Promoting social responsibility and journalistic ethics in the digital age

The workshop “Social responsibility and journalism ethics in the digital age” was jointly organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Germany) on June 10 in Hanoi.

With 2 main sessions: Social responsibility and journalism ethics - new issues in the digital age; Preserving ethics and promoting social responsibility of journalism, the Workshop helped managers and relevant agencies have a more realistic view of the development of journalism in the digital age, gradually narrowing the gap in the application of science and technology in journalism in Vietnam.

At the workshop, delegates discussed and found answers to the following questions: Why is it necessary to ensure social responsibility and journalistic ethics in the digital age? Why does the digital age have many negative impacts while press activities and reforms in the press sector have achieved many successes? Principles to ensure social responsibility and how to exploit positive aspects, limit negative aspects, share experiences in journalism in the digital age...

Master Luu Dinh Phuc, Deputy Director of the Press Department, Ministry of Information and Communications, said that the content of journalistic ethics is not an abstract, difficult-to-understand concept but something concrete and evident in everyday life. What the law does not prohibit, we can do, but what should and should not be done belongs to the category of ethics, which is how each individual behaves on the basis of social ethical norms. For journalists, it is also conscience and social responsibility.

Agreeing with the above viewpoint, Deputy General Director of Vietnam News Agency Le Duy Truyen added that the digital age helps the press develop in all aspects, creating a fierce information competition environment, giving rise to great challenges for professional journalism. In particular, the digital age not only amplifies the influence of information but also amplifies the issue of responsibility and ethics of journalists.

In the sea of ​​multidimensional information, the multidimensional connection space between journalists and readers, we must maintain the core values ​​of orthodox journalism because that is the strength of revolutionary journalism. This is also the reason why Vietnam News Agency has guided the traditional slogan "Fast-Correct-Accurate-Good" to "Correct-Fast-Correct-Good" in the current era of information explosion on the Internet.

In recent years, electronic journalism has developed strongly in terms of quantity, quality, form and content. As of December 2014, the country had 98 electronic journalism agencies, more than 1,500 licensed general electronic information websites and nearly 400 social networks. Communication technology has increasingly brought many benefits to journalists but also raised many issues regarding professional ethics such as: Practicing honestly, objectively, respecting the truth and the public's right to know the truth; violating the confidentiality and privacy of individuals; insulting the reputation of organizations, the honor and dignity of individuals; methods of information exploitation; plagiarism and copyright infringement...

To preserve ethics and promote social responsibility of the press in the digital age, the majority of delegates agreed that, in addition to strict legal management of press activities, propaganda, knowledge training, and raising awareness for reporters and editors to form a self-regulating mechanism in implementing ethical standards of journalism, it is necessary to perfect the code of ethics of journalism in a detailed and specific direction.

Leaders of press agencies need to promote the spirit of exemplary implementation of the code of ethics for journalists. The Journalists Association should further promote its role, functions and tasks in protecting the rights of its members; forming public opinion in opposing violations of journalistic ethics. Each press agency needs to strictly implement the process of selecting reporters and editors. Along with strengthening press management, competent agencies need to strictly handle cases of violations of press laws, perfect the legal system on press..../.

According to Infonet