, COM3707 Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
DUE 25 September 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
PART A MEDIA ETHICS.
Question 1
The term “media ethics” refers to acceptable and unacceptable behaviour or
conduct in media practice. Elaborate on the above statement by doing the
following:
1.1 Describe, in your own words, what you think ethics and media ethics is
about. Also elaborate on the importance of ethics and how our daily
behaviour is often determined by it? (5)
Ethics refers to the system of moral principles that guide how people distinguish
between what is right and wrong. It helps individuals, groups, and societies decide
on appropriate behaviour. In everyday life, ethics influences our choices, such as
whether we treat others with respect, how honestly we act, and how responsibly we
deal with the consequences of our actions.
Media ethics is a specialised branch of ethics that applies these principles to media
practice. It is concerned with acceptable and unacceptable behaviour of media
professionals in areas such as news reporting, advertising, broadcasting, and digital
communication. For example, issues such as accuracy, fairness, objectivity, respect
for privacy, and avoiding harm are central to media ethics.
The importance of ethics is that it acts as a compass for behaviour. In daily life, it
shapes how we relate to other people, how we handle conflicts, and how we make
decisions. For media practitioners, ethics ensures that their work maintains
credibility, respects the dignity of others, and serves the public interest rather than
personal or commercial gain.
Semester 2 2025
DUE 25 September 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
PART A MEDIA ETHICS.
Question 1
The term “media ethics” refers to acceptable and unacceptable behaviour or
conduct in media practice. Elaborate on the above statement by doing the
following:
1.1 Describe, in your own words, what you think ethics and media ethics is
about. Also elaborate on the importance of ethics and how our daily
behaviour is often determined by it? (5)
Ethics refers to the system of moral principles that guide how people distinguish
between what is right and wrong. It helps individuals, groups, and societies decide
on appropriate behaviour. In everyday life, ethics influences our choices, such as
whether we treat others with respect, how honestly we act, and how responsibly we
deal with the consequences of our actions.
Media ethics is a specialised branch of ethics that applies these principles to media
practice. It is concerned with acceptable and unacceptable behaviour of media
professionals in areas such as news reporting, advertising, broadcasting, and digital
communication. For example, issues such as accuracy, fairness, objectivity, respect
for privacy, and avoiding harm are central to media ethics.
The importance of ethics is that it acts as a compass for behaviour. In daily life, it
shapes how we relate to other people, how we handle conflicts, and how we make
decisions. For media practitioners, ethics ensures that their work maintains
credibility, respects the dignity of others, and serves the public interest rather than
personal or commercial gain.
