Bataan Christian College Inc.

Senior High School Department

Developing Intelligence and Character for Service

Literature Review Template

Definition:

Every new wave of digital innovation has brought with it new influences on how people
consume news. We receive news from both people we are familiar with and complete strangers on
social media, messaging apps, texts, and email on a regular basis. There is less emphasis on the
publisher now that news reports can be spread fragmentarily through links or shares.

With the availability of online news sources, news delivery is expected to happen instantly,
and journalists and news organizations are under pressure to publish news reports quickly in order
to keep up with rival media sources. Standards of accuracy and fairness are harder to uphold under
this increased pressure. The art of journalism has evolved from its long-standing origins in
conventional research and investigative methodologies to a "get it first" over a "get it right" mentality.
These specific ethical issues, behaviors, and standards of modern news reporting are the subject of
modern news ethics.

Introduction:

Over the past few decades, the world of modern news has changed.  In an effort to
cover up injustice and wrongdoing and keep well-meaning and reasonable people from learning
the truth about the injustices of social order, newspapers, both large and small, now frequently
commit countless daily sins. 

More often than the average person may realize, newspapers have ethical problems.
Though many journalism organizations publish a code of ethics intended to serve as a guide for
writers, photographers, and editors to follow, studies show that the majority of newspaper
reporters are unaware of the precise scope of newspaper ethics. Although there isn't a single
ethical problem that permeates the newsroom I oversee, some of the most prevalent include
using algorithms to attract clicks, exploiting people’s privacy, and exposing fake news. These
issues will be tackled throughout the review,

Main Body:
Fake news

We are living in what is called the post-truth era, witnessing a loss of trust in traditional
media outlets, and social media accelerating the circulation of false, unverified, and
exaggerated information. According to the article “Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private
Life” written by Bok (1999), the author states that the moral question of whether a person or a
news reporter is lying is not settled by merely establishing the truth or falsity of what is said or
reported. To elaborate, we must know whether the individual or the report intends to deceive us.
In our complex 

Using Algorithms to Attract Clicks 

The emergence of search engines such as Google and Yahoo, social networks such as
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or e-commerce companies such as Shopee and Lazada
cannot be understood without the systematic application of a complex algorithmic structure to all
of its production process in aspects of access and data processing to distribution of physical
and virtual content. As stated by White (2018) in his article “Ethical Journalism: Back in the
News'', using sophisticated algorithms and limitless databanks that provide access to millions of
subscribers is driven by an objective - to encourage viral information. In this matter, it does not
matter whether the information is ethical, true, or honest; what counts is whether it is
sensational, provocative, and stimulating enough to attract attention. 

To further elaborate, no matter how sophisticated the digital robots are, they can not be
encoded with ethical and moral values. Well-trained, informed, and responsible journalists and
editors should be the ones to handle ethical questions when it comes to modern news reports.

Exploiting people’s privacy

 
 Bataan Christian College Inc.
Senior High School Department

Developing Intelligence and Character for Service

Literature Review Template

Privacy is not what it used to be. The lines separating public and private communications
are vague when so many people share so much of what they do and think on platforms that are
open to the public. For many journalists, a person's expectations of privacy determine whether
and how much they should report on private aspects of that person's life. Hodges (2009)
contends that the moral right to privacy includes the authority to control who has access to
personal information. Individual human beings need some measure of privacy to develop a
sense of self and avoid manipulation by the state. Journalists who respect the privacy rights of
those they cover should take extra care when interviewing sources to avoid prying too much.
When publishing news reports, they should be able to demonstrate that the general public
needs to know private information.

