Media Ethics Column Paper - Essay Example

Inserts His/her Inserts Inserts Grade (04, 04, Eye on Media Media Sensationalism With the evolution of media in our society people have become increasingly aware about the world around them. It is a source of information for the general audience and at the same time provides a check on balance on governmental policies. But unfortunately media is also confronting some ethical problems like sensationalism. The old way of telling the story ‘the way it is’ has become obsolete. It is vital for a news channel or a magazine to use luring techniques in order to attract customers.

Creating unnecessary hype just to increase the viewership of the channel or a newspaper is not justified. Many channels, newspapers and magazines use theatrics when talking about certain issues and in this way try to gain attention of audiences. Media sensationalism comes in all forms. Documentaries and reality shows are also used to exaggerate things. Recently BBC was also accused of sensationalism when one of its documentary series showed twisted facts about the fish industry (Gray & Khan, 2010).

Media also impact investor’s decision regarding stocks and commodities (Johnson, R. 2010). All these consequences cannot be ignored easily. Media has become a modern God who can bring fame or defame to anything or person. Sensationalism has also changed forms and with the use of emotional pictures public attention can easily be attracted (Bryant & Barton, 2011). Animated news is also used for attracting audiences (Hana, Albert. 2009). Media is an important pillar of society and it should take lesson from the utilitarian principle of ethics that call for the maximum benefit of the maximum people.

The aim should be maximize the benefit by showing the true picture of the society. By creating unnecessary hype of news interest of the channel or the newspaper is served and this happens at the cost of the society. The recent case of a film maker in Canada who is accused of killing a person and dismembering his body exemplifies the sensationalism media create. Media has shown vivid images of the murder and the court room in which the case is heard has become a Cineplex (McConnell, R. 2011). We have to ask the question of morality here.

Is it moral to portray a fact in a manner that captures public attention at the expense of society? Children are exposed to vivid images and the impact of these clippings is disastrous. This is enough justification for arguing against media sensationalism. With all these new techniques media is trying harder than ever to increase its ratings and viewership. In the brink of all this it has become very important to regulate media. Strong laws are required for tame the lurid element of media. The regulations are countered in the name of freedom of press.

It is very clear that freedom that is given to media is being abused and it should be stopped. There is no other way to decrease the increasing trend of sensationalism in media. We cannot hope that general public will stop reading theatrical news and viewing sensational documentaries. Nor we can expect any good from the media itself. The importance of governmental role in regulating the media is necessary. And these regulations will not attack the freedom of speech but will tackle the abuse of power given to media.

If this is not case then we will see a generation who are more interested in criminal stories and serial killers than in games and dolls. And has it not stared??? Criminal minds, CSI Miami, Bones, the Mentalist…. This has to stop! Works Cited Page Bryant & Barton. Declining Sensationalizing Descriptor Use in 100 Years of New York Times and Washington Post Headlines, Journal of Media Psychology, Volume 16, No. 1, Winter, 2011. Web. http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/sfischo/Birgit_Bryant_Final_Draft_Sensational__Headlines%5B1%5D.doc Dr. Johnson, Rick.

Don’t Let the Media Kidnap your Intellect, Evan Carmichael, 2010. Web. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/4813/Dont--Let-the-Media-Kidnap-your-Intellect.html Gray & Khan. BBC criticized for scientific 'cheap sensationalism, The Telegraph, 2010. Web. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7128624/BBC-criticised-for-scientific-cheap-sensationalism.html Hana, Albert. Journalism & Sensationalism, Forbes Website, 2009. Web. http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/07/apple-daily-tiger-woods-video-business-media-next-media.

html McConnell, Rick. Sensationalism stirs up storm of debate Edmonton Twitchell case has a bit of everything, The Vancouver Sun, April 4, 2011. Web. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/When+covering+sensational+court+trials+much+much/4552039/story.html