Ethical Journalism is a Contradiction Q: ‘Ethical Journalism is a Contradiction in Terms’

Humbert Wolfe (1930)

To many, Ethical journalism would be considered as an example of an oxymoron, that never the Twain shall meet. Others however do suggest that the two have an affinity. Belsey & Chadwick (1992:1) demonstrate that there is no contradiction between ethics and journalism

‘Much of the practice of journalism must be described and analysed in terms of a set of concepts which are essentially ethical, such as freedom, objectivity, truth, honesty, privacy. Even democracy, the context in which so much discussion of the media takes place, is really an ethical term’. (Belsey & Chadwick 1992:1)

Thus that is to say that you can’t talk about journalism without talking about ethics. This essay will therefore discuss the role of ethics in the press, and discuss some obstructions that can hinder and options that can enforce ethical journalism. Can these two words really live in harmony or are they as compatible as Clinton and Bush??!!

How indeed can the public make a rational and formative decision for themselves? He also referred to the resignation of ex-education Minister Estelle Morris’s resignation, who in her own words said; "I am not good at dealing with the modern media."(Ibid, 2002)

3, who will benefit from these stories? The public or the proprietor,

On October 14th 2002 The Daily Mirror won it’s appeal against the supermodel, after she had successfully sued the newspaper for breach of confidence and breach of data protection act, after the newspaper revealed that she had a drug problem and was attending narcotics anonymous sessions in London. A point in favour of her winning that case is that it stipulates in the Press Complaints Commissions (PCC) code of conduct, that ‘Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home health and correspondence.’ (PCC, 1999:3)

The ethical dilemma here is that there is no single determined answer, there is no right or wrong.

Some topics in this essay:
Colour Dictionary, Estelle Morris’s, Seib Fitzpatrick, Piers Morgan, Daily Mirror, International Corp, Belsey Chadwick, Commissions PCC, John Leslie, Simon Kelner, ethical journalism, daily mirror, freedom press, code conduct, seib fitzpatrick, piers morgan, belsey chadwick, enforce ethical journalism, ‘a journalist, enforce ethical, randall 2000133, perfect world perfect, belsey chadwick 19921, 2002 daily mirror,