The Thin Line: Navigating Ethical Challenges in Media

Abstract

Democracy is a government of the people and for the people and by the people and everybody has the freedom of speech and media plays an important role in educating the people, widening their outlook, and enlightening their minds. Media is the line of communication between the ruler and the ruled. The Media, no doubt bridge the gap between the event and the people, but in most cases, they blow some events out of proportion. It has been noticed consistently and continuously that in a mad race to be first with information, most private channels trespass the boundaries of professionals and ethical standards. News is meant to be objective, fair, unbiased and neutral-this is what sets apart such information and opinion from other forms of media. But the image of journalism in India has taken quite a battering. Indeed, corruption in the mass media in India and elsewhere is as old as the media itself. If there is corruption in society, it would be unrealistic to expect the media to be free of this affliction. However, if we Indians today are supporting social activist Anna Hazare in his campaign to evade corruption from its very roots, it is also because of the unflinching support of the media. In this paper, we aim to take up case studies against the media and the final verdict thereof. The laws governing the media ethics will also be covered.