"This article proposes 3 principles and 3 imperatives as the philosophical foundations of a global journalism ethics. The central claim is that the globalization of news media requires a radical rethinking of the principles and standards of journalism ethics, through the adoption of a cosmopolitan a
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ttitude. The article explains how and why ethicists should construct a global journalism ethics, using a contractualist approach. It then formulates 3 "claims" or principles: the claims of credibility, justifiable consequence, and humanity. The claim of humanity is developed further by the formulation of 3 imperatives: to act as a global agent, to serve world citizens, and to enhance nonparochial understandings. The article concludes by considering some implications of a cosmopolitan attitude for the practice of journalism.
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"An engaging and original study of current issues in media ethics, this book challenges students to explore the relationship between media ethics and social change. It considers the potentially beneficial uses of media practice for humanity, addressing questions of inclusivity and diversity and spec
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ialist topics that are absent from other texts. Using case studies and exercises based on real-life experiences of journalists, newsmakers, policy makers and consumers, Valerie Alia invites readers to examine current media practice and develop strategies for ethical problem solving and decision-making. Topics discussed include: ethical theories; social scientific theories; the search for a responsible practice; internationalisation of the media; the ethics of interviewing; politicians, power and spin; media, minorities and gender; arts, sports and travel; ethics and images; changing technologies; and codes and principles." (Publisher description)
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"Ethics and Journalism provides a comprehensive overview of the main approaches to ethical enquiry in Western journalism. It examines the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists in all areas of the media and sets out ways of achieving ethical journalism. Ethics and Journalism explores such subjects as
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: private lives and the public interest, relations to sources and coverage of death, disease and destruction; examines the role of regulation and self-regulation of the media industry; discusses strategies of good journalism; thoroughly examines the role of industry codes." (Publisher description)
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"In Africa the press has frequently been used as a tool of propaganda, serving the interests of the government and ruling party. Government regulations, where they exixted, were designed to exclude independent voices. However a free and responsible press is in the interests of all people in Africa.
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Increasingly the media have taken the initiative to practise voluntary self-regulation, and a number of associations have already been created. Their aim is to create codes of conduct and professional rules. Based on a sound ethics of information, the hope is that a thoroughly professional media will come into being. In this book, with the support of the European Union and in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Observatory of Ivory Coast (OLPED), GRET has approached the issue with two aims: to explain the elements of self-regulation of the media, and to publicise the experiences of Africa." (Cover)
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"Journalists face unusual challenges when covering violent or mass tragedies. They face the possibility of being a first responder to a violent event. They interact with victims dealing with extraordinary grief. Journalists who cover any “blood-and-guts” beat often build a needed and appropriate
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professional wall between themselves and the survivors and other witnesses they interview. But after reporters talk with people who have suffered great loss, the same wall may impede the need of journalists to react to their own exposure to tragedy. Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies wrote the following for Poynter.org on Sept. 15, 2001: “Reporters, photojournalists, engineers, soundmen and field producers often work elbow to elbow with emergency workers. Journalists’ symptoms of traumatic stress are remarkably similar to those of police officers and firefighters who work in the immediate aftermath of tragedy, yet journalists typically receive little support after they file their stories. While public-safety workers are offered debriefings and counseling after a trauma, journalists are merely assigned another story.” In the future, we know that we’ll face more tragedies — more dates that will leave lasting memories for victims, communities and ourselves. The practical tips in this booklet can help you become more effective in handling these vital areas." (Page 3)
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"Das Werkbuch füllt eine wichtige Lücke: einerseits bietet es eine knappe und präzise Einführung in die Medienethik, andererseits präsentiert es aussagekräftige, durch Leitfragen miteinander verbundene Arbeitstexte, die zur eigenständigen Auseinandersetzung anregen." (Rezension von Adrian Hol
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deregger in Publizistik, 3/2004 S.382)
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"In this study the author presents self-regulation as a part of a wider subject, that is, freedom of speech, arguing that self-regulation does not intrude on this freedom beyond the limits set by democracy, and that, compared to legislative solution, it is a much more friendly way of implementing th
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e principle that one person's freedom is limited by another person's freedom. What is important is that the media are aware of the power they enjoy. The author gives several examples that illustrate where abuse of that unruly power can lead and argues that it is much better if media themselves hold it at bay and thus avert state's interference with an intention of compelling them to do so. The book recapitulates various views on media accountability and mechanisms reinforcing it, already widely discussed in public. It also looks into the current state of affairs in Slovenia despite the risk that time and further developments in this field may soon cancel out present conclusions. The frame of debate on the establishment of a press council in Slovenia could serve as a useful example for others. The existing Ethics Commission in Slovenia, whose past performance could have paved the way for an elaborate form of self-regulation, unfortunately proved to be an obstacle. The idea about a tripartite press council arose in some a feeling that a press council would be set against the ethics commission itself, even though, to the contrary, it could primarily advance the present work of this commission. The study therefore does not argue that existing ethics commission is needless, but rather points to the ideas about co-regulation that have recently emerged in the EU. They could lead to the shifting of the center, meaning that voluntary self-regulation, which advances media accountability and through it also professional conduct, could be taken away from the media and placed in the hands of users. The protection of professional standards would thus be transformed into the protection of consumer rights." (Summary, page 7)
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Dans nombre de pays africains, la liberté de la presse est encore toute relative, et surtout vulnérable, menacée par le pouvoir ou fragilisée par les excès dont les médias eux-mêmes se rendent coupables. Dans ce contexte sont apparues les premières instances africaines d'autorégulation des
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médias, visant à faire respecter la déontologie, à forger dans l'esprit des journalistes une éthique de l'information et à engager la presse dans une dynamique de professionnalisation. En charge d'un programme d'appui aux instances africaines d’autorégulation financé par l'Union européenne, en collaboration avec la Fédération internationale des journalistes (Fij), l'Union des journalistes de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (UJAO) et l'Observatoire ivoirien (Observatoire de la liberté de la presse, de l'éthique et de la déontologie - Olped), le Gret a travaillé sur la question dans un objectif double : apporter des références sur l'autorégulation des médias et donner un éclairage sur les expériences naissantes en Afrique. Dans une première partie sont présentées les approches de l'autorégulation et différents mécanismes utilisés par les médias dans plusieurs pays du monde. La deuxième partie est consacrée aux instances africaines. Elle expose le fonctionnement de l'Observatoire béninois (Odem), analysant ses acquis et difficultés, puis étudie les défis à relever pour des instances qui, si elles veulent remplir pleinement leur mission, doivent se pérenniser.
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