Media ethics within the fake news challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic
Sabahudin Hadžialić
Uninettono University , Bosnia and HerzegovinaVi Thi Phuong
University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen University , Viet NamAbstract
Every profession needs professional ethics, but some occupations, such as journalism, have special importance and a wide relationship with many people in society, so professional ethics is essential in this case. When the journalists income is at stake, what will their professional ethics be like? The Covid-19 pandemic 2020 is threatening the existence of journalism and the news. Journalists are having a hard time reporting on the pandemic. Between the issue of safety of the journalists, and the implementation of responsibility for reporting, journalists must put ethical issues at the top.
This article analyzes the impact of fake news on the press and the ethical responsibility of journalists when reporting on the Covid-19 epidemic. Ethical behavior and social responsibility of journalists arise in professional journalism. A conflict may occur between professional obligations and basic human impulses of a journalist. They can fight to maintain their sense of fairness, balance, and objectivity. At the same time, they may be asked to lie. Their actions can cause real harm to the public, which in turn causes ethical dilemmas.
Keywords:
Medtia ethics, Press – Communication, Covid-19 pandemic, spreading fake newsReferences
(24.03.2020).
Bounegru, L., J. Gray, T. Venturini, M. Mauri (2018), Field guide on ‘Fake News’ and other information disorder, (Amsterdam: Public Data Lab.).
Bugeja, M. (2000), Ethics are lived, not learned, “Quill” 88(3):15–17.
Cuc, H. (2013), Journalistic Ethics Theoretical and Practical Issues, (Vietnam).
Dien, H. (2013), Severe violations in press and publishing activities, “Government Online Newspaper”, http://baochinhphu.vn/Chinh-sach-moi/Phat-nang-vipham-trong-hoat-dong-bao-chi-xuat-ban/186136.vgp (19.11.2013).
Giang, N.T.T. (2011), Professional ethics of journalists, (Vietnam).
Hadžialić, S. (2019), Media Literacy and Media Ethics, the only way out, (USA: Lulu. com): 368.
Hoa, N. (2012), Journalism Lessons in life, (Vietnam).
Hoang, D.C. (2013), Journalistic Ethics – Theoretical and Practical Issues, (Vietnam).
Jennings, M. (2000), In search of journalistic ethics, “USA Today”, 129 (2662):56–57. Ministry of Information and Communications, Swedish Embassy in Vietnam (2010), Manual of Press Ethics, (Vietnam).
Mulcahey, T. (2020), 10 tips for journalists covering COVID-19, COVID-19 REPORTING, https://ijnet.org/en/story/10-tips-journalists-covering-covid-19 (5.03.2020).
Neil, E. (2020), The role of solutions journalism in reporting on COVID-19, COVID-19 REPORTING, https://ijnet.org/en/story/role-solutions-journalism-reporting-COVID-19 (18.03.2020)
Nguyen, V.D. (2012), Journalism and Public Opinion, (Vietnam).
Paris, B., J. Donovan (2019), Deepfakes and Cheap Fakes: The manipulation of sound and visual evidence.
Phuong, L. (2020), Maximum press support in the propaganda on prevention and control of Covid-19, “Journal of Information and Communications”, http:// ictvietnam.vn/ho-tro-bao-chi-toi-da-trong-tuyen-truyen-phong-chong-dichcovid-19–20200319092433271.htm (19.03.2020).
Pritchard, D.H. (Ed.) (2000), Holding the media accountable: Citizens, ethics and the law, (Bloomington: Indiana University Press): 240.
Robertson, L. (2001), Ethically challenged, “American Journalism Review” 23 (2):20–29.
Scott, M. (2020), Facebook’s private groups are abuzz with coronavirus fake news, https://www.politico.eu/article/facebook-misinformation-fake-news-coronavirus-covid19/ (25.03.2020).
Stuart, A. (1999), New culture, Associated Press Media, https://www.apme.com/, (Open University Press): 229.
Van, H. (2020), Vietnam Journalism Economics from the Covid-19 pandemic, Journalist and Public Press, http://hoinhabaovietnam.vn/Kinh-te-bao-chi-nhin-tu-Daidich-Covid-19---Bai-2-Go-huong-nao-cung-vuong_n62324.html (2.04.2020).
Vietnam Journalists Association, a source of information on the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic, from January to April 2020.
Vraga, E., L. Bode (2020), Defining Misinformation and Understanding its Limited Nature: Using Expertise and Evidence for Describing Misinformation, “Political Communication”, 37:136–144.
Warner, J., N. Cirelli (2020), Media sustainability during a pandemic, COVID-19 REPORTING, https://ijnet.org/en/story/media-sustainability-during-pandemic (30.03.2020). REPORTING, https://ijnet.org/en/story/media-sustainability-during-pandemic (30.03.2020).
University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen University
