The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media

Laleye Solomon Akinyemi

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15

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The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media

Laleye Solomon Akinyemi

Published in International Journal of Philosophy (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 2 May 2021 Accepted: 24 May 2021 Published: 7 June 2021

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Abstract

Journalism is a profession charge with the responsibility of information dissemination. It also functions as the link between the government and the governed particularly in a democracy. The performance of these functions has been greatly enhanced across the globe by the advancement in information and communication particularly that of digitalization, convergence of computers, and telephony technologies. Unfortunately, these narrowed the wide gap that hitherto existed between citizen journalism and conventional journalism and consequently raised the bar of the moral responsibility that the profession owed the general public in a democracy. The practice of journalism generate problems such as; access to information, truth, censorship, corporate, national and public interests. All these undermined the ethics of responsibility on the part of the government and journalism profession. The article, therefore, attempts a critical look at journalistic practice with emphasis on the use of internet to produce, disseminate and receive information in a digital media environment like Nigeria. It argued that the transition from analogue to digital would better enhance access and dissemination of quality and comprehensive information if the ethics of responsibility is subscribed to by the journalists and the political leaders. The article is philosophical and it adopts the philosophical methods of critical analysis and prescriptivism.

Published in	International Journal of Philosophy (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15
Page(s)	106-110
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Digital Media, Ethics of Responsibility, Citizen and Conventional Journalism

References

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[2]	Deuze, M and Yeshua, D. (2001) Online Journalists Face New Ethical Dilemma: Lessons from the Netherland. Journal of Mass Media Ethics 16 (4) 276.
[3]	Hayes, A. S., Singer, J. B., and Ceppos, J. (2007) Shifting Roles, Enduring Values: The Credible Journalist in a Digital Age”. Journal of Mass Media Ethics 22 (4) 275.
[4]	Ezeibe, C. C. & Nwagwu, E. J. (2009) Media Imperialism and Crisis of Development” International Journal of Communication 10. 65-66.
[5]	Hasan, S (2014) Mass Communication, Principles and Concept New Delhi: CBS Publishers. 770
[6]	Ekeanyanwu, N. T. & Edewor, A. P. (2009) Cultural Implications of ICTs and Globalization of the Nigerian Society Journal of Communication Media Research Vol 1 (2). 17.
[7]	Iyare, Tony (2004) The Role of the Press in Promoting Responsible Leadership Governance: Nigeria and the World Sylvester Odion-Akhaine (ed) Ikeja: Centre for Constitutionalism and Demilitarisation, 209.
[8]	Amadi, Fred (2007) Public Information and African Traditional Communication Delivery System. Sophia: An African Journal of Philosophy 9 (1) 62. doi: 10.431/Sophia.v9il.38759.
[9]	Ayodeji Awobamise Olalekan. (2014.) Digital News Media, Ethics and Freedom of Expression– a Nigerian Perspective Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences Retrieved 18-4-2021 https//www. researchgate.net/publications/271104467
[10]	Randall, David (2001). The Universal Journalists. London: Pluto Press. 13.
[11]	Merill Cf Adeyeye Samson Dare (2004) In Defence of Subjective Reporting: A Linguistic Perspective Ibadan Journal of Humanistic Studies, no 13&14. 106.
[12]	Long, A. A. and Sedley. D. N. (1987) The Hellenistic Philosophers: Translation of the Principal Sources with Philosophical Commentaries. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 367.
[13]	Egoism is an ethical concept that emphasizes self-interestedness.
[14]	Altruism is a moral concept that prides selflessness as a moral action.
[15]	Ebeh, John Igbogo (2020). Political Participation in John Locke: An Assessment Falsafa: Journal of Philosophy 3 (1) 138.
[16]	Machiavelli, Niccollo. (2015) The Prince. A New Translation by Bondamella, P. Oxford Oxford University Press.
[17]	Agunlana, C. O. (2014) Moral and Political Education as Foundation for a Reasonable Social Order in Africa. Ethics and Public Affairs. F. A. Adeigbo, Dipo Irele, Amaechi Udefi (eds.) Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, 11.
[18]	Otakpor, Nkeonye (2000) A preface to Logic. Benin City: Omone Books, 68.
[19]	Labinjoh J. (1994) Sociology of Power Relations. Otite, O. (ed). Sociology Theory and Applied. Malthouse Press, Lagos.
[20]	Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Promulgation) Decree (1999). Section 22 Chapter 2.
[21]	Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Promulgation) Decree (1999) Section 39 (1).
[22]	Ben Tomoloju (2004) Media Culture and the Democratic Process Governance: Nigeria and the World Sylvester Odion-Akhaine (ed) (Ikeja: Centre for Constitutionalism and Demilitarisation). 199.

