Toward Global Ethics: Exploring the Perspectives of Local Media Stakeholders

Abstract

The search for global media ethics is ongoing, and it is especially relevant for Africa. However, much of the search concerns reconceptualizing the traditional ethical principles, while emphasizing fresh philosophical foundations that use indigenous values alongside global principles. This article contends that in addition to scholars and journalists—the only visible self-motivated search enthusiasts—no fewer than seven other active players exist, and the interests of these players (news makers, media content consumers, media users, media owners, media professional associations, government/media regulators, and media non-governmental organizations) are instrumental in the ongoing global efforts to seek global media ethics. Careful articulation of the stakeholders’ perspectives, to avoid confl ict with any eventual broad-based principles, will ensure that the search for a global ethics from the continent is not lost on the path to reality.