Introduction to Ethics PDF

TOPIC 1 Introduction to Ethics Definitions and Concepts  A. Definitions Ethics – Greek word ethos means: ▫ Character, Nature or Disposition ▫ Rules provided by an external source Moral – Latin word mores means: ▫ Customs of a group ▫ An...

TOPIC 1 Introduction to Ethics Definitions and Concepts  A. Definitions Ethics – Greek word ethos means: ▫ Character, Nature or Disposition ▫ Rules provided by an external source Moral – Latin word mores means: ▫ Customs of a group ▫ An individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong Source & Further reading refer to : https://www.diffen.com/difference/Ethics_vs_Morals Criteria 1. Ethics is both individualistic and social Individualistic – individual asked to make certain values part of their character and to use certain norms in making decisions Social – not about every person formulating their own rules of fair social interaction and rules that apply to humans in general or to all members of a group Criteria People experience ethics internally as tug of conscience and externally as the demands placed upon us by codes of ethics, backed by social sanction. E.g. Noor Hisham said the implementation of the MCO (from March 18 to May 4) was very successful in terms of reducing the infection rate. However, it had a very huge impact on the economy. “During this third wave, the Ministry of Health (actually) wanted to implement the MCO, but due to the huge impact it would have on the economy, we have implemented the CMCO,” he said. He reminded the people to continue to comply with hygiene and safety rules to ensure the infection rate is kept under check. If the people remained compliant, the number of daily positive cases in the country could be reduced within the next three weeks. Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/12/28/we- wanted-full-mco-for-third-wave-says-noor-hisham/ Criteria 2. Ethics has wide scope Dealing with conducts of individuals, groups, institutions, professions and countries. 3. Ethics is demanding People to live in goodness and in right relation with each other. Forego personal benefits to carry out duties or to endure prosecution. Criteria 4. Ethics as a set of principles Singular – one set of correct principles. ▫ E.g. Honesty is to tell the Truth Multiple – general term that refer to many ethical system. ▫ E.g. Truth can be to say everything or to say something but not everything.  Criteria 5. Ethics is practical and evolving activity It is something a person does such as weighing values to make decision or modifying practices in the light of new technology. Source: https://home.kpmg/my/en/home/media/press-releases/2020/06/from-crisis-response-to- thriving-in-new-reality-business-must-adapt-to-remote-working-from-home.html Criteria 6. Ethics in practice requires 3 things: i. Analysis – the articulation and justification of principles = e.g. COVID19 SOP ii. Practical judgment – the application of principles and rules to issues = e.g. to flatten the curve iii. Virtuous character – a disposition to follow those principles affirmed by i & ii = e.g. follow the SOP to protect yourself and society B. Concepts 2. Three 1. Ethical Branches of dilemma Ethics 3. Media ethics B. Concepts 1. Ethical dilemma Definition – moral struggles and reflection in an effort to do the right thing. Engage conscience, that frequently respond to two or more competing and morally defensible course of action. It persistently challenge ones ethical sensibilities. E.g. No handshakes, no hugs: Covid-19 changing habits worldwide (https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2020/03/572188/no-handshakes-no-hugs- covid-19-changing-habits-worldwide)  Most difficult ethical dilemmas occur when conflict arise between two “right” moral obligations. Ethics serves as balancing of competing rights when there is no “correct” answer. E.g. Reporters covering news on rally or demonstration saw public got hurt during the event should help or record the incident? PR firms clientele include Animals Activist and Fast Food chain? Ads is it fact or profit? 2. Three Branches of Ethics i. Metaethics Study of characteristics or nature of ethics. Examines the meaning of abstract terms ▫ E.g. honesty, truth, justice, fairness etc. and attempts to identify those values that are the best moral values. Distinguish ethical values and provide broad foundation of ethical decision making. 2. Three Branches of Ethics ii. Normative ethics Concerned with developing general theories, rules and principles of moral conduct. ▫ E.g. Social Contract, Egalitarianism etc. Preoccupation with the ethical malaise within our society and the demise of traditional values center on some of the fundamental societal principles of moral behaviour. Society perception of ethical values that derives various ethical perspectives. 2. Three Branches of Ethics iii. Applied ethics The problem solving branch of moral philosophy. Use the insight derived from metaethics and the general principles and rules of normative ethics in addressing specific ethical issues and concrete cases. There is no right or wrong answer but there should always be “well-reasoned” ones. The models of decision making is an applied ethics. ▫ E.g. Potter Box Model, Sissela Bok Model, S.A.D Model. 3. Media ethics A type of applied ethics Definition – the analysis and application of ethical principles of relevance to a particular domain of society, i.e., the practice of media It studies the principles that should guide responsible conduct among media personnel and regulate their interactions with other citizens  Its concerned both with advancing free and independent media while stressing responsible use of that freedom. Media responsibility derives from the notions of responsibility that personnel use to evaluate people and their action in everyday life. To be responsible means to be concerned with the consequences of one’s actions on others. Criteria of Media Ethics 1. Moral agent Moral agent is a communicator with a particular motive commits an act either verbal or non- verbal within a specific context directed at particular individual or audience usually with some consequences. Moral agents are the ones who make ethical judgments, regardless of whether they are acting on their own volition or as institutional representatives  Example Ethical Judgement - Responsibility “Social media giants FB, Google, Twitter remove SAN FRANCISCO (Bernama): Major social media platforms including shooting video of NZ terror Facebook, Google and Twitter are working hard to take down posts containing graphic footage of the Christchurch, New Zealand terror attacks, China's attacks” (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/03/16/social- Xinhua News Agency reported. media-giants-fb-google-twitter-remove-shooting-video-of-nz-terror- attacks) Gunmen staged the terrorist attacks on two mosques packed with worshipers attending Friday prayers in the South Island's city, which killed 49 people and injured 48 others. One of the shooters appeared to have live-streamed the attacks on Facebook in a video that showed a gunman walking into a mosque and opening fire on the prayers. The account of the shooter has now been removed from Facebook, and many other posts that had originally shared the footage have also disappeared from the platform.  