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Ethics is the study of morality and moral behavior. Since morality has a social dimension, it certainly applies to institutions, institutional arrangements and policies, and the behavioral norms of various cultures and groups. Thus, the study of ethics encompasses moral norms applicable to business corporations, political bodies, medical organizations, colleges and universities, churches, sects, and so on, as well as individuals qua individuals. While moral theories and concepts are designed to deal primarily with individuals, moral categories can be sensibly applied to these various institutions and groups, although in a secondary sense. Ethics, morals, beliefs, and values are formed in different societies.
A society set its own rules for its own community. People within their community tend to think and act according to what they are taught by their own society leaders, family, and friends, etc. As people grow older to choose and make their own decision, they take responsibilities in which they apply their own ethics, beliefs, morals, and values. If they get to move to different parts of the world, they would find what they thought to be right might be wrong for different cultures. What is taboo for one culture might be just a norm for another one. The same I can state for different spheres of work and activities different of organizations and people.
As this paper is about the media ethics I want to mention first what is media and what ethics norm it should have. Media is the ultimate means of spreading communication throughout our society. The purpose of the media is to let the effect of its contents linger on its audience. Television, radio and the printing press are the common media types. Almost everyone in the world is exposed to at least one of these forms of media, whether it is a newspaper, a television set or radio broadcast. The influence of the media affects our culture as a whole, by directing our opinions, making us follow its trends, informing us about what is happening in our world and changing our behavior.
The media uses its influence over us to affect our opinions about the general public. To attract viewers and readers, the media focuses toward violence, conflict, scandal, sex and the personal lives of politicians (Dye. ) Individuals responsible for media output decide the content of it. The medias interpretation tells us what to think about the news. News broadcasters interpret meaning by sharing their opinion to convince the audience to have the same view. But is it right for media to make other people think and believe what it says.
Do people deserve to know the truth? My opinion is YES. I do agree with the Utilitarian ethics theory and I think that media has to use this or similar type of ethics theory for their benefit and the benefit of people and observers. Though utilitarian ethics has remained a controversial theory, often because it seems that it requires us to act in a way contrary to commonly-held beliefs I believe that media is the sphere where it is needed to be applied. (Englehardt, Elaine E. & Schmeltekopf, Donald D. ) Media does not always tell the truth. Even more right to say it does say the true much rare than telling its opinion or ungrounded facts. In our culture we are very protective of each other and we dont seek to ruin our countrys reputation by displaying negative news.
For example, with the war on terrorism we often see brief clips of the Unites States armed forces bombing a small town in Afghanistan and harming innocent mothers and children. The main highlight in our culture may be how the other country affected us. We, therefore, form the opinion that the enemy is The Bad Guy in the situation. The media does not stress the point that something should not be happening.
Same It rather persuades us to have the opinion. Our opinions of what we see in media, our believes, behaviors and our lifestyles are changed according to what they tell us. We never get a first hand look of the world on our own. Media affects our culture is its keen way of shaping our lifestyles. This approach often makes the viewer want to copy the trend. Media causes our culture to be unoriginal.
From music to fashion and our attitudes, the media has affected them all. Todays media audiences are attracted by television ads, radio commercials, and sources of print media. By manipulating the media spectators, media causes us to long for the entertainment it offers. The media engages in direct efforts to change our attitudes, opinions, and behavior through advertising and entertainment programs. Media broad casts are constantly taking over the lives of every person by keeping us informed of events. For instance, television uses the most interesting aspects to appeal to the viewer.
We find ourselves caught up in the action. Talk shows such as Jerry Springer use real life situations and make a comedy act out of them. The hilarious and shocking content is what grasps the attention of the viewing audience. Our culture depends on the media to let us know what is happening in our world. Various sources of media such as television, radio, and newspaper give us a wide range of sources in which we can receive information. If we dont like what is offered on television, we have the option of getting the same information from radio announcements, or newspaper articles.
Each shares information with a different approach. We live in a world that is constantly changing each day and media is the primary source that gives us a new and sometimes different view on life. I dont have anything against this idea but I strongly believe that media should act in the way it is right towards others. Its actions, translations, advertisements, movie, promotions and programs should be directed towards bringing happiness and utility to its observers. As media is what helps us to keep in touch with the issues of our society then utilitarian ethics in this sphere is a necessary thing. Utilitarianism is defined broadly as a set of moral principles or values.
The principle of utility expresses that actions were right if they tended to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. When faced with a moral dilemma, utilitarianism identifies right and wrong and also considers the consequences that may result. If a media would be utilitarian, it would look at the assessment of the ethics of all its decisions according to whether the benefits outweigh the costs and to do it right, it would have to include all benefits and costs to all parties involved, not just the quantifiable ones. Utilitarianism is essentially an empirical philosophy given that the calculation has to be done before the answer is known. All this means that utilitarianism will have to work on a number of levels to get the right result.
It is not just a theory for making individual or companys moral and ethical decisions, but also for deciding on what institutions to have. And it is necessary to design practices and institutions to channel non-utilitarian motives into utilitarian results. When faced with a moral dilemma, utilitarianism identifies the appropriate considerations. Utilitarianism considers justice and humane treatment to be good for society as a whole and therefore instrumentally good as a means to promoting happiness. If compare the works about the moral law of such philosophers as Hobbes, and Kant I can say that they are less implied to the media. Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher, suggested that we are motivated by selfish self interests and because of that, we are better off living in a world of moral rules.
Hobbes believes that these self interests are a way of saying that all of our actions are a product of our own beliefs, that people consider themselves to be better than anyone else other than God. Immanuel Kant's, an German philosopher, ethical system is based on the belief that everything happens for a reason. Our actions, of any sort, are directed by reason. Whether we need to reach a specific outcome or resolution, we choose the action that will accomplish that task or whether that action is the only means necessary and then that particular action must be followed. (George D. Chryssides and John H. Kaler. ) Concluding my essay about media ethic I want to say that pushing the boundaries of truth and reality are issues continually faced in our world, with society's continuous entrapment in beliefs of "truth" taking first preference because it's "in the media." Do we question what is real, what is not, what is true, or what is false?
In most cases the answer is no, with viewers happy to absorb without compromise or obstruction. And media mostly make as believe everything we see or hear and it is not always the thing that bring as happiness or utility. Applying the utilitarian ethics in this sphere will, I believe, bring much more satisfaction and utility to medias observes than any other approach. References Dye, Thomas R. Politics in America. New Jersey: Pearson Education 2002 George D.
Chryssides and John H. Kaler. An Introduction to Ethics. Thomson Learning. 2002 Englehardt, Elaine E. & Schmeltekopf, Donald D.
Ethics & Life. Wm. C. Brown Publishers. 1992
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