Jenna Kissinger
It is becoming more difficult for
consumers to differentiate true news and targeted opinion in today’s news media environment. As technology develops and creates more platforms
for consumers of news to become producers of news, the ethics surrounding the originally
intended need for journalism have become more complicated.
Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel explain,
“The primary purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information
they need to be free and self-governing”. The ethics and responsibilities associated with this powerful ideology must
evolve to ensure the integrity of this purpose is not forgotten.
Fake news reports, biases, and
propaganda are now widespread and often mistaken for truth. It is not a secret that the public’s trust in
the news has diminished. However, I would
argue blame cannot be placed on unethical journalists alone. It is simply much harder to facilitate and
protect the truth when the world can publish information at the speed of
light.
With the Internet at our
fingertips, the constant influx of information has made it more challenging for
people to choose what, where, when, and how they consume news. Therefore, it is more challenging for people
to feel confident about the authenticity of information.
The content and circumstances
surrounding a story, particularly a human-interest story, conjure more ethical concerns than before due to the instantaneous,
irreversible impacts of photos and video.
How can we determine where the line should be drawn?
What I find particularly
interesting is although trust in the media has decreased, people still seek
information. The fact is knowledge brings
people comfort. The unknown and unfamiliar
are scary, and people have an inherent instinct to be aware of what is happening
in the world around them. The way people
acquire information has changed, but the need to acquire information has not.
Journalism seems to
be influenced by trends, specifically as they pertain to technology. Technology trends have brought undeniable
growing pains and journalists and consumers must navigate these changes
together to create a system of diverse, conscious, and effective news media the public can trust.
While journalists are generally criticized
for their questionable intentions and methods, one cannot ignore the ethical debate surrounding journalists who
sacrifice and push the boundaries in the pursuit of the truth. Some
journalists have faced adversity and challenged the law in exercising their freedoms, which raises more questions about how far is too far when it comes to the use of the
Internet and electronic devices.
It seems moving forward requires
a holistic understanding and appreciation of the past. The key to rebuilding trust seems to be about
remembering the basics of what journalism is intended for and why is it important
for free and self-governing citizens. Ultimately, refining ethics in news media in the ever-evolving global society is going to require
conscious efforts from journalists and consumers.
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