Media ethics

From ArticleWorld

Media ethics concern the mass media, and all actions and interactions of the media that have ethical consequences. Discussions of media ethics revolve around certain ethical problems that may arise due to the actions and effects of the entertainment industry and journalism.

Ethical concerns

• Media effects on communities: Many people are concerned about how the mass media affects families and children. Critics say that there is too much sex and violence on television, in movies, on the news and even in popular music. Because of this, there are many advocacy groups, such as the Parents Television Council, who are working to make the media "safer" for children, by instituting stricter FCC regulations on content as well as by creating rating systems for television programs.
• Censorship, bias and propaganda: Others worry that the media is too heavily regulated, or that it has a corporate bias. In the news especially, there have been accusations of corporate and government censorship and propaganda. These accusations often come from the political left and right alike. The left criticizes the media for being too "conservative" while the right says that it is too "liberal."
• Corporate ownership and deregulation: Critics often bemoan the modern corporate structure of the mass media. The recent deregulation of the radio waves in the United States has created a situation where the vast majority of radio stations are now owned by large media conglomerates, such as Clear Channel Communications. To some, this signals the end of media diversity. It is feared that this will result in the replacement of individual, local cultures with a media-fueled [[mass culture.
• Standards of accuracy: The 2003 Jayson Blair scandal has brought to light new concerns about the accuracy of the media. Blair, a New York Times reporter, was fired and publicly condemned when it was discovered that he had faked several feature news stories. It is now said by some that stricter standards of accuracy should be in place to ensure that we can continue to depend on the mass media as a source of trusted information.