Setting Boundaries In The Media

Setting Boundaries in the Media

“But we do not live in a perfect world. We live in a world where gossip passes for news, and sensationalism passes for journalism” (Bernhardt, Naked Justice). This quote shows that not because the media publishes something does it mean that it is important or relevant to current events since the media manipulates and publishes what it wants for selfish purposes. The media is also a business, and like any business, its goal is to make profits, and sometimes it uses questionable tactics to do it, for instance, publishing inappropriate content, intentionally omitting facts, and including insignificant and irrelevant information. There are situations in which the media publishes obscene, harmful, vulgar, and offensive

To illustrate, the editor-in-chief of The Guardian stated: “Many news organizations have steered themselves away from public-interest journalism and toward junk-food news, chasing page views in the vain hope of attracting clicks and advertising (or investment) . . .” (Katharine Viner). The media wants to attract clicks, and when it publishes something, it does not consider the importance or relevance of the information. Creating significant and relevant content requires time and talent, and both of those things cost money. The media prefers to publish news that does not require investigation, attracts the public and makes profits. The media has opted to focus on sensationalized news with scandalous headlines that capture people’s attention. The media has left behind its task of informing and educating the public, and it just wants profits. Journalists manipulate information to make it more attractive to readers or viewers. They exaggerate, distort or simplify it. However, it is necessary to have a professional journalism that raises issues that matter. For that reason, the media should publish relevant and informative news, not anything and everything it wants for its selfish

The media should include ethical standards before and after publishing news. Nevertheless, there are situations in which the media publishes offensive and vulgar information. In those situations, the media does not include principles because they are not compatible with financial gains. However, the media should always inform with integrity, objectivity, independence, and transparency. Codes of Ethics are a way to guarantee the media follows principles and ethical standards. A Code of Ethics sets out principles and guidelines built on core values. For example, the Code of Ethics of Australia’s Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance establishes that “MEAA members engaged in journalism commit themselves to honesty, fairness, independence, and respect for the rights of others” (MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics). People who participate in the media must put the principles into practice and apply them when they search, receive, distribute and comment the information. Consequently, the media must follow principles that set boundaries in what it publishes, so it will not be able to publish anything and everything it