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Essay / The Golden Mean Theory and the Ethics of Journalists
As readers, we generally assume that journalists are a reliable source of news and information. Given this general assumption, it is important that journalists adhere to a certain standard of ethics to ensure that they are a reliable source for their readers. Disseminating false information or hiding certain facts from the public could lead to serious consequences, as well as a loss of credibility for journalists. But sharing too much information could result in a violation of people's privacy or a story that could become confusing, unclear and perhaps even false. This dilemma is why it can be difficult for journalists to decide what to include in their article and what to exclude from their article. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayThe golden mean is an important theory of Aristotle, which talks about the balance between excess and deficit and how to find a happy medium between the two, you will act morally and ethically. The golden mean can be applied to this ethical dilemma, as journalists must balance excesses and deficiencies in order to uphold moral standards. This can apply to journalists who find the balance between saying too much and not saying enough, or who find the balance between giving all the facts and withholding information to protect who it is about or make the clearer story. This can also apply to finding a balance between getting your story out there while still taking the time to make sure everything is factual. To do this, they can use credible sources, analyze the purpose of the information and anticipate the future audience. As the SPJ Code of Ethics states, it is important that journalists take responsibility for the information they share, as there is a sense of credibility established by their title as a journalist. It is also essential to consider the credibility of the sources from which they obtain their information, since everything they write – accurate or not – will be directly linked to the author. It is necessary for journalists to always put truthfulness at the top of their priority list, even if that means leaving aside “tempting” quotes and “juicy” facts from dubious sources. This can be linked to the Golden Mean as both themes refer to finding a balance between excess and deficiency. Journalists must find a balance between sticking to hard facts while making their story interesting and fun to read. A good example of how journalists take responsibility for the information they share is the widespread use of social media among this generation. Social media allows journalists, as well as the rest of society, to share information with the press of a button. Instagram, for example, doesn't have a policy against posting an edited image or writing something strongly opinionated in your photo caption. Almost everyone can post what they want and when they want without any consequences (this of course excludes certain people from power as well as the Instagram accounts of news companies and other platforms subject to such standards). It is therefore important that people held to such credible standards follow the same rules they would be held to if they were writing or posting on the Instagram page of the person or company they work for. The key differentiator between amateur writers and professional journalistslies in the way ethics are applied as well as the scope of their work. Social media has made it easy to share information between people around the world without much consequence. However, it is the responsibility of journalists to verify the sources of their information and to disseminate accurate content on the Internet. Another example concerns the standards to which popular newspapers are subject. The New York Times Values and Practices Manual states that it respects the integrity of the newsroom. Statement, promulgated in 1999, which addresses rudimentary professional practices such as the importance of fact-checking, accuracy quotes, the integrity of photographs and our distaste for anonymous sources; and the Confidential Sources Policy, published in 2004. They recognize the importance of verifying their facts and sources before releasing information to the public. One of the difficulties is whether or not to use a quote from an anonymous source. Journalists will have to decide whether publishing anonymity will further publicize the truth or spark speculation among readers. This difficulty may be linked to the balance, because journalists must be able to report the truth and verify their sources without violating the privacy of the people providing the information. Another important factor to consider is the purpose of the writing. If the information shared directly relates to an important topic in the public's life or something of public knowledge, the journalist can morally disclose more information. An academic journal has analyzed the ethics of what information can be disclosed regarding deaths from HIV and AIDS. This article reports on two significant HIV-related deaths in South Africa in the early 2000s, which were openly publicized at a time when there was significant controversy over related news policy to HIV. Journalists shared specific details about the victims of this tragedy, although this was not necessary to describe the situation to readers. This is an example of a situation where journalists acted unethically versus the middle ground because they shared excessive information even though the topic was highly controversial among the public and there was no need to expose people affected by AIDS to tell the story. Another example is when a former New York Times reporter named Jayson Blair violated the middle ground by creating fictitious stories and lies for the sake of a story. Blair created these false stories by peppering his stories with details obtained from photographs of the events and documents from other news outlets. This lacks any type of ethical behavior, because not only does Blair steal photographs and materials from other media outlets, but he also lies to the New York Times while trying to authenticate the stories as his own. This is relevant to Aristotle's ethical theory of the golden mean, because there is no balance between acting morally while still making the truth known. He acted unethically by making up false information to spread his story, without regard for the consequences. For any writer or journalist, it is crucial to keep in mind the audience you are writing for. With this, it is also very important to remain both objective and impartial in drawing up diagrams. Journalists must seek to understand both points of view to ensure that they are not creating a story that is only one-sided due to the absence of the other side's thoughts. If this happens »..