Normative Principles of Journalism in the United Kingdom in the Context of Digital Transformation

Abstract

This study presents a qualitative analysis of the normative principles of journalism
in the United Kingdom in the context of digital transformation. Recent global technological and
geopolitical shifts have prompted a reassessment of certain standards within contemporary
journalism. However, despite these changes, there remain fundamental principles that must be
preserved. Drawing on their academic studies and internship experience in the United Kingdom,
the authors conduct a qualitative and theoretically grounded analysis aimed at identifying
key normative principles. The research design is based on an interpretative approach and is
structured as a theoretically informed comparative review. Within this framework, normative
theories conceptualise journalism through value-based criteria of what journalism “ought to
be,” while the comparative media systems approach allows the United Kingdom to be analysed
within the liberal model.
The study draws on a range of sources, including scholarly articles, normative and institutional
documents, as well as academic research focusing on the transformation of journalism in
the digital era. Particular attention is given to the arguments of leading scholars publishing
in high-impact academic journals. A partial comparison with the Kazakhstan’s context is also
incorporated to develop relevant analytical insights. The findings of this study may be useful for
journalism students, educators, and researchers interested in this field.