The first part of the essay is response to question one about how one would deal with the issue of cultural diversity in a situation where culture abuses the rights of minority. The second part is about how one would respond to the issue of personal interests as well as issues of national security. There is response to the ethical aspects of journalism on how to act in situations where personal interest conflict with national interest.
The islander tribe has a cultural practice where they expect the elderly as well as infirm to leave them off, go to a far place, and die. This practice existed in the ancient and medieval days where the elderly and the infirm members of the community were a burden and therefore not appreciated at all.
This is in the view that such societies survived on hunting and gathering as their source of livelihood hence the need for each member to participate in those activities. The elderly people could not engage in such activities due to the condition of their bodies. Failure to take care of them was the only option because they were a burden to the healthy people.
However, in the modern days, this practice should not be tolerated because it violates the rights of human beings. This is based on the view that every person is entitled to the basic human rights without favor or discrimination. The act of abandoning and sending people away because they are elderly or disabled is backward.
Culture is dynamic and it keeps on changing depending on the times, artifacts, and knowledge about culture. Therefore, culture needs not to be an excuse for mistreating weak people and denying them the right of association as well as basic needs.
A journalist who receives information with a potential to increase website popularity but would compromise national security has the following response. The issues, which conflict one’s interests with the nation’s interests are encountered by practicing journalists. When such an issue arises, the best and ethical thing to do is failing to publish such materials on one’s website if they would compromise national security.
This is because national security is a major issue that affects the life of people. Compromising national security during the time of terrorists attack is an offence that warrants treason. This is because a website can be accessed by anyone, which makes it difficult to control who will read that information. This means that terrorists or the nation’s enemies may use such information to attack the country.
In a situation where personal interests conflict with the national interests’, national interest prevails. When the public demands the information and it is necessary to know what is happening in the defense forces such as corruption, the public interest should prevail. However, in a case of personal interest against national interest the most ethical and beneficial thing to do is to ensure that the issue of national interest prevails.
Conclusion
There are conflicting issues, which journalist and people in the field of communication face every day while performing duties that are assigned to them. The knowledge of what is ethical or unethical is imperative in ensuring that positive contribution is made to the society and the whole nation. Journalist should follow the rules and regulations in their duties in order to do what is acceptable according to the law.