In a bid to define media ethics, Minnie (2001) states media ethics is an analysis of correct conduct, responsible practice and fair human interaction. He goes on to say that media ethics encompasses theoretical and practical reasoning and the objectivity of moral principles. Since the media is a powerful institution, it has to be put on check through the development of effective and efficient ethical standards. Media ethics includes the limits of free speech, accuracy, bias, fairness and privacy, the use of basic graphic images, conflict of interest and the presentation of minorities (Ward 2008). Media ethics ensures that practitioners act responsibly towards the people they serve. Nassanga (2008) states that the rationale for the existence of media ethics is because the cardinal rule for journalism is to inform the public about what is happening in their environment and the world at large. She agrees with Ward (2008) that journalists are therefore supposed to report truthfully and objectively. The ethical codes should essentially act as a guide to journalists and media practitioners in making decisions. Another rationale for having media ethics is because the media profession has been known to increase its power and influence in society. This has been a concern to many people, especially the government. To ensure that the media’s powerful nature is put on check, ethical standards are essential. According to White (2008), the first attempt to articulate the rights and
Malcolm X famously said, “The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power, because they control the minds of the masses”. Although the modern media is powerful, it is always changing not only technologically, but in the way journalists report and act. Commentary over the last several years has centered on the negative changes of the media that journalists are unethical, stories are approval driven, and opinion is included in the news. Many Americans as well as journalists are concerned in the apparent decline in moral of the media.
Katie Couric, a well known American journalist once said, “They like being able to turn on the television day in and day out to see someone that they know and they feel comfortable with and trust hopefully and respect even.” (“Katie Couric Quote”) Essentially, a television journalist welcomes themselves into homes all over the world everyday and it is up to the resident to put their whole trust in them. Telling people the news can be difficult, but it is also an experience that the journalist and the viewers experience together. It is the trust of that journalist that creates viewership and the urges to turn to certain channels when gathering news.
In a culture that increased in greed and a world of instant gratification media has and will continue to become skewed and not beneficial for the whole of
TV without Guilt by David Finkel focuses on the Delmar family’s relationship with TV. What I enjoyed about this article is how the family kept an open-mindedness about television. For example, “I mean without TV, who would exist? Just these middle-class people I see every day. I wouldn’t know anything else that goes on” (83).
In America, Media bias is everywhere, in the United States all the information that an average American received through everyday sources, the news was most likely processed through the media and told through a biased point of view, when the media gets their hands on news if it is important then it probably won’t be talked about or downplayed no matter the source like in the newspaper, radio, television, movies, as well as other outlets that the media uses, the media only seems to share the news that they find interesting, even then the media would most likely have changed the story, in what they say is just tweaked news, what actually happened and what really happened would be two different stories, also the story would be told from one person
The media will pick and choose which topics to discuss according to the viewer’s ratings. The news media represent the news in a manner that will leave people coming back for more. They choose carefully what they want to report and by doing so they do not spread lies within the articles but what they choose not to tell the audience. The media shares what the people
Public trust in the media has been declining continuously over the past five years. In a Gallup study, it was reported that, “Americans' trust and confidence in the mass media "to report the news fully, accurately and fairly" has dropped to its lowest level in Gallup polling history, with 32% saying they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media” (Swift). This type of mistrust is because of the bias in the new forms of media today. Bias may have been easier to keep in check when there were fewer news sources. However, with the ease of access to the internet and the rise of citizen journalists and fake news sites, the public is finding more and more stories they most see shared are false.
Introduction In our current society, the media is a very powerful medium which cultivates the way the society thinks and behaves. At this stage of the political economy, the intellectual mode of production is largely made through the media industry. Aspects such as Hollywood, television and movies, they frame and direct our thinkings and values towards the direction as they desire.
Bias is defined as being prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Americans experience some sort of bias every day, however, media bias is likely the most prevalent. Media can be biased towards liberals, conservatives, or any other political leaning. According to University of Oklahoma Professor, Keith Gaddie, the mainstream media mostly suffers from liberal bias - which is usually hostile toward conservative candidates and causes. Media bias can misinform, exaggerate truths, and cause confusion during voting season.
A media source which ignores or censors important issues and events severely damages freedom of information. Many modern tabloids, twenty four hour news channels and other mainstream media sources have increasingly been criticized for not conforming to general standards of journalistic integrity. In nations described as authoritarian by most international think-tanks and NGOs media ownership is generally something very close to the complete state control over information in direct or indirect ways. Undesirable consequences which occur due to media imperialism are: • Commercially driven ultra-powerful mass market media is primarily loyal to sponsors i.e. advertisers and government rather than to the public interest.
DEFINITION OF MEDIA, PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION. Media is the means of communication, as radio, television and internet are used to reach out people or influence them widely. Although it is not easy to define
Public relations practitioners are faced with many challenges when it comes to abiding to the code of ethics in public relations, and making sure that they are accountable to the interest of the community, their clients and employers. In most situations these three groups of people have different expectations, values and beliefs, hence realistically it is very difficult to achieve perfect symmetry. As a result, practitioners are faced with many ethical dilemmas, as the area of ethics is a grey area. The definition of ethics explained by Parsons (2008) stated that public relations ethics is the application of knowledge, understanding and reasoning to questions on what is that right or wrong behaviour in professional practice of public relations.
But the positive interaction of government-press-society does not mean that each party must lose the function of its functional idealism. For if each existence is not approached with independent and interdependent responsibilities and obligations, it can be ascertained that each party will not be able to assume its rights and responsibilities. It means that the government should be given authority, as an authorized and responsible body to regulate the interests and spheres of its citizens. The press must remain authorized to carry out its distinctive social control functions.
An Argumentative Essay on Media Censorship Censorship is a control over unacceptable sources found in all forms of media: such as, newspapers, television, and the Internet. Censorship in the media is to examine all the information found in the media, and deleting or censoring anything that is considered objectionable to the state. Each country controls their own media depending on their religious beliefs, culture and moral ideas. There are many reasons to why censorship of the media is a disadvantage. Governments love to control their nations, and a way of controlling their ideas is by censoring information, which citizens have every human right to access.
Media is critical in today 's society because the mass media performs a number of es- essential functions in our lives. First, they serve an information or surveillance function. Second, they serve an agenda-setting and interpretation function. Third, they help us create and maintain connections with various groups in society. Fourth, they help us socialise and educate us.