This master's thesis explores the relationship between journalism awards and journalistic authority in the Slovenian media landscape. It focuses on two main questions: how journalists perform and maintain journalistic authority through the awarding of journalism prizes, and how awarded journalists perceive their own journalistic authority. The qualitative research reveals that the process of awarding prizes contributes to maintaining the unity of the journalistic community, as well as the professional ideology of journalism, which is one of the key components of journalistic authority. Slovenian journalists adhere to the traditional liberal values of democracy, with their highest ideal being service to the public. Awards, which represent symbolic capital within the field of journalism, are perceived by journalists as recognition and praise, but they do not associate them with material benefits. The findings also show that journalistic authority is based on trust rather than command, which is why journalists reject being addressed with the term »authority«. However, this does not mean they lack authority. It is so deeply embedded in their professional identity that it is often performed unconsciously. The findings of the thesis also open a broader discussion on the state of journalism in Slovenia.
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