Jour1111 - Lecture 8

Ethics

with Donna Meiklejohn

18.9.12

As a person with a strong moral background, with a large influence from Christianity which deems people should act in empathy and concern for others, the topic of ethics in journalism is pertinent and one I find hard to wrap my head around. It is indeed the stereotypical evasive and ruthless nature of the majority of the journalism industry that had initially put a bad taste in my mouth in relation to pursuing it as a career. I did not want to be the one to interrogate the death victim's family and friends, to insist on asking those questions which quite blatantly break people's hearts. Even now, whilst journalism remains an interest, I do not see myself ever being able to be tough or insensitive enough, depending on how you see it, to be successful in this job. 

As Meiklejohn rightly questions 'how do we know what is right and wrong ethically?' There is such a large discrepancy in relation to people's opinions and values within society due to the unique contexts and circumstances that make up who they are, such things include upbringing, religion, schooling and so on, and as a result whilst you may be acting in an ethical light in your own eyes, to someone else you could be defying the very core of what they deem as righteous and respectful behaviour. It has been said there is a very fine line between what should and shouldn't be published...how do we know what sits where in relation to this line?

Donna Meiklejohn, during the lecture this week, proposed that in order to attempt to be as ethical as possible whilst practicing journalism one must follow an 'Ethics Theory'. There are a number of different theories possible to follow and they include: Deontology refers to sticking to a set of rules, duties, principles and codes. It prescribes you are being ethical and doing the right thing if you follow such rules. Consequentialism involves the process of getting a good or right outcome as that is all that matters, it does not mind how we get there as the end may justify the means. It rests on the principle of the greatest good for the greatest majority. Virtue is the simple idea of asking oneself whether or not that which is being done aligns with the type of person you want to be. It is the belief goodness comes from morally good habits of character and thus people should be able to decipher the ethical from the non-ethical on a personal level. 

Meiklejohn also outlined the 'Doctrine of the Mean' as something which journalists can use to help them in their quest for ethical practice. Doctrine of the Mean: >courage is the mean between rashness and cowardice >justice is the mean between the in-justice of overzealous and excessive law and the injustice of lawlessness

Overall this lecture proved to me just how much grey area there is when it comes to journalism and ethics and why it is I have decided to keep it as an area of interest rather than pursue it as a career.