ABSTRACT

This volume responds to the challenges posed by the rapid developments in satellite TV and digital technologies, addressing media ethics from a global perspective to discuss how we can understand journalism practice in its cultural contexts.

An international team of contributors draw upon global and non-Western traditions to discuss the philosophical origins of ethics and the tension that exists between media institutions, the media market and political/ideological influencers. The chapters then unveil the discrepancies among international journalists in abiding by the ethics of the profession and the extent to which media ethics are understood and applied in their local context/environment. Arguing that the legitimacy of ethics comes not from the definition per se, but from the extent to which it leads to social good, the book posits this should be the media’s raison d'être to abide by globally accepted ethical norms in order to serve the common good.

Taking a truly global approach to the question of media ethics, this volume will be an important resource for scholars and students of journalism, communication studies, media studies, sociology, politics and cultural studies.

chapter |11 pages

Introduction

Global digital media explosion and the question of ethics

part 1|88 pages

Media ethics revisited

chapter 1|23 pages

Political correctness in a global age

The ethical implications of a hegemonic discourse

chapter 2|15 pages

Impartiality, fairness and the bias of empire

Technologies of freedom or constraint?

chapter 3|18 pages

Freedom of expression and social responsibility

Contested worldviews on media ethics

part 3|64 pages

Global media ethics global challenges

chapter 12|16 pages

Journalistic deontology in news coverage of poverty in the digital age

Why objectivity is bad when reporting on inequality

chapter 15|17 pages

Decolonizing African journalism ethics

From Afriethics to Afrokology