Ethics and Values in Modern Media

morality and value in Modern Day Media The public has an insatiable curiosity to know everything. Except what is valuey knowing. Journalism, conscious of this, and having tradesman-like habits, supplies their demands. Oscar Wilde. Few would doubt that the media is nonp atomic number 18il of the few platforms that affords people the ability to inform, entertain, and influence society. The privilege of having much(prenominal) voice and influence comes with great responsibility. It is crucial that those in a position of such power manage in a responsible and ethical manner.Journalist across on the whole mediums atomic number 18 held to a well ethical standard in their profession as their work can to completely change the publics office of any given topic or thus fart. It is obvious that technology is having a tremendous impact on all forms of media. While past generations waited for the evening news or the morning paper, people today are reaching for the internet at any ti me of the day or night to get the a la mode(p) information. While this instant access has helped curb the publics insatiable curiosity for information, it has alike increase a whole new specialize of questions regarding the ethics and values in the media industry.One of the roughly oblige questions to arise out of this new era is whether the media industry has forsaken its core ethics and values for its own gain. Values are very personal choices which are compromised of the individual experiences in life. They are choices that help one rank their life. Values can be influenced by a number of factors such as family, upbringing, religion, and society. They help one define and project character attributes such as loyalty, compassion and honesty. Values are instrumental in how we behave and the choices we make.Ethics are skipper rules that define how different groups of people should behave. There is a different guts of right and wrong with little room for grey or questionable behavior. Ethics exceed and dictate what is professional and acceptable to each given profession. To behave ethically is to behave in a manner consistent with what is right and or moral for the profession. Values and ethics are forever at a crossroads because todays society carry ones towards personal wealth. The stakes are constantly increase as far as what it takes to gain that wealth. (,2010).It is not uncommon for people to share private information, set someone up, edit what a person has said or completely alter a take care someone has taken for their gain. It is in situations like this that values are tested and ethics are ignored. nonrecreational values and ethics are commonly derived from government laws and regulations, state licensing boards, and trade draws. A professions code of channel will contain provisions that are designed to advise, guide, and regulate behavior on the job. (Madsen & Shafritz, 1990, p. 205). There are also federal, state and local laws which regulate and enforce most professional industries.According to The United States department of Labor (n. d), Government agencies such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) were created to sanction safe and healthful running(a) conditions for working men and women by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act by assisting and encouraging the States in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working conditions . Professional associations such as the Society of Professional Journalist also have their own values and ethics which are set forth to guide their members. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalists credibility. (Society of Professional Journalist, 1996). Each association clearly outlines its expectations in hopes that all members will abide by them and act in a professional manner. One of the biggest s ectors of media affected by ethical conflicts is the publicizing market. For some business ethicists, advertising is one of the most crucial issues in corporate ethics because its pervasiveness and because of its power to mold consumer thinking and behavior.For example, many have argued that advertising is a form of a behavior control, given its subtle psychological persuasion and its repetitiveness. One such argument holds that advertising creates in the mind of the consumer a need not just want for that which is advertised. When the consumer in question happens to be a child subjected to a barrage of TV ads about toys, sugared cereals, candy, and so on, then the ethics of advertising taken as a form of behavior control is even more crucial. (Madsen & Shafritz, 1990).Photographers also face backlash as womens advocacy groups rail against the use of airbrushed models in print media. You have to accept that fashion is fantasy. Its wearable art, says Andrew Matusik, a in the alto gether York fashion lensman and the possessor of Digital Retouch, which specializes in celebrity and fashion retouching. Its all about creating drama. (Bennett, 2008). It is widespread knowledge that any photographer with any basic graphic design skills can and will alter an image to suit his thickenings needs.As technology evolves so do the ethical standards which advertisers and photographers are held to. Another form of media mired in controversy is reality based investigative news furnishs. One such show, Datelines To Catch a Predator purported to take child sex predators off the street as they attach a series of sting operations set up by various law enforcement agencies. The show faced a firestorm of criticism when a Dallas, Texas man committed suicide moments before he was to be arrested on charges of engaging in sexually explicit chat with a minor.The mans family sued the cyberspace and won a substantial award. The presiding judge ruled that the network crossed the li ne from responsible news media to irresponsible and reckless intrusion into law enforcement. (Shea, 2008). Although the show was very successful for the network, it was cancelled shortly after the lawsuit. While it is widely believed that being ethical and sticking to ones values will caterpillar tread to an honorable and decent career, the examples illustrated above show that more and more people are willing to push the envelope of professional values and ethics.Personal gain has taken a back seat to deceny and commen sense in many professions. This leaves us with an urgent and pressing question-what are professional ethics and values worth today? References Values and Ethics. (n. d. ). Strategic Leadership and Decision Making. Retrieved from http//www. au. af. mil/au/awc/awcgate/ndu/strat-ldr-dm/pt4ch15. html Values, Morals and Ethics. (n. d. ). changing minds and persuasion How we change what others think, believe, feel and do. Retrieved from http//changingminds. org/explana tions/values/values_morals_ethics. tm United States Department of Labor. (n. d). OSHA. Retrieved from http//www. osha. gov/oshinfo/mission. html Madsen, P. , & Shafritz, J. M. (1990). Essentials of Business Ethics. New York, New York Penguin Group Society of Professional Journalist. (1996). Code of Ethics. Retrieved from http//www. spj. org/ethicscode. asp Bennett, J. (2008, May). Picture Perfect. Newsweek, (), . Shea, D. (2008). The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http//www. huffingtonpost. com/2008/06/25/nbc-settles-to-catch-a-pr_n_109261. html