Ethics in the Media

Ethics In The Media

I believe that ethics, especially in the media, is one of societies biggest problems. Media is mass communication, a connection all over the world that informs, entertains, and influences people. Examples of media are things such as TV, internet, periodicals, music and radio. These things make up our everyday life, and out everyday life is being bombarded with images of violence, sex, drugs and immoral behavior.

I understand the importance of the first amendment. I believe in its value and the right for an individual to stand up for what he or she believes in. What I don't understand is why, with all the positive things in life, that the media has to focus on the negative and the ill inspired?

I do believe that ethics, or lack of ethics in the media is one of the biggest problems that the United States faces today. The media not only influences us from a young age but from all aspects of life. I can't completely blame the mass media for everything that's wrong in the world, in all fairness I can't dub them the "bad guys". They simply use their power in the most constructive ways possible in order to promote their ratings and popularity. I can criticize them however, because the way they do that is to concentrate on sex, violence and disaster.

Even from the earliest days of its existence, the media has contributed greatly in ways that both enlighten and enrich society, and ways that deteriorate and perplex it. It is not a surprise to learn , then, that the mass media is the most powerful source of information we have, and nothing else in today's world influences public perception quite as heavily. Though media informs and educates, it also corrupts and exploits, leading it to contribute to the moral degradation of society. Media's role in society is to inform, educate and entertain. It's suppose to tell the truth and provide stimulation that can build up images and reputations the right way (Gonzalas 31). It is also suppose to be a tribunal of justice (Reuter).

All points of view are represented in the marketplace of ideas, and society benefits from debate about their worth. Monkey see, monkey do has become a wee-known saying in today's society. This is how the media influences society as it leaves a large impact on the individuals. Ciony C. Gonzales considers media the most dominant art form as it has innate power to engage and affect the total person. It leaves a compelling and lasting impact on both the conscious and the subconscious (Gonzales 9).

Media has such a large power over people, but rather then performing its role in society, media today has strayed from its roots if values and morals, having a more negative then positive implication. It backstabs, destroys images and reputations, covers up the truth, stimulates negatively, and imparts the wrong messages. Moreover, people experience a freedom of the press that becomes an avalanche of conflicting information and opinion. It is a freedom, that is often misleading. It confuses as it's suppose to enlighten, it assails the senses even when it's suppose to refine them, it entertains and gossips more then it informs (Benigno 6).

The right to the freedom of expression is being severely tested today, as artistic expression is under attack. Some groups seek to impose their morality on the rest of society. It's result is that the media has become morally and creatively bankrupt. Media shows no values and moral ethics and the content is filled with no other topic but violence and sex. Accordingly, the media mirrors society by reflecting us as a society with low morals. It contributes to the national breakdown and the moral dilapidation of society. It has corrupted and exploited the freedom of the press (Benigno 6).

People become victims of media's manipulation as they are being influenced for the worse. Because of the influences that effect the subconscious, all forms of media should be taken more seriously as to avert harmful effects (Gonzales 9). Media is one-sided. It only cares about money. Thus, it corrupts society, primarily youth, by generating an atmosphere of want. Media changes the system of formation by twisting the definition of love. They work on the emotions and feelings of people rather then the intellect and will, creating a more significant impact on today's youth (Reuter).

Our youth are Naпve and are more exposed to films that promote extreme violence in action movies, graphic sexual scenes, and vulgar language that brainwash their minds (Deocareza19/23). Media provides a regular diet of trashy soaps and talk shows, vulgar and violent weekly crime dramas, violent films and weekly action programs, and news magazines which regularly feature stories about sex industry, pornography and other topics that exploit sex.

Violence is seeping from media into society as it is used in many ways in promos as a hook to draw viewers into the program. That is because violence is an effective promotional device. And, when violence is primarily presented as justified, rewarded or not punished, it is more likely to encourage aggressive behavior and attitude. Violence results in various crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon. Pornography also has a negative moral implication that leads to sexually aggressive behavior that cause rape and other heinous sex-related acts (Conde 19). The media Justifies their behavior by referring to it as an art form. However, because its purpose or intent is to arouse the people, who bring serious threats to the publics health and safety, it becomes pornography and not an art. It is obscene as it lacks serious values, obsession with sex and/or sex violence, and promotes offensive material.

Profanity being just another example of the media's moral corruption, never has and never will be a sign of intensity, passion or caring. It is and always will be an indicator for lacking creativity and intelligence. Today, young people use profanity because they think it makes them look like adults. It is a sad reflection on out society that crudity and boorish behavior are regarded as adult (Green). Though parents teach their children values, there are forces that threaten these values. Media remains to be the strongest among these forces. It leaves a deep and lasting influence by working on the values of the people, becoming a moral vacuum. Present day media is ruining cherished values by presenting false values, corrupting our youth, contributing to political unrest, encouraging crime, violence, loose morals and