Comparative international media ethics: In search of universals

Abstract

This paper reviews the major studies of international and national approaches to media ethics and describes the various academic and global contexts for international media ethics study. A review of the literature to date reveals that comprehensive studies of international media ethics are necessarily incomplete. Not all countries have media codes or ethics or comparable instruments by which to scientifically test and compare national standards; moreover, countries frequently change, deregulate, officially censure, or discard formal ethical systems. This paper reviews the existing major studies, describes the surrounding contexts for international media ethics study, and suggests embryonic methodology for helpful comparison, and accurate pattern recognition, of trans-cultural common ground. The question of whether there are universals - common ethical values or guidelines - in national and cultural approaches to media ethics is explored. Three such universals are hypothesized based upon areas of common ground within available media ethics codes, guidelines, and similar documents.