Most scholars argue that cross-national research is indispensable
for establishing the generalizability of theories and the validity
of interpretations derived from single-nation studies. Another
important aspect of comparative studies is that they force us to
test our interpretations against cross-cultural differences and
inconsistencies. In journalism studies, the advantages of crossnational
research are obvious. While the empirical inquiry into
news-making has generated a vast quantity of data, some of the
more fundamental questions in journalism research remain largely
unresolved: What shapes the news and the structures of journalism
most? Is it politics, economy, or culture? How do the conventional
Western values of objective journalism fit in with non-Western
cultures? In this article, I would like to propose the creation of a
“World Journalism Surveyâ€, modeled after the World Values Survey,
for a better map of the cultural differences in journalism practices
around the world
