Telegram-канал cseupscnotes - UPSC Civil Services Upsc Prelims Mains Exam Current Affairs GS Gk Tricks SSC CGL IAS IFS IPS EPFO PCS UPPCS MPPCS Bihar PCS: Education

UPSC Civil Services Upsc Prelims Mains Exam Current Affairs GS Gk Tricks SSC CGL IAS IFS IPS EPFO PCS UPPCS MPPCS Bihar PCS

29 September 2023 04:24

♻️Media ethics

1. Independence: Media channels (print or electronic or digital) must be independent of the government and not have any political allegiance. The independence of the media not only leads to free speech and expression but also emboldens debate and dissent in democracy. Currently, in USA, certain media outlets are showing strength and resolve to question the policies of Trump administration despite direct criticism and denigration by the President himself.

2. Objectivity: Reports of media personnel should be based on facts and not personal bias or prejudice. Media must report all information from across the spectrum of opinion. It must also give due space to all shades of opinion as well as facts.
For example, recently Qatari government-owned news channel Al-Jazeera was restricted from operating in Jammu and Kashmir by Government of India for its biased coverage.

3. Sensationalism: The media’s role in a democracy is to provide the people with information in its purest form using which the people can make informed decisions. The media must avoid sensationalizing and scandalizing news for the purpose of marketing as it also leads to tensions, hyped emotions etc.

4. Editorial independence: Media outlets are commercial enterprises and need money to sustain themselves. However, the editorial and news reporting segments must be at an arm’s length from the commercial segments such as advertisements. For instance, governments might coerce newspapers against publishing criticism of the government in
exchange for commercial advertisements from the government. However, independent editorial department can check against that.

5. Ownership: Media entities must avoid concentrated ownership, especially in the hands of vested interests like politicians, businessmen and so on. Media ownership should be as publicly distributed as possible.

6. Responsibility and sensitivity: While reporting news, especially live reporting, media professionals must ensure that their coverage does not harm larger public interest.
While covering matters like terrorist attacks, wars etc. media should how reasonable responsibility towards national interest. While reporting on matters like riots, rapes etc.media must show basic sensitivity and not hurt the emotions or dignity of any individual or community.

7. Honesty: It must be ensured that information is completely and accurately shared with the public. No sort of information shall be withheld even if goes against the interest of the media outlet itself.

8. Accountability: Media should also account for its mistakes and take adequate action to remedy the wrongs. For instance, news programs must acknowledge errors in their reports and also bring out the correct information.

9. Means to obtain information: Right means should be used to obtain information and the privacy, dignity, trust etc. should be maintained. Methods like sting operations should be only used when they are found clearly in larger public interest and there should be clear guidelines for the matter.