Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 3

Mark Dixon - Murdoch University

Honesty and Ethics within the Role of Journalism


Opinion polls rate journalists well below other professions when it comes to honesty and ethics. Is this a fair appraisal or does it misunderstand the role journalists perform?

What is the role of journalism?


Journalism within a democracy plays the role of mediation between the public and the politicians. This role is a very important role, as without any knowledge of the political agenda, the public would be simply left in the dark when it came down to important decision being made. The relationship between the politician and the public, through the media and journalism particularly, is distinctive in a democracy, and has a very special connection with the electoral process, which separates true democracies from imitations. (Levine, P. 2010.). Liberated media is fundamentally crucial in genuine democratic societies because it practices the theory of including the public in governmental affairs, and commemorates the democratic idea that reality can only be relative and truth and facts are to be deemed authentic by individuals, not administrators.

What are the ethical guidelines for journalism?


Journalism has some guidelines that help to mandate the correct functionality and behaviours of journalists when operating in their profession. These guidelines fall under the MEAA/AJA code of ethics, this code of ethics promotes: Respect for truth and the public's right to information are fundamental principles of journalism. Journalists describe society to itself. They convey information, ideas and opinions, a privileged role. They search, disclose, record, question, entertain, suggest and remember. They inform citizens and animate democracy. They give a practical form to freedom of expression. Many journalists work in private enterprise, but all have these public responsibilities. They scrutinise power, but also exercise it, and should be accountable. Accountability engenders trust. Without trust, journalists do not fulfil their public responsibilities. Alliance members engaged in journalism commit themselves to: Honesty Fairness Independence Respect for the rights of others (MEAA. 2010.). The guidelines however offer a guidance clause that states: Basic values often need interpretation and sometimes come into conflict. Ethical journalism requires conscientious decision-making in context. Only substantial advancement of the public interest or risk of substantial harm to people allows any standard to be overridden. (MEAA. 2010.). This clause therefore allows exceptions to its own mandate and is seen in the eyes of many as a toothless tiger. In the whole time that the ethical guidelines have existed, no journalist has been penalised for breaching its rules. This is mainly because the clause offers a way to escape any penalisation by allowing standards to be overridden by substantial advancement of the public interest.

Mark Dixon - Murdoch University

Is there any evidence that unethical journalism exists?


Unethical and dishonest journalism exists all over the world, in a study by the IPRA (International Public Relations Association) in 2002, revealed the widespread use of cash for editorial content in many countries around the globe. (Mitchell, S. 2002.). The IPRA has members in 95 countries. For the survey, public relations professionals in 52 countries were asked whether editorial content appeared as a result of the editorial judgment of the journalists involved, or due to the influence or payment of a third party. "Nearly two-thirds of respondents in Eastern Europe believe that the practice of zakazukhaend -- a Russian word meaning the acceptance of bribes by journalists in exchange for editorial -- is common in their country," (Mitchell, S. 2002.). In Africa and the Middle East the majority of correspondents felt that editorial copy was often based on sinister influences, as opposed to editorial judgment. More than half of those surveyed said it was popular practice to produce an advertisement that looked like a page of editorial, with no indication that the page has been paid for. (Mitchell, S. 2002.). The survey concluded that unethical practices took more sophisticated forms in first world countries. In Australia, 60 per cent of PR people reported that they knew of staff journalists who were also employed by a company or PR agency. (Mitchell, S. 2002.). Cash for Comments Affair In 1999 Alan Jones and John Laws, both radio hosts for Sydneys 2UE talk radio were exposed by Media Watch to have been taking payments for giving favourable comments to companies such as Qantas, Optus, Foxtel, Mirvac, and major Australian banks. Without disclosing this arrangement to listeners, this is highly unethical behaviour but as both of the accused claimed to not be employed as journalists but rather as entertainers and therefore had no duty of disclosure or of journalistic integrity. (Media Watch. 1999.). The Australian Broadcasting Authority estimated the value of these arrangements at $18 million and found Laws, Jones, and 2UE to have committed 90 breaches of the industry code and five breaches of 2UE's license conditions. Regulations were subsequently tightened to prevent such behaviour; however, the ABA has been accused of weakness and inconsistency in enforcing these regulations. (Media Watch. 1999.).

Why does unethical journalism take place?


Unethical and dishonest journalism can take place because of any number of factors, whether it is an intentional or unintentional act of unethical behaviour does not matter, the fact is that unethical and therefore dishonest journalism has taken place. Some reasons behind unethical journalism may include:
Journalists could be ill informed as to the correct procedures involved when conducting their role. Outside pressure from other sources may drive the journalist to exploit or employ unethical behaviour. Desperation to work to a higher standard, to sell the story and move up in the newsroom hierarchy may force the journalist to use unethical tactics to achieve a good story and gather good information. The journalists boss may be pressuring and calling on the journalist for information or stories that force the journalist into dishonest or unethical behaviour. The MEAA does not enforce its policy and its code of conduct hard enough, and this may entice journalists into unethical behaviour, knowing that they have a good chance of getting away with it. At the end of the day, media is a product that needs to be sold to the public, day in day out. Unethical behaviour may be implemented as a result of pressure about a lack or stories to report on.

Mark Dixon - Murdoch University

Is the role that journalism plays misunderstood for lack of ethics and dishonesty?
Due to the actual role of the journalist, it is easy to see why some of these things that journalists do seem to be unethical. Their role involves gathering information from incidents that are generally negative in nature, and therefore are hard to obtain relevant and correct information from. Not all journalists are unethical, and there are plenty of journalists out there that behave in a sound and ethical manner. But due to some of the more unethical behaviour that has been exposed and displayed for the public to see, this gives journalism a bad reputation and a bad name for being dishonest and unethical. However the statistics that I have shown here from the IPRA: The survey concluded that unethical practices took more sophisticated forms in first world countries. In Australia, 60 per cent of PR people reported that they knew of staff journalists who were also employed by a company or PR agency. (Mitchell, S. 2002.). Dictates that a large amount of unethical behaviour exists within our democracy and continues to flourish and promote corruption throughout journalism as a profession.

References:
Media Watch. 1999. Jones and Cash for Comment. Stories in 1999. http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1085792.htm (accessed March 17th, 2010)

Levine, P. 2009. Journalism and Democracy: Does it Matter How Well the Press Covers Iraq?. http://www.peterlevine.ws/NCR_Iraq.pdf (accessed March 17th, 2010)

MEAA. 2010. Media Alliance Code of Ethics. http://www.alliance.org.au/media_alliance_code_of_ethics/ (accessed March 15th, 2010)

Mitchell, S. 2002. Survey shows unethical journalism is rife. THE POST.IE. http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost /2002/07/21/story302552628.asp (accessed March 17th, 2010)

Вам также может понравиться