Journalism Ethics: Truth, Manipulation, and the Media

The Senses of Journalism

The media must adapt the informational message to the reality on which they write and the fundamental interests of man. This requires:

1. Truth: Necessary consent to the truth.
2. Appropriate Language: Using language suitable for the audience and subject matter.
3. Commitment: A commitment to the accuracy and integrity of what is written.

Qualities of Entrepreneurs and Citizens

Entrepreneurs

Journalists must respect and promote the freedom and responsibility of entrepreneurs instead of trying to cancel or reduce it. While an employer may want to spread certain ideas through the media, it is crucial to not omit or misrepresent reality.

Citizens

Citizens must be active subjects of news reporting. They must actively strive to:

• Seek out the full story.
• Distinguish between truth and falsehood.
• Cultivate a passion for truth and freedom.
• Develop adequate critical thinking skills.

Disinformation: The Current Situation

The current media landscape is characterized by the replacement of the logic of truth with the logic of the story. This is often achieved through the omission of essential information, a consequence of an excess of news and a failure to fulfill the requirements of true information.

The Manipulation of Reality

Factors contributing to the manipulation of reality include:

• A huge amount of news, creating a feeling of being well-informed.
• Extensive media propaganda about objectivity.
• Media owners selecting information at will.

In recent decades, there has been a significant proliferation of communication offices in large corporations, political parties, etc. Simultaneously, media companies have been creating their own media networks, leading to the emergence of powerful communication empires that dominate information production in many countries.

Creating an Artificial World

Many characters and events are created within the media industry, but they often lack longevity due to the constant demand for new products. When the pursuit of knowledge is absent, and power is the primary concern, actively silencing those who might challenge systematic deception becomes a useful and cost-effective strategy.

Functionalist Sociology (Lasswell)

"Who says what in what channel to whom and with what effect?"

This phrase defines the field of communication study:

• Who: Control analysis.
• What: Content analysis.
• Channel: Analysis of media.
• To Whom: Audience analysis.
• Effects: Impact analysis.

The communication process, according to Lasswell, has three main functions (not specified in the original text, but implied).