StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Media Ethics IssueFinal - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
There is an age old question about the relationship between ethics and the law. It is difficult to determine whether it is ethics that determine the kind of laws that are passed or it is the law that determines what we hold as ethics. The relationship is particularly ambiguous in the realm of journalistic ethics and journalistic law…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.6% of users find it useful
Media Ethics IssueFinal
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Media Ethics IssueFinal"

Download file to see previous pages

In other words, ethics is internally self determined rather that externally enforced. But ethics itself is written down as a guide on the practice of different professions such as journalism, medicine and law. This is done to avoid excesses in the practice of the profession. Law, on the other hand, is itself a set of laid down ethics. The basic difference between law and ethics is, therefore, that one is determined by government legislation while the other is determined by practitioners of journalism, or other trade, themselves.

The laws that are of most concern to journalists are definitely defamation and libel. The former differs from the latter in that it is concerned with the spoken word while the other deals primarily with the written. Both laws govern against publication of material or information that is detrimental to the reputation and standing in society of individuals, provided that such published material is either false or cannot be proved beyond reasonable doubt to be true. Where such information is published, the individual mentioned adversely in the publication has a right to sue the journalists concerned, and if successful, is entitled to compensation relative to the extent of damage done as determined by a court of law.

Members of the journalism profession are faced with the dilemma of choosing between telling the truth and the imminent danger of being sued legally for libel or defamation. Where there isn't sufficient evidence to support an adverse story, editors may be left with no choice but to stop publicizing of a story.Even the fact that journalism is the only private trade that is explicitly recognized by the constitution in many countries, such as the first amendment in the US constitution, the relationship between the fourth estate and government remains a thorny one.

In most cases, individuals who bring up libel cases are public figures involved directly in governance. Matters of public interest such as official misappropriation of public funds and corruption may not see the light of day through the media since there is a difficult choice between the potential damage it can do to the persons mentioned if in the end proved not to be true. Journalists in some cases advocate for objectivity in reporting a story as sufficient ground for exemption from legal proceedings, a view that is seen as self- serving government.

All the same, the media holds a privileged status in society since it is the most effective way of checking excesses in government; but is austerely governed by both its internal ethics and the long arm of the law. Most journalists prefer the former to the latter.2. Advertisers influence media content and the resultant ethical issues.Adverts form a large part of media content, since the media depend on advertisers for their income. It is estimated that more than a third of the content carried by the media is adverts.

This puts the media in direct conflict with the government time and again.One ethical issue that brings the government into direct conflict with the media is the impact of advertisement on minors who are still not old enough to make fully informed choices. Such an impact on the formative and highly impressionable minds of children is critically examined. The interest of the advertisers is to influence children to buy products by creating the impression that their lives are incomplete without

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Media Ethics IssueFinal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1532002-media-ethics-issuefinal
(Media Ethics IssueFinal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1532002-media-ethics-issuefinal.
“Media Ethics IssueFinal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1532002-media-ethics-issuefinal.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Media Ethics IssueFinal

Religion, Media and Ethics

Some other terms which are used in parallel with media ethics are morality and quality control.... media ethics as such is a complex subject, as it is formulated on the basis of the concurrent culture, economy and national policies.... Bertrand C J (1997), Quality Control; media ethics and Accountability Systems, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France... ethics is basically an accepted tradition which determines what to be done and what not to be (Bertand, 1997)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Media Ethic personal statement

The media ethics Personal ment When I first started out as a of Mass Media, I had no idea that Ethics played such an important role in the field of entertainment.... The way I decide to report events can either create peace or chaos in a certain situation and therefore, I must constantly adhere to the highest principles of media ethics as I go about completing my tasks on the job.... This means that if I can make a conscious effort to adhere to the various principles of media ethics as I do my job, I will be able to limit any harm done to the people involved in my news report while providing the public with the most accurate, truthful, and reliable information available....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Catfish-Ethical Analysis and Media Ethics

media ethics: Key Principles for Responsible Practice.... The question of ethics is a relative one with the very chance of something being right or wrong being represented by an actor's thoughts and conscience.... In this case, it is purely an official and not a Catfish-Ethical Analysis The question of ethics is a relative one with the very chance of something being right or wrong being represented by an actor's thoughts and conscience.... Facebook is currently the most subscribed form of social media( Plaisance 167 )....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Ethics in the media

The essay "ethics in the media" centers on how social media, particularly group networking sites like Twitter are changing the media.... This is in both good and bad aspects of the social media.... The shift is increased by the lack of trust of the traditional media's quest to be authentic.... hellip; The last two decades have watched a rapid alteration of customary media into new media that incorporates digital, hi-tech, and networked material and communication expertize....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Media Ethics and the Ethical Journalist

The debate that surrounds ethics in journalism and news reporting and how these relate to both integrity and privacy has experienced rapid changes over the past two decades.... With the recent developments in social media through the expansion of internet usage, there are… Arthur Ashe's case who was a world renowned AIDS activist and tennis player as well as an anti-apartheid advocate provides a very good The media house's reporter went ahead and released the story on Ashe's health condition overseas prior to Ashe's consent which forced the athlete to publicly admit his health condition when he was not yet prepared....
4 Pages (1000 words) Case Study

The Relationship between the Media and Terror Organizations in the Context of Helds Claim

The subject of this essay will be an examination of, Held's argument that the media sometimes sacrifices its integrity and the security of the public by indirectly promoting the interests of perpetrators of political violence for financial gain.... Firstly, I will extrapolate on… Thereafter, I will describe the interaction between the two showing how the media at times promotes the agenda terrorists and attempt to prescribe alternative methods they Ultimately, I will conclude that the primary reason many media organizations may find themselves “aiding” terrorist is not out of the inevitability of an incidental connection, but a money-oriented strategy....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Ethics of Mass Media

The author of the paper "ethics of Mass Media" thinks the press should be extra mindful of the way they cover the news regarding murderers in killings.... ethics of Mass Media The way the news media should cover mass shooters is a being ethical challenge.... The way the Mass media covered the Oregon killing posed an ethical issue considering the possible effect it may have copycat crimes.... hellip; The way the news media should cover mass shooters is a being ethical challenge....
1 Pages (250 words) Article

Manipulation of the News Reported by Media

media ethics is concerned with a number of aspects through which the media exerts its influence on the people by choosing the way information is packaged and delivered.... "ethics and Media" paper focuses on manipulation of the news reported by media in order to determine the relationship exiting between media, governments, corporations, and the masses targeted by the information all being influenced by the vested interests held by these groups.... nbsp; Due to the level of influence that the media has over the population, there is a need for the media to be ethical in the manner information is packaged and delivered....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us