This document discusses media ethics and provides three case studies to illustrate important issues. It first defines media ethics and outlines three key areas: ethics of journalism, entertainment media, and media and democracy. It then analyzes three Indian cases involving alleged news manipulation at Zee TV, unbalanced coverage of medical malpractice on Satyamev Jayate, and invasion of privacy on a Zee TV reality show. The document concludes that mass media influences society greatly and should respect privacy while balancing the right to know with fair treatment of individuals.

1. MEDIA AND ETHICS
Presented by
Ranjeet Kumar Singh

2. APPROACH
The study was a mix of primary and secondary research
a.Primary Research: Involved discussions and meetings with various stakeholders from:,
a. Medical Profession
b. Legal Community
c. Viewers
d. Media Person
b.Secondary research: Involved various sources:
a. Analyst reports
b. Publications
c. Websites
d. Documentaries

3. DISCUSSION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
Name
XYZ
Designation
ABC

4. WHAT IS MEDIA ETHICS ?
Media ethics is the subdivision of applied ethics dealing with the specific ethical principles and
standards of media, including broadcast media, film, theatre, the arts, print media and the internet.
Three Areas of Media Ethics:
•Ethics of Journalism
•
•
•
News manipulation
Truth
Conflict With The Law
•Ethics of Entertainment media
•
•
•
•
The depiction of violence and sex, and the presence of strong language.
Product placement.
Stereotypes
Taste and taboos.
•Media And Democracy

5. MOTIVATION TO CHOOSE THIS TOPIC
 Media has a huge reach
 Media is one of the most influential tools to reach to people and affect
their opinions.
 Electronic media is deeply integrated with our lives.
Three cases to illustrate the importance of media ethics:
i. Naveen Jindal
ii. satyamev Jayate
iii. Zee TV reality TV show

6. CASE 1- NAVEEN JINDAL’S CASE

7. •
In March 2012, the Coal Block Allocation scam hit
the country
•
The Government of India was accused of allocating
coal blocks in an inefficient manner during the
period 2004–2009
•
As a result both public sector enterprises and
private firms came under the purview of this scam
•
Zee TV was said possess an important video
related to this case which allegedly showed
involvement of Jindal's company in coal block
allocation scam
•
This video should have been given to CBI or could
have been aired on TV
NAVEEN JINDAL'S
STING OPERATION
ON ZEE TV ...(1/2)

8. •
Jindal and his team members performed a sting
operation on the editors of Zee TV
•
Footages showed a conversation where editors of
Zee TV were seen demanding advertising
commitments from Jindals in exchange of burying
negative coverage on Jindal's company
•
Mr. Naveen Jindal filed a criminal case against Zee
News accusing the reporters of demanding Rs 100
crore to block the airing of the video tape
NAVEEN JINDAL'S
STING OPERATION
ON ZEE TV ...(2/2)

9. CASE 2- SATYAMEV JAYATE CASE

10. •
Satyamev Jayate, an Indian television talk show
aired on various channels premiered on 6 May 2012.
•
On 27th May, it aired an episode on Medical
Malpractice.
•
The episode was unbalanced, unfair and biased
against doctors. And there was hardly any doctors
presence to point out their view in scientific
manner.
•
The on-going trial of Major Pankaj Raj case was
aired on the show. It is best to avoid trial by the
media as this may potentially vitiate the outcome
of the court proceedings.
•
The experience shared by Dr Amol Pandit
regarding doctors asking for commission was
biased and generalised.
SATYAMEV JAYATE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
CASE ...(1/3)

11. • Aamir
Khan’s presented the facts and figures as a
layman with regards to the medical practises. Some of
them are :
i) Telling the audience that patient on dialysis live up to 15-20 years.
Even the 5-year survival rate of patients on dialysis is about 25-30 %
ii) Expressing surprise that a diabetic patient had to lose a toe in the
hands of a surgeon. Losing not only a toe but the entire limb is not an
uncommon occurrence.
• Dr Gulhati said that pharmaceuticals companies give Rs
1.31 lakh per doctor per year amounting to a total of Rs
12.5 thousand crore. He also pointed out that in medical
line, only taking bribe is illegal, not giving it.
i) He has not given the source of his data about the figure of Rs 12.5
thousand crore.
ii) It is a loose and prejudiced statement that giving bribe in medical
profession is legal
SATYAMEV JAYATE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
CASE ...(2/3)

12. The following desirable things should have been
included by the program:
•Representation from IMA and from the legal community
•A statement that the case of Major Pankaj Rai is already in
the court and the aim of the program is not to influence the
outcome of that case by indulging in trial by media.
•A statement that patients having grievances against
doctors can easily complain to the medical council or the
consumer court or even to both of them at the same time.
•Amir Khan needs to retract his wrong statements at the
next episode
SATYAMEV JAYATE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
CASE ...(3/3)

13. CASE 3- SOLVETHELLAM UNMAI- A ZEE TV
SHOW

14. • It's a reality show in Tamilnadu telecast on Zee Tv in
which family problems are discussed by two sides
involved with anchor of the programme , Ms Nirmala
Periyasamy, a former TV news reader
• A petition was filed in Madras High court to ban this by a
person who was made to answer the questions without
his knowledge and the management turned down his
request to stop the telecast
• In another incident a man was badly bruised after he
was assaulted by his second wife and her mother
following a heated argument on the show
• Madras High Court judge KK Sreedharan said if a
person's prestige in the society is affected by media,
there should be an action taken against such media
houses and notice was sent to Zee TV official
SOLVETHELLAM
UNMAI’S CASE ...(1/2)

15. Ethical issue involved:
• Is it right on the part of broadcasters to invade the
private life of a citizen in the pretext of resolving
family feud ?
• People do have a need for privacy
• Ethics which involve responsibilities rather than
rights are a better bet in privacy decisions
• Consent is a defence to invasion of privacy. But there
may be tricky issues here. What if one party give
consent for the use of embarrassing footage or
information about the family issues and such publicity
may be highly offensive to the other party involved ?
SOLVETHELLAM
UNMAI’S CASE ...(2/2)

16. WAY FORWARD
•
Mass media has a prominent role to play in modern society. It can bring about radical
changes and improve social situation as it influences our social, civil, cultural,
political, economic and aesthetic outlook
•
Growing consumerism and materialism have adversely impacted media
•
Deliberately creating sensational stuff and running after opportunistic gains are two
issues with media
•
"Rules" are seldom the answer. There are
circumstances and additional factors to consider.
•
Respect everyone's privacy.
•
It's conflict between two deeply held beliefs: The right to know and the right to
privacy & fair treatment. It is not a conflict that can be resolved with a single
formula, but only on a case-by-case basis
too
many
exceptions,
special

17. THANK YOU !!!