Ethics and Values…
One of the main institutional constraints in any media practice is a shared sense of values. This often translates into a set of ethics, perhaps inscribed in a Code of Conduct such as the Photographers’ code. The difficulty with ethical behaviour is that it often runs counter to what might produce a ‘good story’ (another institutionalised feature of working in many media) and in turn ensure higher circulation, ratings etc, and both professional kudos and financial reward. This is the basis for the narratives for much of the literature and film based on journalistic adventures e.g. In the film Under Fire (US 1982) a photojournalist fakes an image persuading revolutionaries that their inspirational leader is still alive – they go on to defeat the evil dictator.
Few media practitioners set out to behave unethically, most media organisation attempt to deal with such behaviour through some form of redress and also try to prevent it happening again.
Example: Radio
In January, Radio 4’s feedback programme which airs listener’s comments, ran a piece on Radio 1 DJs. Listeners, including a parent of an eighteen-year-old had complained about references to excessive drinking over the Christmas holiday. One DJ had run a competition for the most ‘evil’ cocktail made up from left over Christmas drinks. Another had boasted about how much she had drunk the night before, inviting listeners to phone or e-mail with their own exploits. The implied question was that is this celebrating excessive and even dangerous amount of drinking?
This shows the extent at which audiences are influenced by the media and the fact that parents are complaining about topics such as these shows that they are aware of its influence. New media technology such as DAB radios are widely utilised by the younger generation, or even any age group, and so audiences can be easily accessed and influenced.
One of the main institutional constraints in any media practice is a shared sense of values. This often translates into a set of ethics, perhaps inscribed in a Code of Conduct such as the Photographers’ code. The difficulty with ethical behaviour is that it often runs counter to what might produce a ‘good story’ (another institutionalised feature of working in many media) and in turn ensure higher circulation, ratings etc, and both professional kudos and financial reward. This is the basis for the narratives for much of the literature and film based on journalistic adventures e.g. In the film Under Fire (US 1982) a photojournalist fakes an image persuading revolutionaries that their inspirational leader is still alive – they go on to defeat the evil dictator.
Few media practitioners set out to behave unethically, most media organisation attempt to deal with such behaviour through some form of redress and also try to prevent it happening again.
Example: Radio
In January, Radio 4’s feedback programme which airs listener’s comments, ran a piece on Radio 1 DJs. Listeners, including a parent of an eighteen-year-old had complained about references to excessive drinking over the Christmas holiday. One DJ had run a competition for the most ‘evil’ cocktail made up from left over Christmas drinks. Another had boasted about how much she had drunk the night before, inviting listeners to phone or e-mail with their own exploits. The implied question was that is this celebrating excessive and even dangerous amount of drinking?
This shows the extent at which audiences are influenced by the media and the fact that parents are complaining about topics such as these shows that they are aware of its influence. New media technology such as DAB radios are widely utilised by the younger generation, or even any age group, and so audiences can be easily accessed and influenced.
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