Global Media Ethics; Challenges and Issues

Media is the fourth estate and considered to be the, vanguard of free expression and democratic values. The media is not just a vehicle of free speech but is also supposed to be an institution that allows free formation of public opinion. To realize these ends there should be a wide range of voices in the media responding to varied demands and needs of the society. If media is expected to play its role as a watch dog, it is also the responsibility of the society to act as a watch dog for the media. It becomes the responsibility of the social institutions to point out the situations where media is not playing its role as a ‘vanguard’ of democracy. One of the biggest challenges to the free flow of information is the commercialization of the media. The media concentration in the hands of the few has reduced freedom and independence of news and views. Media is today accused of sensationalism, superficiality, omission, inaccuracy and even falsification. It is blamed for lowering people’s morals and values by promoting sex, crime and violence. It is argued that the freedom of the media should be restrained, if it is abused, and is a threat to morals, divisions in the society, infringement of individual’s rights and the legitimate claims of society. We, as a pioneer institution of communication studies in Pakistan feel that this is the time to have an open conversation on the issues which effect media ethics, and discuss bridges between media practices and ethical boundaries not only from Pakistan’s perspective but also on global level. To fulfill this objective, Institute of Communication Studies is planning to organize an international conference on “Global Media Ethics; Challenges and Issues” on March 13 & March 14, 2013, at Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. This Conference aims to gather researchers, media practitioners from the fields of communication and humanities of national and international repute. It aims to bring the academia and the media practitioners on the same table and discuss the issues from theoretical and practical point of view. It will be a venue for an intensive intellectual exchange and discussion of current and relevant issues regarding Global Media ethics. Click here for more information Tweet Follow @pu_lhr_official