Principles to guide media practitioners in ethical decision-making in real time

Abstract

This research paper defines a set of five principles, summarised as five questions, to guide media practitioners to ethical decisions under deadline pressure. They are: 1. Truth – does this attempt to tell the truth? 2. Integrity – does this compromise the integrity of the reporter or newspaper? 3. Respect – does this respect everyone involved? 4. Fairness – is this fair to all? 5. Readers’ interests – is this in the interests of the readers? Selected guides for uncovering principles are selected and deconstructed. The three main ones are Beauchamp and Childress’s “Principles of Biomedical Ethics”, “The Satchwell Report on Media Ethics,” and “The South African Press Council Code of Ethics and Behaviour.” The Press Council’s Code of Ethics helps uncovering the five principles, Satchwell is less helpful and Beauchamp and Childress provide the useful methodology used in the paper. Principlism itself is analysed and critiqued by five philosophers. It is finally considered useful in the limited way required by the demands of quick ethical decisions. Previous studies are found wanting in positing principles. Interrogation of moral virtues like justice, beneficence and nonmaleficence shine some light on the quest for principles. Examining utilitarianism, Kantianism, rights theory and virtue ethics proves helpful. Six practical dilemmas are discussed and decision-taking measured against the five principles. The search for ethical perfection will never end, but principles suggested in this paper may help guide those journalists looking for a map