Journalism Ethics Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

At the beginning of the 1970s, broadcast news and a few newspapers such as The New York Times wielded national influence in shaping public discourse, to a degree never before enjoyed by the news media. At the same time, however, attacks from political conservatives such as Vice President Spiro Agnew began to erode public trust in news institutions, even as a new breed of college-educated reporters were hitting their stride. This new wave of journalists, doing their best to cover the roiling culture wars of the day, grew increasingly frustrated by the limitations of traditional notions of objectivity in news writing and began to push back against convention, turning their eyes on the press itself. Two of these new journalists, a Pulitzer Prize—winning, Harvard-educated New York Times reporter named J. Anthony Lukas, and a former Newsweek media writer named Richard Pollak, founded a journalism review called (MORE) in 1971, with its pilot issue appearing the same month that the Times began publishing the Pentagon Papers. (MORE) covered the press with a critical attitude that blended seriousness and satire—part New York Review of Books, part underground press. In the eight years that it published, (MORE) brought together nearly every important American journalist of the 1970s, either as a writer, a subject of its critical eye, or as a participant in its series of raucous "A.J. Liebling Counter-Conventions"—meetings named after the outspoken press critic—the first of which convened in 1974. In issue after issue the magazine considered and questioned the mainstream press's coverage of explosive stories of the decade, including the Watergate scandal; the "seven dirty words" obscenity trial; the debate over a reporter's constitutional privilege; the rise of public broadcasting; the struggle for women and minorities to find a voice in mainstream newsrooms; and the U.S. debut of press baron Rupert Murdoch. In telling the story of (MORE) and its legacy, Kevin Lerner explores the power of criticism to reform and guide the institutions of the press and, in turn, influence public discourse.

- by Kevin M Lerner
- •
- History, Journalism, Art, Journalism History

This chapter critically explores the news and journalistic discourses surrounding the concept of the role model in the UK. It draws upon news content and semi-structured interviews with journalists from a wider study commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government exploring the media image of Black young men and boys in 2009-10. Analysis demonstrates negatively stigmatising discourses at play in role model news and polarised attitudes towards role models among journalists’ reflections. Post-Marxist discourse theory is employed to argue that rather than challenging the complex social inequalities facing young Black men as recent government policy suggests, role modelling as a ‘technology of the self’ is likely to articulate neoliberal logic and reinforce existing social inequalities

- by john jewell
- •
- Cultural Studies, Journalism, Globalization, Corporate Communication

The Media Ethics Initiative (www.mediaethicsinitiative.org) aims to publicize and promote cutting-edge research on the ethical and moral dimensions of media use in democratic society. By bringing together experts on a variety of communication arenas and from a range of Moody College departments, the Initiative will create a community of scholars dedicated to rigorous and creative approaches to tough decisions and ethical issues in communication and media. The Initiative also aims to promote respectful and reflective discussion over these difficult issues in media ethics in our graduate and undergraduate student communities. By uniting academic researchers whose work engages normative issues in communication, the Initiative will serve as a sustained presentation of expertise on media and communication ethics to the University of Texas community and beyond.

- by Scott R. Stroud
- •
- Business Ethics, Philosophy, Ethics, Communication
- by Scott R. Stroud
- •
- Applied Ethics, Journalism, Media Ethics, Sports Ethics

The quest for revival of comprehensive Islamic-based knowledge championed by the Islamic Universities in the world requires the Islamization of the gamut upon which pedagogy and knowledge acquisition is based. The provision of serene and luminous academic atmosphere for accomplishing such meritorious task calls for the incorporation of Islamic model(s) in various ramifications of the curricula of the institutions. The ability to explore human potentials in understanding divinely-ordained sources of knowledge remains the fulcrum upon which the process of Islamization undertaking revolves. Using qualitative data analysis of secondary sources, the paper is an expedition that traces the origin of the foundation of modern communication principles and practice back in the Qur’an and Hadith. Considering the media role in shaping the society, it is the view of the paper that proper understanding and application of media performance in the Islamized context necessitates the inclusion of Islamic Communication Model in the curricula of Mass Communication Departments of Islamic Universities as an essential ingredient for the attainment of an ideal Mass Communication practice and stable society.

