Renew the code of ethics, self-regulation, or what else?
Summary
A new research published by Universitat Ramon Llull in Blanquerna studied the role of technology in journalism and the challenges that are of greatest concern to European press councils.
Through 27 interviews with press councils from 20 countries, their research raises important questions about the future of journalism and the need to remodel the profession to keep up with the digital age.
The report serves as a discussion forum to address existing problems and start the conversation on ethics in digital journalism. In particular, it addresses the need for the profession to be less subordinated to metrics, conflicts of interest and the replacement of the public interest with audience measurement tools. The authors of the report state that many press councils express caution against the over-reliance of technology in journalism, especially in cases where the ethical code is considered to be less important than metrics and marketing strategies.