Media Ethics Analysis Essay Sample

Media Ethics
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Media Ethics
Media censorship is considered as the utmost violation of people's rights because it limits the access or disseminates information. In this age, communication marks one of the strengths of prosperity. Most governments and organizations use communication as a tool to understand the needs of the people or consumers. However, questions are still asked on whether too much freedom can be dangerous, especially when sharing information through different media platforms. China is one of the countries that has excelled in media censorship. Journalists, both local and international, are tamed from disseminating or accessing some pieces of information. On the grounds of Stephen Ward's inputs on self-regulation of media, this paper explores the Chinese openness to free press and access to the internet. The analysis should help in understanding China's position to censor the media extremely and what could happen if the present restrictions are removed.
Understanding Chinese Media Restrictions
The Chinese media restrictions have attracted debates from different quotas of the globe, making those restrictions necessary to explore. Source say that China does not have free press nor open access to the internet (Guo, 2020). Mostly, the Chinese have restricted the use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Google, the leading search engine globally, has threatened to terminate its operations in China due to too many restrictions and the increasing cyberattack threats. The challenge does not stop with the use of the internet, as various mainstream media outlets have complained about media restrictions in China. In a world where freedom of the press and unrestricted use of the internet is considered a strength, individuals are left to wonder about the intentions that mark the Chinese media usage restrictions.
The media restrictions in China are grounded deep in their constitution and culture. China has an established regulatory body referred to as the Regulation on Administration of Publication that oversees publications throughout the country. There are other regulatory bodies whose mandates are specific to television broadcast, news media, and online content. These restrictions and regulatory bodies stem from the Chinese four cardinal principles as framed in 1979 by Deng Xiaoping (Guo, 2020). Currently, the four principles are outlined in the constitution and state that the Chinese must keep the socialist road, uphold the dictatorship of the proletariat, uphold the leadership of the communist party, and uphold Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong thought. The above principles mark the onset of restrictions.
Multiple constitutional assertions have supported the four principles above in restricting media freedom in China. Article 25 of the constitution provides publishers with a list of content that is strictly prohibited (Huang, 2020). These restrictions apply to local and international publishers. Some of the restricted pieces of information include those that could trigger harm to the nation's excellent cultural tradition and social morality, superstition or violence, promotion of obscenity, disclosure of state secrets, sabotaging national solidarity, and publications that incite cessation. There are further restrictions in article 8 of the constitution that focus on publications that distort facts and those that manufacture conflicts and incitement to cessation (Huang, 2020). From the articles above, it is evident why the Chinese are restricting the media. However, it is worth noting that the pronouncements are so vague, something that the authorities have employed to arrest just a person they believe has published or shared information that they do not want to be shared.
Purpose to Control the Media
The Chinese have censored their media for multiple reasons. Going by the inputs in their constitution, they are implementing the restrictions to instil authority over people. China's communist political formations have been accused of oppressing the rights of the people through different regimes in their history (Huang, 2020). That makes it challenging for them to change the prospects currently. China is motivated to adhere to the four principles of Deng Xiaoping no matter the challenges that they face.
The restrictions are also meant to control people's access to information. The Chinese understand that too much access to information could trigger resistance to their dictatorial ways. The purpose of media restrictions is that...