Watchdog Journalism - Detached Watchdog

Detached Watchdog

The term detached watchdog was created in the Worlds of Journalism study conducted by Hanitzsch, Lauk and others between 2007 and 2011. The goal of the study was to create a better understanding of journalism culture an journalistic views. The study detected four global professional milieus of journalists: the populist disseminator, detached watchdog, critical change agent and the opportunist facilitator. The detached watchdog is an absolutely "detached observer". In addition to his watchdog functions described earlier, the detached watchdog is not interventionist but uninvolved. In order to achieve that status he has to be objective, neutral and impartial. Still, because of his watchdog function, he articulates his "skeptical and critical attitude towards the government and business elites". The detached watchdog milieu is accredited as the most prototypical of western journalism. Countries where this milieu predominates are Germany, Austria, USA, Switzerland and Australia.