All communicators become moral agents when they confront the ethical dilemmas of their professions and must bear full responsibility for their actions. An understanding of the role of moral agent is essential because ethical standards often vary according to social roles.  Example Not Acceptable Accept Responsibility “Slammed for holding event in ”Syarikat tudung Neelofa mohon Zouk, Neelofa says she ‘doesn’t maaf” care’” Source: https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2018/02/27/slammed-for-holding- Source: https://www.bharian.com.my/hiburan/selebriti/2018/02/394045/syarikat- event-in-zouk-neelofa-says-she-doesnt-care/1586321 tudung-neelofa-mohon-maaf Criteria of Media Ethics 2. Ethical decisions are always made within a specific context, which includes the political, social and cultural climate. Contextual factors often create the internal conflict that brings ones conscience’s admonition of what we ought to do into moral combat with what is the popular things to do. Example 'Susu pisang dikecam, salah risalah' – Neelofa (https://www.hmetro.com.my/rap/2019/12/524224/susu-pisang-dikecam-salah-risalah-neelofa) Factually incorrect Criteria of Media Ethics 3. Examine motives of moral agent It is because good motives can sometimes be used to justify what appears to be an unethical act. E.g. Bar Council says releasing of audio recordings by MACC 'improper‘ (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/09/bar-council-says-releasing-of-audio-recordings-by-macc-039improper039) Example Criteria of Media Ethics 4. The act is the behavioral component of the communication process. It is what draws our attention to the actions of others and may lead us to describe their actions as either ethical or unethical. E.g. Online suicide searches spiked after Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why (https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2017/08/02/online-suicide- searches-spiked-after-netflixs-13-reasons-why/) Example https://malay sia.news.yaho o.com/accuse d- badmouthing- tahfiz- schools- producer- 023947000.ht ml Criteria of Media Ethics 5. An ethical situation should also be evaluated in terms of the moral agent’s relationship to the individual(s) or audience most directly affected by the ethical judgment. E.g. Transgender's appointment as representative of transgender community causes stir (https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/07/502963/transgenders-appointment-representative-transgender-community-causes-stir) E.g. Rania: ‘I will do my best to tackle HIV/AIDS issue’ (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/07/14/i-will-do-my-best-to-tackle-hivaids-issue) Criteria of Media Ethics 6. Ethical judgment produce consequences either positive or negative for both the moral agent and others who may be touched by the moral agent’s action. Consequences can range from a stimulation of conscience to public approbation or disapproval of the moral agent’s behaviour which can be instantaneous and unambiguous. E.g. Kylie Jenner Donates $1 Million to Australia Bushfire Relief After Mink Fur Criticism (https://screenrant.com/kylie-jenner-australia-bushfire-donate-fur-criticized/) Functions of Media within the ethical system 1. Media is the primary source of information in a democracy. Accurate and reliable information is the lifeblood of the democratic process. Media practitioner is the essential function of providing information in a capitalistic society. E.g. Journalist – provider of accurate and flow of info; Advertiser – economic messages and Public Relations – corporate image building that provide relevant and benefit info to consumer and other constituency. 2. The transmission of persuasive communication. Expected to establish minimum standards of acceptable behaviour such as prohibits against the intentional transmission of false or deceptive information and to apportion moral responsibility among the various areas of media practitioner from disseminators to gatekeeper and recipient. E.g. censorship board, ethical code of practice. E.g. 17 celebrities who have spoken out against Photoshop – Insider, March 2018. http://www.thisisinsider.com/celebrities- photoshopped-edited-pictures-photos-2017-8 3. The production and dissemination of mass entertainment. Poses and ethical challenge perhaps because there is little agreement on what its role in society should be. Whether the media have an obligation to elevate tastes and promote virtuous behaviour or whether “giving the audience what it wants,” even at the risk of reinforcing dysfunctional attitudes and behaviour is sufficient. E.g. HBO shows – Game of Throne, True Blood, Big Little Lies Media practitioner produce material that they believe meets a perceived need of the heterogeneous audience. E.g. Action-packed blockbuster movies  Commercialism should not be the only driving force in the production of popular entertainment and information that producers of such material have a responsibility to contribute to an enrichment of cultural values. E.g. Feel the Rhythm of KOREA: GANGNEUNG (Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdzvyvGcOYQ) E.g. Artis Korea Tercalon Di ABPBH 32 (Source: https://beautifulnara.com/artis-korea-tercalon-di-abpbh-32/) References Patterson, P., & Wilkins, L. (2019). Media ethics: Issues and cases (9th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. Day, L. A. (2006). Ethics in media communications. (5th ed.). Thomson.