The Rendering №2

The article discusses the problems of teaching journalism ethics which take place in the mass media. The correspondent Steven Ward gives a warning that a once-dominant traditional ethics, constructed for professional journalism a century ago, are being questioned. Analyzing the situation in the mass media it is necessary to emphasize that the speed of new media tempts many users to ignore the restricting methods of accuracy and verification. He mentions that traditional values such as those found in the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists are stopping to be executable. Speaking of the situation in teaching journalism ethics it is necessary to point out that today teaching goes without a consensus and lack of ethics that provides adequate guidance for the many new forms of mixed media. There is a mention about five features of a good journalism ethics course that every professor should implement. It is an open secret that Steven Ward recommends to start from the students' media world then assist students with reflective engagement. It was revealed that the important remark is insisting on critical thinking, not what is fashionable. The report expresses the view that it is necessary to be transitional and to be global in your teaching. In conclusion the author suggests that instructors should persuade students that ethics is worth studying even if there are no universal "answers." Students should see the turmoil in journalism as an exciting intellectual and practical challenge to develop a more adequate ethics for a new global mixed media. As for my point of view, teaching journalism ethics is a very important aspect of making good, ethical, truthful journalists. Without it our mass media would become something uncontrolled and harmful.

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/02/5-principles-for-teaching-journalism-ethics-in-the-digital-age046.html