Journalism as a profession or the exercise of journalism is founded on the basic concept of Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press. These three (3) rights are always interconnected and intertwined.
In fact, all these “Trinity of Rights” are constitutionally recognized and constitutionally protected rights in any democratic and free society. It is the birth right and cherish rights of any freemen.
There is no place or room for tyranny, despotism or even absolutism when these “Trinity of Rights” exist. Only in a communist, socialist or fascist regime or government can this right be non-existent.
The Freedom of Expression includes almost everything—which includes the right to seek, impart and receive information and opinions of any kind and in any forms.
While the freedom of speech includes the right to say what’s on one’s mind without the fear of being punish later on. It does not only includes speech in its literal sense but practically covers anything that may be consider as “speech” like symbol, color, movement of the body, signal and the like.
The freedom of the press includes any kind or types of publication whether in written or electronic form. That’s the primary reason we have the newspapers, books, magazines, pamphlet, journal, brochures and other types of publication known to men.
Ethical Concept Of Journalistic Responsibility
The highest aim of any journalists is to promote, advance and protect anything that is imbued with public interest which is synonymous itself with the term public welfare.
This journalistic quest is consistent with the maxims “the welfare of the people is the supreme law”.
The lexical definition of the word responsibility says the following: “the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control of someone” or
“the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something”. So the word “responsibility” involves “duty” and “accountability” at the same time.
Any journalists owe its duty to the public nothing more nothing less. If any journalist while during the course of the exercise of his or her profession committed any infractions of its Code of Ethics or Canon of Journalism then he or she is accountable to public condemnation and censure.
Journalist cannot afford to be ambivalent in the exercise of its journalistic callings. It cannot even afford to think to advance any vested interest or any hidden agenda or hidden motive to the detriment and disadvantage of public welfare and interest.
It is only through the very exacting standard of fidelity and zeal to the Code of Ethics or Canon of Journalism that a journalist could be true and faithful to his or her callings.
The profession of any journalist is a public trust. Without any public trust, for sure, journalism as a profession will die and wither away. In that case it will lead to the destruction of the very foundation of any free and democratic society.
While any journalists are not perfect, he or she must see the bigger picture of the very reason for the existence of his or her profession and must transcend any selfish interest or any ulterior motive.
Truly journalism was made for the public and not the public for any journalist selfish ends.
What is the Main Cause of a Heart Attack? What is its Solution? A heart attack is the blockage of… Read More
In the vast economic arena, one term that often takes center stage, inciting extensive debates and discussions, is the "debt… Read More
De-Dollarization: The Changing Face of Global Finance The financial landscape is in a state of flux, with an intriguing economic… Read More
The curtains closed on a dramatic Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich standing tall once again, clinching their 11th straight title.… Read More
The Unfolding Story of Celine Dion's Health In recent news that has left fans across the globe stunned, iconic singer… Read More
As the echoes of the recent NBA season start to fade, the attention of enthusiasts is firmly glued to one… Read More
View Comments
An article to be read by all writers and those working as journalists. Interesting to not that how many people are following the process to be followed and how many media companies are telling their journalists to stand by their words. It is the age of the paid media and that is what creates people of breaks them. This media also has the power to make or break governments. Media which is supposed to be the fourth estate. Has turned out to be a money making industry. It is sad but it is true. There are very few news papers which follow these canons strictly. Thanks for the share.
Hi Krishna,
Thank you so much for your reply. Yes you are right that there are “paid media” practitioners nowadays. Those journalists or media practitioners that consider only their selfish ends and see journalism as a means or vehicle for personal enrichment of aggrandizement prostitutes journalism as a profession and callings.
These type of media practitioners or journalists are a big shame to their profession and to their comrades in the profession.
We have a term in the Philippines for these shameless media practitioners or journalists and such practice. We called them “envelopemental
journalism”. Why? Simply because these hack writers or paid writers received their money from their patrons inside an envelope---meaning the money is contained inside an envelope given to a journalist or media practitioner, that’s why the term “envelopemental journalism”.
It is journalism for money and nothing else, to the disadvantaged and detriment of the public welfare. Such brand of journalism if ever we can call it journalism has no place in our society and must be immediately condemn and expose at once.
We can only hope and pray that the present and next generation of journalist will be true to their profession and callings.
Otherwise, journalism for sure will lose the very reason for its existence.