Should there be ethical constraints on what the media presents to us or is it acceptable that the marketplace decides? Can we accept the media as merely a provider of entertainment? What role is there for the media in shaping our identifies? Does the media protect cultural diversity or obliterate difference? Can the media respect the distinction between the public and private sphere? What shapes the ethics of the media?
These are some of questions addressed by the contributors in Media and the Marketplace Ethical Perspectives. Communications media - newspapers, radio, television, the Internet - are increasingly perceived to be not only reflecting but also shaping our lives. Making the world smaller, filling our homes with their presence, the influence of these media is reflected in every aspect of contemporary culture.
There is a need to clarify the role of ethics within the media. The contributors in Media and the Marketplace Ethical Perspectives examine this issue in the context of the dominant role of market forces in contemporary society. They also examine the role of public broadcasting.
Contributors include Irish media figures and academics from Ireland, The Netherlands, France and Belgium.