- by Umar Gwandu
- •
- Communication, Media Studies, Journalism Ethics, Mass media
- by Julius Reimer
- •
- Journalism, Trust, Digital Journalism, Journalism Ethics

This paper focuses on the arising shift in the ethical values of journalism among the Nigerian journalists. It discourses the various ethical schools of thought as they relate to journalism practice, showing their strength and weaknesses. The paper observes and strongly notes that, tabloidization or sensational journalism is taken-over serious and decent journalism practice. It warns professional journalists about the impending dangers of this value-eroding trend as it dangerous for a developing country like Nigeria. The content of the media is being trivialized. Serious issues in public affairs and politics that contribute positively to the growth of the nation are given little attention compared to soft news, entertainment and gossips which are now getting more popular in the Nigerian media space. The paper calls for journalists’ self ethical appraisal and increase in ethical professional practice, while it warns media practitioners of the gangers of yellow journalism. These positive shifts will further help in regaining the eroding confidence of the people in the media and as well make the Nigerian and global media more respectable.

- by Ridwan A Adeyemi
- •
- Journalism Ethics, Nigerian journalism

The absence of the racial and cultural
Other in mainstream media is noted by
many scholars. In this article, a number
of newspaper articles about asylum
seekers in lip sewing episodes at
Woomera in 2002 are examined using
critical discourse analysis and drawing
on critical race and whiteness studies.
While many news articles depict asylum
seekers negatively, most of the selected
texts provide a positive depiction of
asylum seekers. A combination of
discourse analysis and literary exegesis
demonstrates how journalists draw on
existing discourses in the cultural
imaginary to shape their depictions of
cultural and racial Others. The
suggestion is made that different
narratives and rhetorical formations are
deployed not merely to depict the
asylum seeker as an abject Other to be
pitied or reviled, but also to construct
different versions of Jennifer Rutherford’s
“good (white) Australian” reader. These
constructions of the reader form a
subtext beneath the reporting of news
and reveal the extent to which the
representation of the Other involves
white projections, desires and imaginings
of the cultural Other. Rather than
providing information about and insight
into the cultural/racial Other, such texts
may be better understood as
interventions in an ongoing discourse
within the White “mainstream” about
Our national identity.

This study aims in seeking further knowledge on the phenomenon pertaining to journalists' experiencing ethical dilemma while in the line of duty. On a separate study, it is said that novice journalists frequently face puzzling situations, especially when covering traumatic events; that they oftentimes come unprepared to resolve it on site (Amend, Kay, & Reilley, 2012). Thus, causing them to question their own responsibility and authority as journalists. This pushes the researcher to cater this as her/his study in order to fully understand the situation at hand and thus making a comprehensive analysis with the possibility of uncovering topics that weren't available on the other researches similar to the study at hand. This study will focus on today's new set of journalists and how would they counteract public deterrence while embodying Journalistic Ethics and Human Ethics in general.

The British newspaper industry has a long-standing and complex relationship with notions of crisis from an ethical, politico-economic and regulatory perspective. Challenges to the legitimacy of the press as a Fourth Estate purveyor of the public interest and a guardian of democracy abound. Despite repeated public policy statements in favour of media pluralism and freedom, the British news environment has become increasingly deregulated over the last two decades and changes to relevant competition rules have led to a greater concentration of ownership and cross-media ownership against a backdrop of economic austerity and technological change. Consequently, investigative journalism often struggles to receive the necessary support to fulfil its watchdog role. Yet this situation has opened up opportunities to shift away from the traditional model of highly competitive investigative practices towards collaboration between news organizations and journalists in large-scale projects. This paper applies archival research, including news content, political debate and public opinion surveys, to the qualitative analysis of case-studies regarding collaborative transnational partnerships and involving the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Attention is firstly drawn to the challenges posed by mass surveillance and the impact on journalistic activity as well as source protection in the United Kingdom. Consideration is then given to the anonymous mass leaks known as the Panama Papers (2016) and the Paradise Papers (2017), which are amongst the largest collaborative investigations in the history of journalism. This paper’s findings tend to show that the ability of journalists to collaborate on global projects in the public interest is having a profound impact as subsequent public policy debate continues in relation to issues such as fiscal justice, the insufficiency of government mechanisms, transparency and corruption.

