Defining journalistic professionalism within the higher education system

The paper will discuss the results of a qualititative analysis of journalism studies course content at Australian universities. I will argue that a focus on the contribution of tertiary education to the formation of journalistic 'professional identity' must be seen within the much broader context of a socially produced field of expertise and cultural practice. This has particular ramifications for understanding of some of the influences on journalistic self definition, especially in a contemporary era of contestation of journalism culture and authority.