Media Ethics and Social Media

When it comes to communications/media, I'd love to say I was always interested in it but I can't. That all changed a few years ago, after doing an internship with a symphony orchestra, I was bothered that social media for music houses, especially non-profit was either non-existent or not a priority. Myself, I use social media but it's not as important as using it for something that can make people aware about job/volunteer opportunities, concerts, contests, etc. Entering social media is not easy, more so when it comes to ethics. “Ethics goes to the very heart of why we have media system and what we think it ought to do” says Patrick Plaisance. It’s important to have an effective way to communicate with clients. Some ethical encounters I could encounter are credibility and values.

A current media example that has been talked about in the past and present is the issue of Beyoncé and her feminism campaign. Beyoncé has released songs in the past trying to empower women on loving themselves, respecting each other, and that they “run the world”. But last year she released a song “bow down” in which she tells women to bow down to her and in her most recent song “flawless” she is somewhat encouraging women to flaunt their beauty. Although for many years we have seen and heard her tell us to respect ourselves, some people are feeling a contradiction. It is true that ethical principles are called into question here because now her audience is confused. At the same time, she I do believe in the past she told women to respect ourselves and be humble, and now she’s telling us not to be afraid to flaunt our beauty and be proud.


When it comes to social media, reporting the truth is important. One tool I have to help in ethical decision-making is my credibility. Social media is journalism, and as a journalist we should “seek truth and report it”. What we write about has an affect on who we’re writing about and who is reading what we’re writing. “Conscientious journalists know that their credibility can depend, paradoxically, on not protecting
the public from discomforting truths or images” (Plaisance).

Source: Amazon.com

Patrick Plaisance’s Media Ethics: Key Principles for Responsible Practice explains important ethical principles and how to apply them in print and broadcast journalism, public relations, advertising, and media-based marketing. He writes in a simple way that allows us as future media professionals to know what questions to ask and develop critical reasoning tools, both as media consumers and media professionals.

Some questions I’d like to see addressed in class, in group discussions, or in reading material have to do with social media and the music industry. When it comes to social media and musicians, there are so many stories reported and a lot has to do with the people representing these public figures. What are they doing wrong and what are they doing right that is just not working. How do you incorporate ethics in social media and stay true to yourself and your work?