- by Mélanie Dupéré
- •
- Journalism, Whistleblowing, Journalism Ethics, Newspapers and online journalism

Political control is one of the central and
conditioning aspects of the relationship
between journalists and politicians.
Through the perceptions of journalists
and politicians, this article analyzes the
validity, characteristics, and functioning
of one of the principal mechanisms of political
control: the journalistic oversight of
politics, which is linked to the watchdog
theory and political pressures on the media.
In addition, the degree of mediatization
of politics is measured with regard
to media autonomy. The methodology is
based on in-depth interviews of 45 participants
in Spain. The results indicate
the pre-eminence of political pressures
that are principally exercised via indirect
means (i.e., communications offices
and media enterprises). The latter are a
vehicle for channeling political control,
which reveals the weight of the factors
associated with political economy in the
relationship between journalists and
politicians. Finally, the low incidence of
journalistic oversight of politics reveals a
reduced level of mediatization in Spain.

- by Andreu Casero-Ripollés
- •
- Political Sociology, Communication, Media Studies, Journalism
- by Mervi Pantti
- •
- Communication, Journalism, Disaster Studies, Political Science
- by James Miller
- •
- Philosophy, Journalism, Literature, Phenomenology

Citizen journalism is emerging as a powerful phenomenon across Africa. The rise of digitally-networked technologies such as the Internet and mobile phones is reshaping reporting across the continent. This change is technological – with social media platforms enabling new forms of publishing, receiving, and discussing stories – as well as cultural – with idiosyncratic conventions emerging on these platforms. This study surveys the ethical beliefs of citizen journalists in several sub-Saharan African countries. We find that they are driven by a sense of social responsibility and a wish to inform their readers and the general public. Citizen journalists show a clear anti- authoritarian strain and an antipathy towards government regulation, yet most see themselves as subject to the same ethics that guide traditional journalism. We then investigate the implications of these ethics for the emerging networked public sphere. The emergence of a digitally-networked public sphere has been hail...

- by Iris Leijendekker
- •
- African Studies, Journalism, Citizen Journalism, Public Sphere
- by Mahmoud Eid
- •
- Ethics, Journalism, Global Media Studies, Media Ethics
- by Dina Anwari
- •
- Literary Journalism, Journalism, Citizen Journalism, Journalism Ethics
- by Scott R. Stroud
- •
- Ethics, Communication, Journalism, Journalism Ethics

The change in social relationships and networks that new technology has brought has also altered the way in which journalists are perceived by the public. This has put journalistic practice under far greater scrutiny. In addition, the ways in which private life is increasingly on display on the internet has meant that journalists have a greater resource of material to gather and use in stories, but also a far greater obligation to ensure that they use this material both fairly and ethically. This chapter deals with the fair use of content and information, and with the ethics of participating in these new social spaces as journalists and as people. Open journalism is also discussed, as an ideological stance and, to a lesser extent, as a practice.

- by Megan Knight
- •
- Journalism Ethics, Social Media Ethics

Місцеві ЗМІ за часів нових медіа в усьому світі стикаються з проблемами фінансування, скорочення штатів, падіння накладів та обсягів рекламних ринків. При цьому під загрозою опиняється якість контенту, зокрема скорочується кількість власних повідомлень, що дають змогу аудиторії отримати перевірену інформацію з перших рук. На матеріалі двох найстаріших одеських інтернет-видань («Репортер» та «Думская») за 2005–2014 рр. встановлено, що ці медіа в цілому приділяють мало уваги ексклюзивним повідомленням (середній показник 7 % та 12 % відповідно), а також перевірці інформації на місці події. Схожу картину спостерігаємо і серед місцевих сайтів інших регіонів. Електронні видання найбільше віддають перевагу контенту, який можна швидше обробити: запланованим подіям та передрукам. При цьому під питанням опиняється виконання подібними ЗМІ соціальних функцій, зокрема контролю та критики влади, залучення громадян до справ спільноти тощо.

