Contextual discussion on justice, equality and gender in media ethics

Abstract

If the concept of justice and equality is to be integrated into media ethics in a gender-sensitive way, it must be clarified which concept of justice and/or equality is to be adapted from the broad spectrum of political and social philosophy. In some theories of justice, the concept of equality plays an important positive role, while others deny that justice goes along with equality. In the following paper, this complexity and ambiguity will be outlined to show how conceptions of justice and equality would affect gender-relevant debates in the media and media ethics. To this end, however, it must be determined which social goods should or must be addressed if justice and equality are to be integrated into media ethics. As a tentative conclusion, it will have to be noted that the consideration of gender-sensitive concepts of justice and equality in media ethics as professional ethics of journalism could lead to a challenge of the norms and values intrinsic to the profession and thus to the profession itself.