In its Practical Ethics blog, the University of Oxford's philosophy faculty discusses current issues of interest --- the royal wedding, the death of Osama bin Laden, among them. In its latest post, it chronicles a discussion on whether journalism should be amoral.
By amoral, it doesn't appear to mean lacking a moral code, but journalism in which moral considerations should not apply in its practice. In short, the truth-seeking should not be commingled with a devotion to an ideology --- even, for instance, peace.
"If the objective truth happens to promote peace building, great, but if it promotes further violence, so be it as long it is the objective truth," wrote Matt Baum on the site.
The post reflects a discussion and debate at a conference on peace-building and conflict resolution on the weekend. It was conducted by the Centre for International Studies at Oxford.
One discussion examined the notion of the impartial, objective journalist in this age. Baum extends the discussion into his own post and wonders if, with the difficulty of a clear lens and the influence of money on journalism, it isn't possible to claim an amoral journalism.
Recordings from the conference will be available shortly here.
By amoral, it doesn't appear to mean lacking a moral code, but journalism in which moral considerations should not apply in its practice. In short, the truth-seeking should not be commingled with a devotion to an ideology --- even, for instance, peace.
"If the objective truth happens to promote peace building, great, but if it promotes further violence, so be it as long it is the objective truth," wrote Matt Baum on the site.
The post reflects a discussion and debate at a conference on peace-building and conflict resolution on the weekend. It was conducted by the Centre for International Studies at Oxford.
One discussion examined the notion of the impartial, objective journalist in this age. Baum extends the discussion into his own post and wonders if, with the difficulty of a clear lens and the influence of money on journalism, it isn't possible to claim an amoral journalism.
Recordings from the conference will be available shortly here.
