Nowadays, digital communication is becoming almost the only resource through which people learn about the world’s news and communicate with each other. These days, few people read newspapers and send letters by mail. Since digital communication covers almost the entire society, there is a need to introduce laws and ethics that have already been submitted. Since digital communication deals with the community, compliance with laws and ethics are significant factors for avoiding conflicts. Even though the concepts of ethics and laws run parallel, there is a considerable difference between them. This paper compares the concepts of ethics and law by giving examples, discusses their importance for media workers, and considers how law and ethics determine the behavior of media professionals.
The most important difference between law and ethics is that the country formally approves laws, and ethics is discipline and morality, which are based on people’s relationships. In general, ethics helps people determine what is right and wrong, and there is no punishment for violations of the concepts of ethics in general. The law, on the contrary, must be strictly observed, and, in case of non-compliance, the appropriate punishment is pursued. Law and ethics have the same differences when applied to digital communications. For example, the media is prohibited from filming a person or taking an interview without his consent for further consideration. If the media does not comply with the laws, people will lose their trust in the legal system, because the media significantly influences people’s opinions (Gies, 2007). As for ethics, it has a more abstract concept. For example, according to the rules of ethics, a journalist should already know that he is obliged to distribute only truthful information and not have a bias on one side or the other. However, if a journalist violates this “correctness of concepts,” then the laws will not be able to prosecute and punish. These concepts and rules are known to almost every citizen of a particular country. However, not many people can understand the difference between ethics and the law, which is based on the fact that laws must be observed without fail, and the concept of ethics is at the moral level.
Ethics and laws are essential aspects of the work of the media because journalists are of public interest. Actions within the framework of the law call on society to comply with the established rules of a particular country and ensure people’s trust in the law. In turn, ethics plays an essential role in the work of journalists. Just as doctors observe the Hippocratic oath, journalists and other media representatives have ethical standards that must be kept in the public interest. For example, mass media representatives should not harm their audience, both moral and psychological (Sánchez & Utne, 2019). In other words, ethics and laws are essential for journalists and other media representatives to ensure moral security and trust in the laws of society.
Employees in mass media are the bridge between society and other organizations. As mentioned above, they must comply with the rules of ethics and the law. If they comply with them, then employees can be considered professionals in their field since laws and ethics are their indicators. Since they are the ones who filter information before delivering it to the audience, the rules of ethics and compliance with established laws will show viewers the transparency of all information (Fine, et al., 2019). Compliance with ethics and the law defines the behavior of professionals as tactful and correct.
In conclusion, the difference between ethics and law is. The laws have legal force, and punishment follows in case of non-compliance, and the rules of ethics are based on moral principles. Journalists are representatives of the interests of society. Therefore, ethics and the law are an integral part of their professionalism. Compliance with the law and ethics rules define journalists and other media representatives as professionals, showing their tact and correctness.
References
Fine, C., Joel, D., & Rippon, G. (2019). Eight things you need to know about sex, gender, brains, and behavior: A guide for academics, journalists, parents, gender diversity advocates, social justice warriors, Tweeters, Facebookers, and everyone else. Social Justice Warriors, Tweeters, Facebookers, and Everyone Else. Scholar & Feminist Online, 15, Web.
Gies, L. (2007). Law and the media: The future of an uneasy relationship. Routledge-Cavendish.
Sánchez Laws, A. L., & Utne, T. (2019). Ethics guidelines for immersive journalism. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 6, 28, Web.