SOCIAL DIMENSION AND THE ETHICS OF COMMUNICATION

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

freedom of communication and expression through

mediums including various electronic media and published

materials.

John Milton argued from two main points :

o The free flow or trade of ideas serves to ensure that public

discourse will allow the truth to emerge.

o Truth will emerge from public discourse because people are

inherently rational and good.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Indecency

Deregulation

Copyright

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THEORY

The core assumptions of this theory are a cross

between libertarian principles of freedom and

practical admissions of the need for some form of

control on the media.(McQuail,1987)

• Media should accept and fulfill certain obligations to society.

• Media can meet these obligations by setting high standards

of professionalism, truth, accuracy and objectivity.

• Media should be self-regulating within the framework of the

law.

• Media should avoid disseminating material that might lead

to crime, violence or civil disorder or that might offend

minority groups.

MEDIA INDUSTRY ETHICS

Ethics are rules of behavior or moral principles that

guide or actions in given situations.

The word comes from the Greek "ethos" which

means the customs, traditions or character that

guide a particular group or culture.

Three levels of Ethics :

1- Meta Ethics

2- Normative Ethics

3- Applied Ethics

BALANCING CONFLICTING INTERESTS

In applying ethics, the person making the decisions is

called the moral agent. For moral agents, sticky

ethical issues invariably bring together conflicting

interests.

Truth and Honesty

Can the media ever be completely honest ? PrivacyWe use privacy to control the extent and nature of

interaction we have with others. Privacy protects us from unwanted government

intrusion. The media however, by their nature are intrusive.

ConfidentialityAn important tool in contemporary news gathering and

reporting is confidentiality, the ability of media professionals to keep secret the names of people who provide them with information.

Personal Conflict of Interest

• Ethical decision making requires a balancing of

interests.

• What of a media professional's own conflicts of

interest?

• Should media personalities accept speaking fees, free

travel and other gifts from groups and corporations

that they may later have to examine ?

Profit and Social Responsibility

Balancing profit and social responsibility is a concern

not just for journalists. Practitioners in

entertainment, advertising and public relations often

face this dilemma.

Offensive Content

Offensive content is protected. Freedom of speech and

freedom of the press exist expressly to allow the

dissemination of material that will offend.

REFERENCES

MMC 101 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION COURSE NOTES & READINGS

CHAPTER 14 READING : BARAN 455 – 489

• http://www.freedomhouse.org

Thanks for listening

Any Questions ?

Melek Nur AYDIN 20110301010