My Views on The Role of Ethics in Journalism

We now live and interact in a highly mediated system. The sheer amount of information produced and distributed by the mass media on a daily basis can impact significantly on the manner in which people, communities and societies understand (or misunderstand) each other. Whether it is considered as a fourth estate, a watchdog or a pillar of democracy, the press is undoubtedly an essential element of the public sphere.

However, the media faces several challenges which include competition, pressures to publish information before the rest while making it credible. With so many constraints the media should live up to it’s ever demanding growing audience. Indeed, journalism must not only aim to be intrinsically truthful and honest, but also needs to actively prove its worth in the public sphere. In other words, it must demonstrate that it has a solid sense of ethics. It is a fact that once information has found its way into the public space, it is difficult to take it back. Therefore, it is imperative that those who are in the industry of information and news production are armed with the necessary skills and mechanisms to process, report and represent information along ethical lines.

Journalistic Ethics is the standardized principles of belief, conscience, conduct and of good practice that is the assistance in decision-making in relation to perplexed challenges and moral question faced by a journalist. Journalism’s fundamental objective is in serving people with fair and impartial news, comments, views and information regarding all matter concerning public interest unbiased and accurately, using decent language and proper manner.

Journalists should follow a list of do’s and don’t so as to protect the people while also doing their job as truthfully as possible. Trust, fairness, and accuracy are the cardinal principles of ethical journalism, which ensures the positive role that media has to play, establishing creditability against rumour and fiction. Impartiality is to be ensured, with most stories having two contrasting sides, stories to be told from a balanced, unprejudiced and contextualized. Hence, reporting cannot be defamatory against organization or individual without sufficient verification and evidence. And impartiality can only be ensured when media works as an Independent Institution, without government strict control and censorship. Truth should be the end target and the journalist should be accountable for the information he/she puts out. It isn’t always possible to guarantee ‘truth’, so journalists should strive for accuracy by giving the most relevant information possible.

In conclusion the influence of media is expansive enough to make or unmake of a person, institution or any thought. With so much strength and privilege, the media cannot lose sight of its powers, duties, and obligations.