The mediatization of the economist profession: How economists use the media to promote political and economic interests

Abstract

Professional economists wield considerable power as experts and policymakers. Consequently, economists frequently appear in the media, where they comment on current economic issues and assess economic policy options. Despite the status of economists, little is known about the relationship between economists and the media and how economists use the media to promote economic and political interests. Building on the scholarship on the mediatization of expertise, this article analyzes the mediatization of the economist profession. The article draws on 17 semi-structured interviews with Finnish economists who appear frequently in the news media. The findings reveal how institutions from private banks to research institutes use economists to advance their economic and political interests via the media. It is found that using social media and serving journalists are elemental parts of an economist's job description. Furthermore, economists work closely with communications professionals to advance organizational interests. This article argues that further research should analyze how mediatization intertwines with the work of economic experts.