== Governing Bodies ==
Electronic Journalism
Journalism is a fundamental tool for spreading information in society; the Statement of Principles of the American Society of Newspaper Editors gives this succinct definition of the journalists’ role:
However with the power journalists potentially hold in disseminating information, regulatory or governing bodies are required to monitor what is published as news. As we enter the information age, the new media technologies at the disposal of journalists can make it infinitely harder to govern news, hence heightening ethical concerns associated with the profession. There is an abundance of online news outlets including:
These outlets are updated almost instantaneously with news stories from around the world, thus posing another question; if something is considered unsuitable as news in one country, then what is to stop it being published on the internet in another country? In Australia there exists three main ‘media watchdogs’:
However none of these organizations are set up to specifically monitor the internet, although the APC did announce in 2000 that it would handle complaints regarding online news. Regarding this decision Council Chairman, Professor Dennis Pearce said: “this is a significant recognition of the fact that the print medium is fast being overtaken by the Internet as the means of carrying news.� (cited in APC online, 2003)
According to computer science professor Dennis McLeod, “New forms of IT and integrated media systems will revolutionize the methods for acquiring, packaging, organizing and delivering the news in the not-too-distant future.� ( cited in Rosencrance, L 2004, Online)
While various media monitors are set up to monitor the content of news; ensuring it is inoffensive, accessible and unbiased, there are also regulatory bodies which enforce laws regarding issues such as media ownership. For example, while Rupert Murdoch has the monopoly in Australia on media, cross ownership, e.g. TV – newspapers, is illegal. Joanne Ostrow of the Denver Post proposes this idea of cross-ownership with the advent of new media technology:
Brigid Andersen 13:43, 26 Oct 2004 (EST)
