ABSTRACT
The aims of this chapter include providing a context for thinking critically about the ethical issues that arise in mass communication and an overview of significant ethical issues emerging in this field. The proliferation of blogs, social networking media, cable news channels and sites such as Twitter and YouTube means the functions of traditional mass media have become increasingly fragmented. This proliferation of online sources allows the rapid dissemination of so-called fake news as well. Ethical issues arising in mass communication result from decisions about the rights of individuals versus the rights of society. Also, the good of the public is often in conflict with economic interests of the businesses producing mass communication. And, the media have the power to shape or at least choose the topics for public attention and discussion. The chapter reviews two models for analyzing ethical questions that arise in mass communication. The Potter Box takes decision makers through a recurring series of questions, requiring them to think carefully about facts, the values underlying how the facts are presented, and subjecting these considerations to the criteria of a well-formed ethical perspective. The second model concerns using the attitudes derived from dialogical communication.
