The Knowing–Perceiving gap in journalists’ professional ethics: Professional socialization and young adults’ perceptions in contemporary China

Jingyi Guo, Xinghui Niu, Di Wu, Ya Yang, Guoming Yu, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Beijing Information Science and Technology University, School of Journalism and Communication, Beijing Normal University, College of Communication, Northwest Normal University

Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism

Published online on July 07, 2026

Abstract

Journalism, Ahead of Print.
This study examines whether different levels of professional socialization shape young adults’ perceptions of journalists’ professional ethics in the contemporary Chinese media environment. Drawing on theories of professional socialization and implicit ...