Court reporting is rarely discussed in journalism ethics, as it seems to be widely viewed as a straightforward task. However, this article develops a theory of meaning-making in court reporting to show how media coverage of high-profile sexual assault trials poses complex ethical questions. Positioning court reporting as a ‘hybrid’ genre between legal narrative and news reporting, I show how genre conventions grant particular kinds of significance to events and speech acts. Subtle discursive and narrative strategies privilege either the prosecution or defence’s narrative, portraying the defendant or complainant as ‘guilty’ even without overt sensationalising or vilification. Using the trial of Australian footballer Brett Stewart as a case study, I show how even reporting that meets current ethical standards can be ethically questionable, including reinforcing myths and stereotypes about rape – such as relating to mental illness and DNA evidence. I suggest that another, feminist approach to journalism ethics is needed in these cases, to balance the right of a defendant to the presumption of innocence with the rights of a complainant, and the feminist imperative to counter damaging attitudes towards rape.

- by Deb Waterhouse-Watson
- •
- Ethics, Communication, Media Studies, Journalism

There seems to be an internationally shared consensus that search for a universal journalism ethic has often ended with the attempt to import traditional and underlying Western free-press values, such as objectivity and an adversarial platform forged in Enlightenment philosophy. There is also a universally shared consensus on the dilemma of how to invent a universal journalism ethical framework that sustains the universal solidarity of human being and recognises cultural, religious and ideological differences. The central argument of this article is that the Islamic worldview offers a modern journalism ethical model that both protects and limits universal pluralism in a multi-cultural society. It favours pluralism to the extent that it does not threaten unity of the universe or create the state of anarchy. It, therefore, establishes universal values that human beings share without transcending local cultures. The suggested model is based on four guiding principles: respecting pluralism and cultural diversity, freedom of expression, justice and moderation.

- by Basyouni Hamada
- •
- Journalism Ethics

Our approach offers a view of the “Propaganda Model” developed by the linguist and American political activist Noam Chomsky 25 years ago and its current validity, with special emphasis on the five elements or filters. In this analysis, we tried to deconstruct the process and reflect on other components that filter the information. We also demonstrate how promoting this kind of analysis against the interests of the power groups in the ‘democratic societies’, tends to be marginalized institutionally.

- by Dr. Pedro A González Jr MJ MAC
- •
- Media Studies, New Media, Media and Cultural Studies, Journalism
- by Christy Wampole
- •
- Journalism, Digital Journalism, Journalism History, Journalism Ethics

Far from its traditional consideration as the ‘little brother’ of the profession, sports journalism plays a key role in the new information ecosystem and has a huge impact in society. Therefore, sports journalists must gain awareness of their accountability in order to counteract the widespread deficiencies that have not only challenged the normative standards of the profession but have also eroded their credibility. With the aim of helping journalists address these shortcomings, this investigation: (1) has compiled and examined the most relevant ethical codes, stylebooks and other accountability instruments in sports journalism; (2) has created the online platform Accountable Sports Journalism (http://accountablesportsjournalism.org); and (3) has produced a new specialised code aimed at covering sports responsibly.

- by Xavier Ramon
- •
- Media Ethics, Journalism Ethics, Media accountability, Ombudsman

Cada día se ve más claro que se está produciendo un profundo cambio de paradigma en el periodismo, pero ¿se trata realmente de una crisis circunstancial de la profesión? ¿Puede reducirse todo a la transición al digital? ¿O más bien... more

- by Miguel Álvarez-Peralta
- •
- Journalism, Journalism Ethics, Online Journalism, Periodismo

Scholars argue that accountability of news media and journalists to the public stakeholders has been improving in the 21st century because of the increased use of digital platforms, which are interactive, immediate, and universal. Since most studies related to online news media accountability have focused on developed countries, this research study examines the state of accountability in online news media in Nepal, where access to online media is very limited and audiences are barely aware of media’s journalistic responsibilities. By employing a case study research method with three data sources, and by interpreting the available data using Denis McQuail’s four stakeholders of media accountability as a theoretical framework, this research study finds that online media in Nepal, despite having unique features on digital platforms, are less accountable to professional and public stakeholders than their traditional counterparts, such as newspapers and television. The study also finds that Internet accessibility, media literacy, and resource availability are of primary concern in ensuring media accountability in Nepal.