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Laleye Solomon Akinyemi. (2021). The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media. International Journal of Philosophy, 9(2), 106-110. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15

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Laleye Solomon Akinyemi. The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media. Int. J. Philos. 2021, 9(2), 106-110. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15

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Laleye Solomon Akinyemi. The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media. Int J Philos. 2021;9(2):106-110. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15,
  author = {Laleye Solomon Akinyemi},
  title = {The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media},
  journal = {International Journal of Philosophy},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {106-110},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijp.20210902.15},
  abstract = {Journalism is a profession charge with the responsibility of information dissemination. It also functions as the link between the government and the governed particularly in a democracy. The performance of these functions has been greatly enhanced across the globe by the advancement in information and communication particularly that of digitalization, convergence of computers, and telephony technologies. Unfortunately, these narrowed the wide gap that hitherto existed between citizen journalism and conventional journalism and consequently raised the bar of the moral responsibility that the profession owed the general public in a democracy. The practice of journalism generate problems such as; access to information, truth, censorship, corporate, national and public interests. All these undermined the ethics of responsibility on the part of the government and journalism profession. The article, therefore, attempts a critical look at journalistic practice with emphasis on the use of internet to produce, disseminate and receive information in a digital media environment like Nigeria. It argued that the transition from analogue to digital would better enhance access and dissemination of quality and comprehensive information if the ethics of responsibility is subscribed to by the journalists and the political leaders. The article is philosophical and it adopts the philosophical methods of critical analysis and prescriptivism.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media
AU  - Laleye Solomon Akinyemi
Y1  - 2021/06/07
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15
T2  - International Journal of Philosophy
JF  - International Journal of Philosophy
JO  - International Journal of Philosophy
SP  - 106
EP  - 110
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7455
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15
AB  - Journalism is a profession charge with the responsibility of information dissemination. It also functions as the link between the government and the governed particularly in a democracy. The performance of these functions has been greatly enhanced across the globe by the advancement in information and communication particularly that of digitalization, convergence of computers, and telephony technologies. Unfortunately, these narrowed the wide gap that hitherto existed between citizen journalism and conventional journalism and consequently raised the bar of the moral responsibility that the profession owed the general public in a democracy. The practice of journalism generate problems such as; access to information, truth, censorship, corporate, national and public interests. All these undermined the ethics of responsibility on the part of the government and journalism profession. The article, therefore, attempts a critical look at journalistic practice with emphasis on the use of internet to produce, disseminate and receive information in a digital media environment like Nigeria. It argued that the transition from analogue to digital would better enhance access and dissemination of quality and comprehensive information if the ethics of responsibility is subscribed to by the journalists and the political leaders. The article is philosophical and it adopts the philosophical methods of critical analysis and prescriptivism.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Laleye Solomon Akinyemi

Department of Philosophy, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Akoko, Nigeria

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APA Style

Laleye Solomon Akinyemi. (2021). The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media. International Journal of Philosophy, 9(2), 106-110. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15

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ACS Style

Laleye Solomon Akinyemi. The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media. Int. J. Philos. 2021, 9(2), 106-110. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Laleye Solomon Akinyemi. The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media. Int J Philos. 2021;9(2):106-110. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15,
  author = {Laleye Solomon Akinyemi},
  title = {The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media},
  journal = {International Journal of Philosophy},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {106-110},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijp.20210902.15},
  abstract = {Journalism is a profession charge with the responsibility of information dissemination. It also functions as the link between the government and the governed particularly in a democracy. The performance of these functions has been greatly enhanced across the globe by the advancement in information and communication particularly that of digitalization, convergence of computers, and telephony technologies. Unfortunately, these narrowed the wide gap that hitherto existed between citizen journalism and conventional journalism and consequently raised the bar of the moral responsibility that the profession owed the general public in a democracy. The practice of journalism generate problems such as; access to information, truth, censorship, corporate, national and public interests. All these undermined the ethics of responsibility on the part of the government and journalism profession. The article, therefore, attempts a critical look at journalistic practice with emphasis on the use of internet to produce, disseminate and receive information in a digital media environment like Nigeria. It argued that the transition from analogue to digital would better enhance access and dissemination of quality and comprehensive information if the ethics of responsibility is subscribed to by the journalists and the political leaders. The article is philosophical and it adopts the philosophical methods of critical analysis and prescriptivism.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Moral Dilemma in Information Dissemination in a Democratic State of Digital Media
AU  - Laleye Solomon Akinyemi
Y1  - 2021/06/07
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15
T2  - International Journal of Philosophy
JF  - International Journal of Philosophy
JO  - International Journal of Philosophy
SP  - 106
EP  - 110
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7455
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210902.15
AB  - Journalism is a profession charge with the responsibility of information dissemination. It also functions as the link between the government and the governed particularly in a democracy. The performance of these functions has been greatly enhanced across the globe by the advancement in information and communication particularly that of digitalization, convergence of computers, and telephony technologies. Unfortunately, these narrowed the wide gap that hitherto existed between citizen journalism and conventional journalism and consequently raised the bar of the moral responsibility that the profession owed the general public in a democracy. The practice of journalism generate problems such as; access to information, truth, censorship, corporate, national and public interests. All these undermined the ethics of responsibility on the part of the government and journalism profession. The article, therefore, attempts a critical look at journalistic practice with emphasis on the use of internet to produce, disseminate and receive information in a digital media environment like Nigeria. It argued that the transition from analogue to digital would better enhance access and dissemination of quality and comprehensive information if the ethics of responsibility is subscribed to by the journalists and the political leaders. The article is philosophical and it adopts the philosophical methods of critical analysis and prescriptivism.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download