Communication Technology and the Media Ethics in the Digital Age

Abstract

Abtract: Journalism is a special profession, because the information given by journalists has great effects to audiences and journalism can shape the public opinion. We live in a society that depends on information and communications to keep moving in the right direction and do our daily activities like work, entertainment, education, even personal relationships. Many people voted based on what the media conveys to them about the candidates, and live their lives according to what they believe as reported by journalists. Journalism is inherently powerful and the civil democracy is only able to set up when its citizens are able to receive all precise, impartial information from the media to help them to raise the voices, and make their well-informed decisions. Journalism is the information conveyors, the bridge between people and the policy makers. Therefore, there is a common point in the codes of ethics of journalism in different countries: journalism must respect the truths, be precise, impartial, balance and responsible.

In the digital age, the internet is an effective medium to convey massive information to audiences. The internet has changed the ways people receive and transfer information, and soon becomes the most attractive medium for audiences. This is an opportunity, and also a challenge for journalists, because digital media ethics have to deal with a number of distinct ethical problems, including plagiarism, using anonymous sources, information overload, digital manipulation, invading privacy, etc. This paper will discuss the ethical problems of media in the digital age, in order to propose solutions for Vietnamese journalism in the future.