Journalism education plays an important role in the formation of a professional identity. With the results from a survey to 527 journalism students in five countries (Poland, Russia, Sweden, Estonia and Finland) similarities and differences are analysed – motives to become a journalist, competences and character traits, ideals and values and relations to other professional areas as PR and politics. The main question is whether there is a process of homogenization among future journalists as a result of globalization, or whether there still are clear differences connected to history, politics and different media systems.  The results shows that it is not possible to talk about one similar professional identity, but rather hybrid forms of professional identities that combine some universal journalistic values with cultural heritage and social/political conditions of the different countries.

Journalism programmes are popular; they are growing in number the world over despite an often insecure labour market. What do journalism students expect? How do they see their future as journalists? What kind of training is offered by the Academy?

This report presents journalism education in five universities, in the Baltic Sea Region, from different perspectives: the teachers and the students’ goals in relation to wishes and needs of the sector and common challenges in changing media landscapes.

The comparative project was financed by the Foundation of Baltic and Eastern European Studies in Sweden.

Interviews with teachers, as well as the student survey, were made possible thanks to the collaboration with Maria Lukina, Moscow State University; Dominika Rafalska, University of Warsaw; Halliki Harro Loit, University of Tartu and Raimo Salokangas, University of Jyväskylä.