Ethical approaches in journalism
Ethical approaches in journalism are core to ensure good practices by media services. Studying journalism ethics aids in understanding the responsibilities held by journalists, and offers journalists a framework for solving moral problems that often arise in journalism. The article explores western ethical cultures from Elliot’s and Ozar’s prior works. The importance of journalism is discussed and the benefits arising from the purpose of formulating recommendations.
Understanding the importance of journalism requires an in-depth understanding of who benefits from journalism. Journalism is essential to listeners, viewers or readers in the journalist’s community. Audiences of the various media outlets are served while a journalist communicates. The commitment of journalists is to serve the total population of a city in a particular geographical area. Journalism tends to offer truth and information in the most convenient way possible. However, a fact cannot be righty identified since it is complex to define using philosophical approaches. Questions are asked on whether the type of information describes the ethical strategies used or the ethical methods applied to all kinds of information. Some information is highly required for better functioning of society, such as information on the safety of the community. However, information yearned for by most persons in a community is optional rather than a necessity. Such pieces of information are described as preferences. Journalist’s focusing on preferences is termed as professional misuse as it only impacts a subgroup of a community.
When individuals lack required knowledge, proper journalism can offer the fine details required hence enabling individuals to perform effectively towards attaining their goals. Journalism also aids in community improvement. For instance, journalism may display the good deeds employed by others and thus instilling hope in community members. Other aspects are indeed vital to excellent journalism include proper writing, accuracy, and sincere interest in world topics. Responsibilities attached to journalism provide the basis of ethical approaches employed by a journalist. A similar structure of any other professional job leads to the formulation of moral ethics. Journalism should respect all parties involved and should treat subjects in the situation impartially and consistently. It should also promote the betterment of society. Good journalisms reflect on the ideologies of other professional greats. For instance, journalism may be used to emulate works by famous writers who intended to convey messages affecting society, such as gender equality.
The ethical role and approach of journalism are summarized with two steps. The first step requires the identification of actions conducted by a journalist in a given circumstance. The effect is questioned if: it fulfils the roles of a professional journalist, it causes any potential harm, and if so, how the damage is justified. It also examines whether the intended action offers individuals with their wants. The second steps involve answering the questions applied in the first step ethically. However, the article fails to offer an in-depth argument on the role of the government in journalism. In some countries, media information provided in a country is monitored by the government, thus offering information advocated by the government. Nevertheless, the data is critical in the study of journalism. The information helps model journalism students into responsible journalists that value their field of work and helps them understand their importance.
Journalism is a broad profession that is vital in the day to day lives of humans. Most information available in books, journals and the internet is because of journalism. Ethics and moral codes help in getting the best out of the journalism profession.