Using the Diary–Interview Method with Time-Constrained Professionals: The Case of Journalists and Harassment

Authors

Ilmari Hiltunen, Tampere University, FinlandFollow
Reeta Pöyhtäri, Tampere University, FinlandFollow
Kaarina Nikunen, Tampere University, FinlandFollow

Abstract

This article presents a methodological reflection on the diary–interview method’s value and application when used with professionals whose schedules are both demanding and unpredictable, drawing on the authors’ insights from a study examining the harassment and intimidation of journalists. Our experiences demonstrate that combining solicited diary entries with recurring interviews can yield substantial advantages over using either method alone. Diaries are particularly well suited to capturing rich, situated data and individual perspectives, adding distinctive value especially when exploring sensitive or personal issues. Interviews that probe these accounts and revisit incidents in greater depth, in turn, enhance understanding of participants’ emotions, responses, and sensemaking processes. The effective implementation of the diary–interview approach, however, demands considerable investment and commitment from participants, which can pose substantial challenges when working with time-constrained professionals. Our experiences underscore the importance of meticulous advance planning, careful recruitment, and methodological adaptation, as well as the need for flexibility, persistence, and sustained engagement on the part of researchers to maximize the method’s potential with such target groups.

Keywords

diary–interview method, professional informants, multimodal diaries, journalists, harassment, intimidation

Author Bio(s)

Ilmari Hiltunen is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Finland. His current research focuses on the harassment and intimidation of journalists and their implications for journalism as a field. Previously, he has examined external interference in Finnish journalism, as well as populist counter-media and the role of fake news in the Finnish media landscape. Please direct correspondence to ilmari.hiltunen@tuni.fi Reeta Pöyhtäri is a Senior Research Fellow at TARU, the Tampere University Research Centre for Communication Sciences. Her research addresses the challenges facing public discourse and journalism in the digital media environment. She is particularly interested in issues related to freedom of expression, hate speech, online harassment, plurality and dialogue, as well as human rights and the prevention of violence in public discourse. Kaarina Nikunen is a Professor of Communication and Media Research at the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Finland. Her research explores how media construct understandings of the world and enable participation. Social justice and solidarity are central themes in her work. She is particularly interested in how emotions and affect drive solidarity, social movements, and participation, as well as how emotions are shaped through and with media.

Acknowledgements

The article was edited for linguistic expression by Dr. Anna Shefl, of Alba Saga Digital Freelance.

Publication Date

3-28-2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended APA Citation

Hiltunen, I., Pöyhtäri, R., & Nikunen, K. (2026). Using the diary–interview method with time-constrained professionals: The case of journalists and harassment. The Qualitative Report, 31(3), 5357-5371. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2026.7855

ORCID ID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8827-2796