“Changing Contours of Media: Ethical and Legal Challenges

Ethics in Digital Journalism

Presentation by

Dr. Keshav Sathaye

9822108314

Media landscape today

TV industry –Rs. 50140crore

TV channel 788 ,Radio Rs. 1540 crore

Internet users more than 15crores

Digital media ethics deals with “

distinct ethical problems, practices and norms of digital news media.

Digital media scope

Radio ,TV, online journalism, blogging, digital photojournalism,

citizen journalism and social media.

• News Broadcasting Association-Ethical codes

• A news channel must: Ensure impartiality and objectivity in reporting

• Ensure neutrality

• Ensure that when reporting on crime, that crime and violence are not glorified

• Ensure utmost discretion while reporting on violence and crime against women and children

• Abhor sex and nudity

• Ensure privacy

• Ensure that national security is not endangered

• Refraining from advocating or encouraging superstition and occultism

• Ensure responsible sting operations

• .

• Corrigendum:

• significant mistakes made in the course of any broadcast is acknowledged and corrected on air

• immediately. Corrections should also be scheduled in such a way that they attract enough viewer

• Viewer feedback:

• create provision to receive consumer feedback. Further any

• specific viewer complaints will be responded to. In the event any news channel gets a specific

• complaint if found to be true it will admit to the same on air and will respond in fullness and fairness

• Why ethical codes ?• to avoid compromising the genre

• of television news by broadcasting content that is malicious, biased, regressive, knowingly inaccurate,

• hurtful, misleading, or aimed at willfully concealing a conflict of interest.

• to empower the profession of television

• journalism by an abiding set of values, which will stand the test of time, and ensure that balanced

• and comprehensive journalism flourishes, to strengthen India’s democracy

Indian TV News media

Professional laxity Lack of notes taking habits

Concentration of ownership to large media house Commoditization of news

Prominent media ethics

A clear cut line between news & opinion . .

Prominent media ethics

A clear cut distinction between advertising & editorial

Prominent media ethics

Sponsorship norms

Headline sponsorship

Prominent media ethics

Paid news phenomena

Prominent media ethics

Balance of content

Political coverage

Power politics emphasis

Prominent media ethics

balance of Visual representation use of graphics & animation

News programme genre

Avoid tabloidization

News programme genre

Avoid Breaking News excess

Concealment of news

The latest episode in Loksabha on the occasion of Telangana state

Purpose of ethical codes

• to avoid compromising the genre

• of television news by broadcasting content that is malicious, biased, regressive, knowingly inaccurate,

• hurtful, misleading, or aimed at willfully concealing a conflict of interest.

• to empower the profession of television

• journalism by an abiding set of values, which will stand the test of time, and ensure that balanced

• and comprehensive journalism flourishes, to strengthen India’s democracy

Provision for complaints

Very rarely complaints are made

Passive viewers

Lack of information about the authority

Indian news media needs

Foster maturity amongst content provider, developer and consumers

Indian news media needs

Proper understanding of visual impcat on viewers

Thank You

keshavsathaye@gmail.com