Let environmental journalism be seen: the professional formation of journalists in Taiwan
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This study explores how professional journalists in Taiwan cultivate and sustain professionalism in agricultural and environmental journalism—fields historically marginalized in mainstream media. Employing a qualitative approach that integrates the expert–novice approach and the hierarchy of influences model, six journalists from independent outlets were selected as a saturated sample for in-depth interviews conducted in 2023. Findings reveal that professionalism develops through long-term field immersion, self-directed learning, and mentorship emphasizing truth, fairness, and public interest. Independent media foster autonomy and collaboration but face constraints such as limited resources, multitasking demands, and burnout risk. Despite these challenges, journalists have expanded agricultural coverage into environmental journalism, influencing public awareness, prompting policy responses, and advancing sustainability discourse. The study underscores how professionalism, passion, and institutional support reinforce journalism’s democratic function in addressing agricultural and environmental justice.
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