- by Bhanu Bhakta Acharya
- •
- Media Ethics, Journalism Ethics, Online Journalism, Nepal
- by Noel Drake Kufaine and +1
- •
- Journalism, Journalism Ethics

This research is an investigation to compare the insights of celebrities and journalists into privacy. This comparison will lead us to determine the difference between “what people’s right is to know” and “What people’s interest is to know”.
To compare and identify the view of two groups (one group: politicians, actors and athletes; the other group: journalists) in this research, A Q-test questionnaire was tested by participants. It was concluded that two test groups had different insights into the priority of freedom of speech over privacy while they both emphasized on the necessity for legislating the privacy specifically.
However, none of the groups finds defensible distributing issues with the explanation of satisfying “public curiosity”. As a matter of fact, each of the test groups believe in what people should know about celebrities is not what they like, but what influence on their decision making about their destiny as a member of civil society or as Bloustein defines it: their self-government.

- by Afsaneh Hosseinzadeh
- •
- Journalism Ethics
- by Nathan Dickey
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- Media Studies, Journalism, Journalism Ethics, FOX News

Etički kodeksi definišu standarde i vrednosti kojima treba da se rukovode pripadnici novinarske profesije u svom radu. Međutim, retka su istrazivanja koja pokazuju na koji način se krše profesionalni standardi u medijskom izveštavanju u Srbiji. Ovaj rad ima za cilj da identifikuje i dublje analizira odstupanja od glavnih uputstava i smernica predviđenih Kodeksom novinara Srbije. Metodom analize sadrţaja obuhvaćena su četiri dnevna štampana medija: Politika, Blic, Večernje novosti i Danas, u dvonedeljnom periodu u toku septembra 2015. godine. Segmenti na osnovu kojih je analizirano kršenje kodeksa obuhvataju: odnos prema izvorima informacija i povod za izveštavanje, upotrebu fotografija, diskriminaciju, etiketiranje, privatnost, prikrivenu propagandu, govor mržnje, neprimerene sadržaje i podstrekivanje lažnih nada i strahova. Ključne reči: kodeks novinara, etički standardi, dnevna štampa, Srbija

- by Ana Milojevic
- •
- Journalism Ethics

This paper compares and contrasts the ethical obligations of news reporters under journalism ethics codes with their reporting obligations under state defamation and privacy tort law. It addresses the infiltration of tabloid journalism into traditional media sources, including the proliferation of sensationalism, triviality and disregard for privacy, with a particular emphasis on news coverage of the sports and entertainment industries. The paper also addresses the different standards for public figures created by the media, whether such standards promote justifiable social policy objectives, and how the media’s creation of such standards impacts society’s views and treatment of public figures. A 2008 survey of journalists conducted by The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press convincingly demonstrates why the journalism marketplace in the twenty-first century encourages a tabloid news media and fails to provide the press with appropriate incentives to adhere to journalism ...

