Do we need authority figures? The importance of professional authority among students of journalism and social communication at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Abstract

The role of authority in the modern world is a complex subject. On the one hand, a leader endowed with charisma, from whose behavioural patterns can be drawn, seems exceptionally important in a chaotic world. However, there is no shortage of voices from those critical of the creation of an idealistic role model, which can deprive people of the habit of critical thinking. Is there still a place for authorities in a polarized world?

The main topic of the article is the concept of professional authority in the journalistic community. I present the results of the author's research on journalism and social communication students at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. The research is conducted five years apart (in 2019 and 2024). In this paper, I compare the two surveys to see whether there have been significant changes in the thinking of young journalism students in their perception of the role of authority over the past five years when societies have experienced many global crises.