Media Ethics

Objectivity and being Unbiased are two characteristics usually attributed to professional journalists. Although when it comes to media the term objectivity seems to be empty. There is invention of new stories (and sometimes in the case of photojournalists, invention of photographs) and there is also false representation of different groups.
Another highly important matter is the privacy of individuals. To what extent journalist are allowed to invade privacy of celebrities and politicians? But there are other questions like should journalists pay informants let’s say in a crime story? Should newspapers publish names or pictures of criminals?
Another issue is the relationship between governments and media. Some governments try o control the flow of information through censorship or manipulations. Their tactics vary from ownership of mainstream media to intimidating and jailing journalists and shutting down the media outlets.
Another ethical issue concerned with media is the depiction of Violence and Se*x and using profane and obscene language in media outlets. Although there are some regulations and rating systems in different countries, but this function of media still makes many people anxious.
Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, in an entry for media ethics also mentions “intercultural dimensions of media ethics”. Under this title it reads “If values differ interculturally, the issue arises of the extent to which behavior should be modified in the light of the values of specific cultures”. Wikipedia mentions “Google's self-censorship in China” and “The Jyllands-Posten Prophet Muhammad cartoons controversy in Denmark, and subsequently worldwide” as two examples of controversy from the field of media ethics.
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Here regarding to media ethics, let me outline an imaginary (but still possible) scenario. Suppose there was an earthquake in a very large scale somewhere in the world. The damage was substantially great and the human loss was unspeakable. Here the journalist wants to draw world’s attention to the scale of the disaster.
The ethical issue here lies with the refugees and quake-stricken people. Should journalist be allowed to use those disaster-stricken people as the subjects of his work?
Of course there is not any clear consensus of opinion over this question among journalists. Many believe that it is not ethical to use people who are gravely suffering the consequences of a disaster, to bring attention to the story. They argue the story of a quake is such big that does not need any emotional overdose. But others say that if those who are racked with pain does not oppose, journalists can tell their stories.