countries, has allowed the JRP to consolidate as a research consortium that includes more than 100 academics, researchers and students from 42 universities in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania.
In the last year alone, the project has published more than 18 articles in high impact scientific journals, presented more than 37 papers at international conferences, and contributed to the completion of master's and doctoral theses, as well as postdoctoral research of 14 students, in addition to positioning itself as one of the most important and respected comparative studies within the field of journalism studies globally. Future plans include the publication of two books with leading publishers, as well as the edition of a special issue in the Journalism Practice Journal (Q1), edited by Prof. Mellado and Prof. Daniel Hallin, from UCSD (USA).
The JRP project is a worldwide study, established in 2013, with the purpose of systematically analyzing the state of journalistic cultures in the current media landscape. The study provides scientific knowledge and empirical information to researchers, students, practitioners, media and international institutions to understand the complexities of the media, as well as the influence that different internal and external factors have on the practice of journalism.
The JRP project has completed two versions and will begin its third version in 2025. Its first version (2013-2018) compared print journalism models in 18 countries. Its second wave (2019-2023) compared television, radio, print and online journalism practices in 37 nations. Its third wave will expand its impact and presence in geographic areas not yet included in the study, such as Southeast Asia, Central Africa and Scandinavia.
It is important to highlight that the development and global reach that this project has had in recent years has been possible thanks to the support provided by the Rector's Office of this university, both by the former Rector, Dr. Claudi Elórtegui Riffo, and by our current Rector of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Dr. Nélson Vásquez Lara, who has reaffirmed the support and commitment of this university, so that this valuable research can continue to develop under the auspices of this institution.
The objectives of this project are highly relevant in the current context of communication and journalism. On the one hand, it seeks to explain how the different professional roles of journalism are manifested in the news that audiences consume, considering the different organizational, institutional and social realities faced by the world's media. On the other hand, the project addresses the disconnect between the professional and normative ideals of journalism and actual media practices, contributing to understand the importance that journalists and media attribute to different roles and how this affects their performance, and impacts the formation of an informed audience and citizenship.
The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso is proud to host this important project, which reflects its commitment to academic excellence and the generation of relevant knowledge for society and the journalistic field. It is also grateful for the support of the national research councils, universities and local organizations of the participating countries, who have also contributed to the successful development of this consortium.
In summary, the Journalistic Role Performance Project (JRP) is a valuable contribution to the understanding of journalism in the current context, and the participation of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, under the leadership of Professor Claudia Mellado, has been fundamental for its realization and success. It is hoped that the present and future results of this research will continue to have a significant impact on the academic, professional and social spheres, allowing a profound reflection on the role and practice of journalism in the contemporary world.
www.journalisticperformance.org
