Media Ethics

What is Media Ethics?
Why is Media Ethics important?
What does Media Ethics include?
Why ethical questions raised against Indian Media?
Factors to avoid for maintaining Media Ethics

1. -By AhteshamKhan, ManasMukulUpadhyayand VinaySingh
-BA (Hons.) Political Science

2. Introduction
▪India-largestdemocracyintheworld,guaranteesthefreedomof
speechandexpressions.
▪RecentexamplesoftheMediamanipulationandspreadingthefakenews
raisedtheethicalconcernglobally.
▪Ownedbytheconglomeratearethemostprofitableindustrymaking
billionthintermsofeconomy.Internetusageallowedandenhancedthe
reachmaximumaudiencefrommetrocitiestoremotelocationareas.
▪Although,JournalismethicsandcodesarereferredinIndianmainstream
media,butmostofthetimenewsmanipulationraisetheethical,
systematicaccountabilityanddecisionandprotocolstothemedia
industry.
▪Today’sDigitaltechnologyequippedmediahasgraduallyadoptedthe
editingtoolsfromCamerastoeditingmachines.Digitaltechnology
enabledthenewsroomtoeditwithinfractionsofsecondsorinreal-time.

3. Firstly, What is Ethics?
▪Ethicismoralrulesofconductthatguide’sone’sdecisions.
▪Moralruleencompassespersonalandcodeofconductsetby
theorganisationinstitutionorsocietytowherethe
personbelongsto.
▪ProfessionalEthics:everyprofessionhassomeethics
involvedinit,beitthedoctor,engineers,orthe
journalists.

4. What is Media Ethics?
▪MediaEthicsincludeissuesofmoralprinciplesand
valuesasappliedtotheconduct,rolesandcontent
ofmassmedia,inparticularjournalisticethicsand
advertisingethics.

5. What does Media Ethics includes?
▪Impartiality
▪Objectivity
▪Fair –No hidden agenda
▪Balance
▪Bias
▪Privacy
▪Public interest
▪Stereotyping
▪Decency
▪Obscenity
▪Freedom of Speech
▪Advertising practices

6. Why is Media Ethics important?
▪Media-4
th
PillarofDemocracy
▪Buildstrust
▪CreateMutualunderstanding
▪Limitgovernmentintervention
▪Tomaintainreputation
▪ProfessionalSatisfaction
▪CreateunbiasedscenarioinMedia
▪FormsPublicopinion–impactareirreversible

7. Why ethical questions raised against Media?
▪PaidNews
▪PoliticalAffiliation
▪Fakepropagandaspread
▪Morefocusonprofitmakingagenda
(TRP)
▪India’sRankinFreedomofPress
Index,2020–142/180

8. Factors to avoid for maintaining Media Ethics?
▪Partisan
▪Defamation
▪Contempt
▪Instigationofviolence
▪UnnecessaryreferenceofCasteorReligion.
▪GlorificationofSocialEvils–Crime
▪Plagiarism
▪MediaTrials
▪InvasionofPrivacy

9. CONCLUSION
▪IndiaisthelargestdemocraticcountryandMediaplaysanimportantroletomaintain
theidentityandcultureofthecountry.
▪Media’scredibilityandaccountabilitycanonlybebroughtbackbyfollowingmedia
ethics.
▪Media,undertheinfluenceofitsconglomerationandcorporateentitlesshouldbe
adheretoitsobjectivityofTruth,PublicwelfareandCredibility.
▪Immediateactionsmustbetakentostopfakenews,ambushjournalism,Provocative
andmisleadingstories.
▪PressCouncilofIndiamustmaintainandtakethestrictactionsagainstthemedia
organizationswhicharedamagingthecredibilityofthepress.
▪Mediashouldbethevoiceofunheardpeople.Itmustfosteronthepublicwelfare
throughitscoverage.