Topic: Salient features of world’s
7. What may be expected from the media in the development of a policy aiming at the improvement of ethical conduct in the public sector? Elaborate. (250 words)
Reference: Ethics by Lexicon Publications
Why this question:
The question is amidst rising incidences of media influencing the policy development in negative ways.
Key demand of the question:
Explain what may be expected from the media in the development of a policy aiming at the improvement of ethical conduct in the public sector.
Directive:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In short explain the context in question.
Body:
To start with, Press is playing an efficient institutional role in the field of ethics. Moreover, it became clear that civil servants in general are resentful of the press, in spite of the fact that virtually all major scandals were investigated as a result of denunciations by the press. This reaction seems to stem from a perception that the press is responsible for the current deterioration of the public image of the public sector. From their standpoint, the role of the press during the past few years has been one of denunciation. Rampant competition in the media has caused irresponsible denunciations, based on insufficient investigation, unreliable sources, and distortion of facts. As a result, public institutions have been discredited, according to the prevailing opinion of the participants. A cooperative posture of the press, although desirable, is overshadowed by its tendency to highlight negative facts and ignore positive ones whenever the public sector is concerned.
Conclusion:
So, the press should act as a watchdog and whistleblower but in a competent, accurate and responsible manner. Positive facts and information relevant to society must also be published. The agenda of the press and the agenda of the government must be kept separate.