Conclusion:
These recent studies provided insights into how ethical issues are prevalent in news reports
these days. With the challenges that they are facing, journalists and editors struggle to maintain
their ethical base and so, the standard of accuracy and fairness become more difficult to uphold.
The interest of the public and of fairness have to be paramount to any news reports to be
published.
References:

Clark, M. (2017, February). The Ethical Dilemma of the Modern Newspaper. ResearchGate.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313508495_The_Ethical_Dilemma_of_the_Mo

dern_Newspaper

Bok, S. (1979, September). Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life. Academia.

https://www.academia.edu/14317037/Book_Review_Lying_Moral_Choice_in_Public_and_Privat

e_Life_by_Sissela_Bok 

Fake news

We are living in what is called the post-truth era, witnessing a loss of trust in traditional
media outlets, and social media accelerating the circulation of false, unverified, and
exaggerated information. According to the article “Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private
Life” written by Bok (1999), the author states that the moral question of whether a person or a
news reporter is lying is not settled by merely establishing the truth or falsity of what is said or
reported. To elaborate, we must know whether the individual or the report intends to deceive us.
In our complex world, many things can misinform us, but only some of them are intended to
deceive us. For Bok, it is this issue - the intentional manipulation of information - that is
fundamental to the concept of truth telling.

This aligns with a review of literature by Lazer et al. (2018) where the authors defined
fake news to be fabricated information that mimics news media content in form but not in
organization process or intent. Brennen (2017) suggested that when encountering questionable
news and information, we should check the author, date, and sources before believing or
sharing news reports. The author added that if we consider the intention of news reports and
what the individual or group might gain from deceiving viewers, listeners, or readers about an
issue or concern, we will come closer to distinguishing authentic news and information from lies,
deceptive propaganda, and fake news.

Using Algorithms to Attract Clicks 

The emergence of search engines such as Google and Yahoo, social networks such as
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or e-commerce companies such as Shopee and Lazada can
not be understood without the systematic application of a complex algorithmic structure to all of
 Bataan Christian College Inc.
Senior High School Department

Developing Intelligence and Character for Service

Literature Review Template

its production process in aspects of access and data processing to distribution of physical and
virtual content. As stated by White (2018) in his article “Ethical Journalism: Back in the News'',
the model of using advanced algorithms and limitless databases that provide access to millions
of users is driven by one simple objective - to encourage viral information. The same is true with
modern news reports. In this matter, it does not matter whether the information is ethical, true,
or honest; what matters is whether it is sensational, provocative, and stimulating enough to
attract attention. 

To further elaborate, no matter how advanced the digital robots are, they can not be
encoded with ethical and moral values. Well-trained, informed, and responsible journalists and
editors should be the ones to handle ethical questions when it comes to modern news reports.

…………………….

We are living in what is repeatedly referred to as the post-truth era, witnessing a loss of
trust in traditional media outlets, and social media accelerating the circulation of false,
unverified, and exaggerated information. The term “fake news” itself has become deeply
controversial as its use has devolved from a critique of the proliferation of false stories and
conspiracy theories, to an attack on the legitimacy of political opposition; even the
pervasiveness of the problem remains contentious. This discussion will explore the ethical
obligations that apply to both producers and consumers of journalism, recognizing that
inflammatory distortion of facts is not a

Exploiting people’s privacy

Privacy is not what it used to be. For many journalists, a person's expectations of privacy
determine whether and how much they should report on private aspects of that person's life.
Hodges (2009) contends that the moral right to privacy includes the authority to control who has
access to personal information. Individual human beings need some measure of privacy to
develop a sense of self and avoid manipulation by the state. Journalists who respect the privacy
rights of those they cover should take extra care when interviewing sources to avoid prying too
much. When publishing news reports, they should be able to demonstrate that the general
public needs to know private information.

To further elaborate, Strasbourg (2011) claimed that most journalists see no conflict
between truthful and ethical reporting and privacy protection, and they are aware of the
importance of privacy. When issues of public interest are involved, some journalists do not
agree that "privacy" should substitute for "secrecy" as a cover. 

When arguing that the public has a right to know and that the public interest outweighs
the privacy interests of the parties involved, journalists need to be clear in describing their role.
A journalist should always take into account a person's reputation, place in society, and position
in public life when privacy is at risk of being violated.