Media Ethics in International Public Policy - Essay Example

Media Ethics in International Public Policy The interaction between media and international public policy is not too clear. In fact, media can be ‘related’ or ‘connected’ with public policy but the structure of this relationship cannot be precisely described. Regarding this issue, Kennamer (1994, 2) refers to the study of Dominick (1990) who referred to the phenomenon of ‘linkage’ as it can be observed in media. In accordance with the above researcher ‘linkage’ can be explained as ‘the ability of the media to link together individuals, groups, and institutions who otherwise would perhaps not know of each others existence’ (Kennamer, 1994, 2).

The description of ‘linkage’ as presented above can be differentiated among researchers in political science. As an example, Luttbeg (1974, 3) describes ‘linkage’ as ‘any means by which political leaders act in accordance with the wants, needs, and demands of the public in making government policy’ (in Kennamer, 1994, 2). In accordance with the above, media can have their own way of influencing the development of social and political conditions around the world but their role can be limited in states where there are no wide borders for such activity – as par example in states governed by less democratic regimes.

On the other hand, media can have a significant role in the presentation of political and social events around the world and in this way they can influence the international public policy as it is designed and applied by governments globally. Indeed, Spitzer (1993, 4) supported that ‘coverage of international crises may have a different policy consequence as well, in that media-supplied information may be useful, even vital in supplanting government-obtained information, and therefore in shaping decisionmaking’.

The war in Iraq and the role of media in the presentation of the relevant events are used by the above researcher as an indicative example of the interaction between media ethics and international public policy. In the particular case, media around the world have been extensively criticized for their views regarding the reasons and the justification of the military intervention in the specific country. In a similar sector, this of the human rights, media have played a significant role in the identification and presentation of problems of citizens living in developing countries internationally.

Regarding this issue, media ethics have been used in order to prevent the presentation of scenes that could possibly harm the human rights and indignity. On the other hand, Rotberg et al. (1996, 61) found that ‘in the case of Rwanda, media helped pressure donor governments into acting and sparked a flood of monetary support for the relief agencies; the print media certainly helped signal the situation to policy-makers, while television was probably most responsible for instigating public concern for the plight of more than 2 million civilians in the refugee camps’.

In other words, as Spitzer (1993, 9) notices ‘the media plays a pivotal role in influencing policy because it is the conduit, the pipeline, the funnel regulating the flow of communication between the policymakers and others in the political system who might seek any different policy’. It is for the above reasons, that the application of ethics in media should be carefully examined by the relevant authorities in order for the public interest to be protected against possibly violations. Towards this direction, Hall (1979, 342 in Kennamer 1994, 77) found that media can have one of the next three roles: ‘(1) the selective construction of social knowledge; (2) the production of a constant inventory of societys plurality in order to define that which is legitimate and that which is not, and (3) the production of consensus and the construction of legitimacy’.

When having to achieve the above targets media can use a variety of methods under the term that these methods will not be in contradiction with the so called ‘public interest’ and that the methods used will be in accordance with the required target. In any case the application of the relevant ethics should be a priority when using media in order to present or to criticize a specific public policy no matter of its local or its international character.ReferencesKennamer, D. (1994) Public Opinion, the Press and Public Policy.

Praeger Publishers: Westport, CTRotberg, R., Weiss, T. (1996) From Massacres to Genocide: The Media, Public Policy, and Humanitarian Crises. Brookings Institution: Washington, DCSpitzer, R. (1993) Media and Public Policy. Praeger Publishers: Westport, CT