The Rise of Ethics in Entertainment And The Media

Broadcast media, film, theatre, the arts, print media, and many other forms of media all fall under the category of media ethics. It calls for supporting and protecting ideals including the respect for all life, the rule of law, and legality. One of the most clearly defined subfields of media ethics is journalistic ethics. Media ethics frequently favours journalistic ethics. Journalism ethics covers a wide range of subtopics,

including news manipulation, the truth, breaking the law, etc. The depiction of violence and sex, the use of strong language, fluff or "celebrity news," product placement, advertising, tattoos or taste, etc. are all examples of issues with entertainment media ethics. In this article, we'll discuss a variety of concerns related to the ethics of media and entertainment.

There have been ethics publications since the 1980s. Before the 1980s or television, life was straightforward. Either either worked or they spoke. Families and friends would assemble and share tales or discuss goings-on in their everyday lives. They occasionally found entertainment in print media. When radios first came out, many people relied on them and newspapers for information. However, when seeking to swiftly get news, this method of communication was not the ideal option. A California earthquake, for instance, may have just been reported when it actually occurred days earlier. Everything became more complicated once media entertainment was involved in the process. We have more options than ever before for filling our free time thanks to the entertainment sector, including books, music, movies, and video games that are accessible wherever we are and whenever we want them. On the other hand, it also has a lot of drawbacks.

Ethics is the study of how a community views what is right or wrong in behaviour and how to distinguish between virtue and vice. It is frequently described as a set of values or a code of moral behaviour. No matter who makes them, ethical judgements are always difficult and virtually always viewed as being absolutely correct by some of us while being viewed as being foolish, unfair, and possibly indicative of intellectual and/or moral decline by others. One tiny contribution to this quest for ethical knowledge is the ethical treatment of media communication. It provides a methodical approach to moral reasoning by fusing ethical theory with media professionals' ethical practise.

As print media has declined over time, journalists have started to cover what is known as "Celebrity News." People depend on these outlets more and more as they cover this subject. Alden Weight claims that while most individuals are aware that these sources have ethical flaws, the problem occurs when less mature or educated people take this information at toll. The media has misinformed their ethics. For aesthetic and entertainment objectives, the entertainment media frequently challenges our morals. Normative ethics frequently discusses moral ideals, including the kinds that ought to be upheld and safeguarded. These two sides clash when it comes to media ethics. Media may purposefully try to defy accepted norms and shock the public in the name of art.

There are many media ethical debates that give rise to various viewpoints on the subject, creating a lot of "grey" regions. It covers a wide range of topics and exhibits a readiness to address the issues brought on by cutting-edge technologies, new media, new politics, and cutting-edge economics. The topic of media ethics is the right and wrong, good and terrible, better and worse conduct of those engaged in journalism and public communication. Of course, the media cannot be ethical or unethical; only media employees can. When discussing media ethics, we are mostly interested in the values that journalists hold dear and the kinds of acts they engage in.


It is generally focused with the issues of moral standards and values as they relate to the behaviour, functions, and content of the mass media, particularly journalism ethics and standards, as well as the subject of study. It addresses issues related to news reporting such as impartiality, balance, prejudice, privacy, and the public interest. Stereotyping, poor taste and decency, obscenity, freedom of speech, marketing tricks like product placement, and legal problems like defamation are all more prominently included in this area. On an institutional level, it involves discussions about issues like censorship, deregulation, commercialization, accountability, the connection between the political system and the media, and media ownership subject to law.

The citizens of our nation have seen firsthand how many tabloids print various lies about famous persons in order to secure exclusive news and strong readership. Stereotypes are frequently used extensively in media for entertainment and advertising. Stereotypes can influence how people see themselves adversely or encourage socially unacceptable conduct. Examples of hot topics for discussion are the stereotypical representations of men, wealth, and ethnic groupings.

Female bodies are frequently used for entertainment purposes by being objectified and dehumanised. By doing this, the idea of buying and selling female bodies spreads. To offset unpleasant news that is reported throughout the day, media outlets typically employ either photos or imagery of female bodies. To offset unpleasant news that is reported throughout the day, media outlets typically employ either photos or imagery of female bodies.

"Seeing is Believing," but perception is influenced by tactics, and a picture is never a representation of reality; it is always an interpretation of reality. For instance, photojournalists covering conflict and natural disasters deal with situations that could shock their readers. The ethical dilemma is how far one is willing to go to shock an audience's sensibilities in order to accurately exhibit and completely convey the facts, despite the fact that human remains are rarely seen. Concerns like the safeguarding of confidential news sources might put journalistic ethics in conflict with the law. There is also the issue of whether breaking the law to get news is ethically acceptable to what extent.” A journalist manipulates reality using today's cutting-edge digital technology and markets it as a product to consumers, or the general public.


By-
Sriparna Mukherjee
Amity University, Kolkata

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