This text explores the dynamic and potentially explosive field of media ethics from a South African perspective. Grounded in ethical theory, the public philosophies of communication and media performance norms, this text provides guidelines for individual ethical decision-making to media practitioners and media groups. The author's analysis of the South African normative context under the previous and present political dispensations will be of interest to media policy formulators and students alike. Current contentious issues, such as racism in the media, the plans for media, development in this country, the reporting of violence and crime, the right to privacy, and the media and advertising all come under intense scrutiny. Addenda include rules of procedure and the code of conduct of the Press Ombudsman of South Africa, the constitution, code and procedures of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, and the code of conduct of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa.

In South Africa, the debate about journalism ethics has taken particular turns in contemporary times. Issues of transformation and race have sparked heated debates in the profession. This book grew out of these discussions. It attempts to measure the traditional standards of journalism against the demands of a changing society.

Ethics in the media is a topic of some heated discussion right now in South Africa and is clearly a challenge to practitioners as well as students of communication and media studies. This book introduces and grapples with notions of ethical principles and practices, and how these may be applied in a diverse and challenging local context that is still undergoing political and policy transformation. This timely book has been written by reputable South African academics in the field. To enhance active learning practices, each chapter starts with Key Terms and Concepts. Relevant South African examples are provided to demonstrate the applicability of theoretical frameworks. To assist with the consolidation process, each chapter ends with Topics/Questions for Discussion.

A comprehensive introduction to media ethics in South Africa - theory, media codes of conduct and case studies. Ethical journalism is seen as a goal in itself.

"This book provides useful pointers to help journalists navigate the dilemmas they face in the professional practice. It provides an enlightening overview of the views of Mauritian journalists on their own industry and an in-depth look at the South African model for self-regulation. As part of the ethical approach, the book also reviews the main issues related to gender-senstive reporting, in view of the significant role the media have to play in genedr education.... Journalism is a public good and the need to a clear social contract is stronger than ever in a world where transparency and acoountability are on the agenda. Mechanisms for ensuring ethical practice are essential and should be hailed as beacons for a stronger journalism." -- Back cover.

This well researched text integrates information regarding historical perspectives of the media, journalism and ethics issues, and includes current discussions concerning the functions of the media, relevant contextualised ethical and legal frames of reference and cultural implications. Media Ethics focuses on theoretical frameworks as well as on practical implementation and how to integrate the two.

This is a book about several specific and serious challenges that bioethics has to deal with in our time, particularly in the South African context. From an almost non-existent ‘science’ at the beginning of the 20th century, not receiving systematic reflection in intellectual circles such as universities, bioethics has grown with unprecedented strides and has established itself across the world as a major field of study. This book is an acknowledgement of the relevance and actuality of this development of bioethics internationally, and particularly in South Africa. In addition, it is an inter- and multidisciplinary composition of contributors and a significant reflection of the interdisciplinary approach that is universally required for bioethical work. The contributions also testify to a notable diversity in recently researched issues and in the backgrounds of the contributors.

This book uses global perspectives to address questions of media ethics and justice in a local and transnational global environment, and examines the common denominator running through such disparate investigations of theories and practices of media ethics and justice in the democracies of India, South Africa, Pakistan, and the United States.

How can an "ethics of listening" guide the media to contribute to the deepening of democracy in Africa? In Africa, the media plays a significant role in conflict management and resolution. Which conflicts the media report, which are ignored, and how conflicts are represented can have a profound impact on the outcomes. While the media can in some cases ensure the stability of African democracy, critics have pointed out that in other cases, the media actually increases tensions in areas of conflict. The media tends to privilege only elite voices, offering superficial coverage of marginalized groups in a way that increases polarization. In The Ethics of Engagement, Herman Wasserman explores the ethics of the media in conflicts that arise during transitions to democracy in Africa. He examines the roles, responsibilities, and obligations of media in contexts of high socioeconomic inequality. In doing so, he looks at ethnic and racial polarization in the histories of colonialism, post-colonial authoritarianism, and hybrid regimes. Taking a critical view of the normative guidelines and professional identities of journalism inherited from contexts outside of Africa, he argues that a more reciprocal and collaborative approach is needed. He develops a new ethics of engagement that would require the media to facilitate the resolution of conflicts across differences of ethnicity, citizenship, and class. A central point of this theory is the development of an "ethics of listening" which would enable the media to conceive of their role as facilitators in democratic deliberation and community-building. Wasserman applies his ethics of listening to case studies across the African continent. He finds that by following this new model of conduct, the media may actually deepen democracy and help de-escalate conflict. This original study provides a useful framework for reimaging the media's role in transitional democracies in Africa--and across the globe.

The book reflects academically on important and relevant ethical fields from a multidimensional South African context. The book challenges conventional borders from different ethical, theological, philosophical, economic and cultural perspectives with insight and expertise and seeks to add academic-ethical value, locally and globally, with its different points of departure deeply embedded in justice. From a mainly qualitative methodological perspective, this scholarly book demonstrates that ethics requires analytical thinking and critical people who, in an existentially and emancipatory way, can help make the world a more just, decent and humane place in which to live. The authors, who represent different academic and cultural backgrounds, present in their respective chapters their research systematically, intersectionally and constructivistically, based on profound theoretical analysis and reasoning. This epistemology results in an act of knowing that actively gives meaning and order to the reality to which it is responding. By doing this, they point out that people are in an ongoing process of becoming more human – allowing ourselves and our fellow human beings to flourish and to reach fuller potential through justice-based ethical reflection and action.