engleski

JOURNALISM AS AN INDUSTRY VERSUS JOURNALISM AS A PROFESSION

The paper investigates why ethics becomes topical at the point when two-sided realities in journalism rather contradict than complement each other. In a market economy journalism is a job or an industry and therefore it is subordinated to pressures of work. This anti-intellectualism and anti-professionalism is rooted in the idea of journalistic independence. Yet, if independence were confused with neutrality, various publicity-seekers and lobbyists who do not want to focus on what is real, but want their slant on each story, will do harm and cause many of journalism’ s contemporary problems. But journalism is also a profession and therefore it requires the same level of professionalism, as do all other professions that are accountable to the public. Ethical journalism serves the public interest by its daily search for truth about events, positions, and powers that affect our lives mostly. It seeks for the information that has most value to ordinary people who are required to make sound judgments both, of what is for their individual good and what is for the common good. If the media could have made a clear distinction between the public interest and what the publics is interested in, and develop a system for testing the reliability of journalistic interpretation, it would fulfill the democratic function and prove that there is a purpose in journalism, other than profit.

industrial journalism; ethical journalism; public interest obligations; human rights; democracy

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