ABSTRACT
This chapter explores a wide range of ethical issues involved in the reporting of conflict. It argues that too much of the debate over the ethics of conflict coverage is based on conventional notions of professionalism which leads to a prioritising of issues relating to the corporate media. Some corporate journalists adopt a cynical, amoral approach to the reporting of conflict. A completely opposite approach is promoted by journalists who argue that at times of conflict their essential responsibility as professionals is to support the actions of the state – perceived not as ‘immoral’ but ‘good’. Conventional studies of the ethics of conflict reporting have tended to marginalise or ignore altogether the non-corporate media. The chapter explores the studies of and theories relating to the national security/deep state to examine the crucial roles of both the alternative/peace media in bringing to light the warfare activities of the secret state and that of ‘the necessary mavericks’ within the corporate media.