- by Richard T. Karcher
- •
- Sociology, Privacy, Journalism Ethics, Torts

Demokrasinin ve kurumsal endüstriyel medyanın derin kriz içine girdiği günümüzde, gazetecilik mesleği ve bu mesleğin üstlendiği gerçeklerin halka duyurulması görevi giderek daha da hayati bir konu haline gelmiştir. Çünkü başlangıcından beri varlığını dördüncü güç olma niteliğine borçlu olan basın/medya artık bu görevini hakkıyla yerine getiremez olmuştur. Bu nedenle basının üstlendiği bu görevi büyük ölçüde beşinci güç olarak da tanımlanmaya başlanan yurttaş inisiyatifleri ve sivil toplum kuruluşları devralmaya başlamıştır. Ancak gazetecilik mesleğinin tarihsel süreç içinde oluşmuş norm ve değerlerinin gözden geçirilerek bu inisiyatifler tarafından ivedilikle benimsenmesine de ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır. Çünkü bu değerlerden yoksun bir gazetecilik aynı zamanda toplumsal bütünlüğe tehdit oluşturacak bir araca da dönüşme riski taşımaktadır. Bu riskin izlerini yalan haberlerin siyaseti imkânsız hale getirecek derecede yaygınlaşmasıyla yakından gözlemliyoruz.
Bu kitap, gazeteciliği hak temelli bir perspektifle Türkiye’deki sivil toplum kuruluşları arasında yaygınlaştırmayı hedefleyen Avrupa Birliği projesinin somut çıktılarından birisidir. Kitapta kriz içindeki gazetecilik mesleğini hak temelli bir perspektifle yeniden değerlendirmek amaçlanmıştır. Bu sayede sivil toplum kuruluşlarının hak mücadelelerini kendi haberlerini yaparak etkili bir şekilde kamusal varlık göstermelerini sağlayacak bir perspektif sunmak hedeflenmiştir.
Hak mücadelesine adanmış bir gazetecilik, aynı zamanda gerçeklerin ne pahasına olursa olsun dile getirilmesiyle mümkündür. Gerçekleri yaşamı pahasına dile getiren Araştırmacı Gazeteci Uğur Mumcu’nun anısına kurulmuş olan um:ag Vakfı ve Avrupa Birliği Türkiye Delegasyonu işbirliğiyle çıkarılan bu kitabın hak temelli gazeteciliğin sivil toplum kuruluşları arasında ve bütün toplumsal alanda yaygınlaşmasına vesile olmasını umuyoruz.

- by Tezcan Durna and +1
- •
- Human Rights, Journalism History, Mass-Media Ethics, Journalism Ethics
- by Amira Firdaus
- •
- Journalism, Professional Ethics, Communication Ethics, Journalism Ethics

This paper compares and contrasts the ethical obligations of news reporters under journalism ethics codes with their reporting obligations under state defamation and privacy tort laws. It also addresses the different standards for public figures created by the media, whether such standards promote justifiable social policy objectives, and how the media’ s creation of such standards impacts society’ s views and treatment of public figures. The author provides suggestions for incorporating journalism ethics codes into tort law standards in a manner that would create incentives for the press to internally regulate journalism ethics and give some teeth to journalism ethics codes without compromising the First Amendment.

- by Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and +1
- •
- Communication, Journalism, Disaster Studies, Mass Communication

In the race of two R’s; revenue and rating, we often
see that news agencies would go to any lengths to
make their news sensational. News and reports lack
in-depth research and prioritize entertaining
people. Their target is to make their news
"sensational" and to make it stand out among other
news about the same topic. Yellow journalism,
Paparazzi and Tabloidism are few examples of such
style of news reporting. Pakistani media industry
has also been affected by these unprofessional
ways. Keeping in view the fact that Today’s News is
Tomorrow’s history, we are making wrong history.
All kinds of medium of mass communication are
considered primary sources of history because they
are written in the contemporary times. This
research will be mainly focused on the
aforementioned phenomenon and how they have
affected Pakistani media industry directly and
history of Pakistan indirectly and what is the future of journalism and history of Pakistan due to such
practices.

- by Dr. Moiz Khan
- •
- Journalism, Journalism History, Pakistan, Journalism Ethics

Autorka przedstawia, w jaki sposób media społecznościowe zmieniają sposób postrzegania zawodu dziennikarza oraz wykonywania w kontekście etyki dziennikarskiej oraz etyki mediów. Stają się one coraz bardziej powszechne, obecne w przestrzeni publicznej, stąd też warto przyjrzeć się dylematom etycznym wynikającym z korzystania z nich. Autorka dokona także próby ukazania praktycznych wskazówek dla dziennikarzy, pozyskujących i przekazujących informacje za pomocą social media.

- by Malgorzata Laskowska
- •
- New Media, Digital Media, Social Media, Journalism Ethics