ethical issues in mass communication
TRANSCRIPT
ETHICAL ISSUES IN MASS COMMUNICATION
There is no doubt that the mass media wield
considerable power over the way society lives
Jimi KayodeAdebola Adegunwa School
of Communication,Lagos State University,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Whenever people or a group of people have
power to influence the lives of others, ethical
obligations become imperative
Thus the considerable power that the mass
media wield obliges them to work within ethical
parameters
Definitions of ethics
Ethics comes from the Greek word ethos, meaning character, or what a good
person is or does in order to have a good character.
In general, ethics deal with the philosophical foundations of decision
making, or choosing among the good or bad options that the individual faces
[Black, Steele, & Barney, 1999]
The focus of ethics is to determine how to behave in order to ensure that our
life is flourishing, successful, worth living and fulfilling [Elegido,
2009]
Ethics is derived from the Greek ethos, meaning custom, usage
or character. It is often thought of as a rational process
applying established principles when two moral obligations
collide.It reflects a society’s notions
about the rightness or wrongness of an act and the
distinction between virtue and vice.
Ethics involves the evaluation and application of those moral values that
a society or culture has accepted as its norms
[Day, 1991]
Acting ethically seems to be, 1. acting intelligently as opposed to being carried away by one’s urges and
emotions; and
2. taking the interests of others into account as
opposed to acting in a purely egoistic manner
Ethics vs Morality
Moral is derived from Latin mos or moris or mores meaning among other things “way of life” or “conduct” or “the way or manner in which people behave”.
It is often associated with religious beliefs and personal behaviour.
Morality is, at the very least, the effort to guide one’s conduct by reason- that is, to do what there are the best reasons for doing- while giving equal weight to the interests of
each individual who will be affected by one’s conduct
[Rachels,1995]
The Three Branches of Ethics
Meta-ethics, is concerned with the study of the characteristics or nature of ethics. It examines concepts such as right, justice and fairness.
Normative ethics, is concerned with developing general theories, rules and principles of moral conduct.
Applied ethics, is the problem-solving branch of moral philosophy that addresses specific ethical issues and cases
Principles of Moral Virtue
Credibility
Integrity
Civility
The Moral Reasoning Process
Situation Definition
DecisionAnalysis
Situation Definition
Description of facts
Identification of principles and values
Statement of ethical issue or question
Analysis
Weighing of competing principles and values
Consideration of external factors
Examination of duties to various parties
Discussion of applicable ethical theories
Decision
Rendering of moral agent’s decision
Defense of that decision based upon moral theory
Requirements of a System of Ethics
Shared values – common norms Wisdom – based on sound reason &
experience Justice – fairness, no double standards Freedom – freedom of choice Accountability - responsibility for our
deeds and misdeeds
Six Stakeholders to whom we are obligated
Individual conscience Objects of moral judgment Financial supporters The institution Professional colleagues society
The nexus of law and ethics
It is the moral force of the law that provides the legitimacy of our legal codes.
All parties have the same moral obligations to comply with the law
A just law might be violated in emergency or when a higher moral principle is involved.
Ethical Highways & Byways
pragmatic
Desire for success
Machiavelli
Doing Ethics
Seek truth and report it
Act independent
ly
Minimize harm
Be accountable
Seek Truth and Report it
Journalist should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interests other than the public’s right to know
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other
Three Principles for Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
Do what is best for the greatest number of people [end-based thinking]
Follow your highest sense of principle [rule-based thinking]
Do what you want others to do to you [care-based thinking]
Fundamental Ethical Issues in Media Ethics
Issues of the rights of the individual against the good of the public or society at large
Issues of the good of the public being against the economic interests of the media owners
Issues relating to the power of the media in shaping and influencing public discourse
Other Ethical Issues
The gate keeping function
Stereotypes in the media
Accuracy and Truth in the
media