THE MORAL JUSTIFICATION FOR JOURNALISM
The moral justification of journalism is an issue that has been subject to debate for as long as journalism has existed. The question has always been, who influences media content? Is it the journalists, the media or the people?. The author tells us of the theory of communitarianism. The basic principle of which is that journalism is a virtue that should go beyond individual considerations, preferably those of the community.
The basis of the claim is based on the actions of the journalists at Times-picayune in New Orleans after the events of Hurricane Katrina that had a devastating effect on the community as well as them. Having been displaced from their offices, they published the story online that was read by millions countrywide documenting the need for help. As soon as they could print, the staffers offered the papers for free at the Convention Center to the millions of affected for free(Borden, 2010). This is a testament to the moral obligation that should be conducted by journalists. The concept of journalism is all centered on the fundamentals of the First Amendment, which covers the freedom of the press. This has brought about Liberalism, a political philosophy that emphasizes individual rights above the community’s(Borden, 2010). Liberalism justified American journalists to focus almost exclusively on their rights by criticizing the government on behalf of its people.
As a result of people continuously seeking information, journalism has become responsible for fulfilling the surveillance requirements of citizens. However, the surveillance function works if citizens monitor current affairs based on threats to their well-being. However, human beings being social creatures means that they are centered along with communities idealized by the common good. The common good is a society that advocates for the flourishment of both individuals and communities(Borden, 2010). This means that in communitarianism, the individuals can only be identified by their association with the community. Hence informed citizens can go about participating in community life, knowing well that they have been considered in the collective framework. The relationship between media and communities is also essential. This is because individuals in communities or communities as a whole create content for journalists. This means that the media may influence public opinion, but individuals and society as a whole dictate what kind of information will be disclosed.
But with the growth of technology, the citizens are becoming more and more informed. With the internet becoming the center of information on people, issues and institution(Borden, 2010). This has brought the press under continuous scrutiny. The rise of bloggers who often question the validity of the media has arisen. This is a good thing, as we all know, the media is a financial-based entity that may prioritize economic gains over what information the public needs to know. The truth is that the media has always directly impacted how individuals in communities live(Borden, 2010). The author tells us that the media tends to address “audiences,” which are based on statistics to make more money and not on communities. This is likely to create stereotypes as the information I will receive about a certain race, ethnicity, or culture will influence my perception of them. In this respect, journalists should remain objective to their mission as a journalist, but as well as exercise empathy towards the societies to which they belong.
But sometimes, objective journalism may not be fair towards minority groups who have, in the past, taken matters into their own hands to ensure they remain relevant in society. Take the example of African-Americans; they experienced stereotypes in media portrayal and founded their network known as Black Entertainment Television (BET). This is just one example; many have come up as a result of unfair portrayal by journalists and the media as a whole.Communitarianism is, therefore, beneficial in journalism, as it prioritizes the community over individuals.
References
Borden, S. L. (2008). The moral justification for journalism.