Ethics and Responsibilities of Journalists

Why responsible journalism??

• Responsible Journalism is a JOURNALISM with a conscience.

• Who should determine journalistic responsibilities?

• How does the power of the media entail responsibilities?

• Promises of media with their audiences??

Concepts of Responsibility and Accountability

• Responsible for and Accountable to???• The issue of responsibility is a practical one the

answer to which can come from an examination of the society’s needs to know and the press’s abilities to inform.

• The issue of accountability is a political one the answer to which can come from an analysis of centers of power—government, media organizations, public influence.

Concerns about the power of press

• Democracy demands a fiercely independent press, especially from accountability to government.

• The power of press and questions of power over the press are legitimate concerns!!

• The press has power in two ways: It has the power to decide what to report and how to report.

• Watch dog role on govt.

The ground of responsibility

• The greater our power or ability to affect others becomes, the heavier becomes our moral duty. This is the practical ground of the notion of responsibility.

• Assigned responsibility

• Contracted responsibility

• Self imposed responsibility

Approaching the questions of press responsibility

• Possible functions and Social roles of journalism• Principles that must guide the press to act

responsibly• Four Roles of the press• Educational role (Promoting ideas, opinions)• Political role (Watch dog role,Informing citizens)• Press as utility a conduit of information (Bulletin

board)• Socio cultural—press as a mirror of society

Code of practice Common Elements

• Objectivity• Accuracy• Impartiality and fairness• Harm limitation• Privacy• Libel• Children (Nudity, violence)• Conflict of interest

Some questions??

• Is it possible to abide by the code of conduct in the prevalent fierce competition??

Thanks

• Thanks