Media Ethics in International Public Policy Essay

Media Ethics in International Public Policy - Essay Example The description of ‘linkage’ as presented above can be differentiated among researchers in political science. As an example, Luttbeg (1974, 3) describes ‘linkage’ as ‘any means by which political leaders act in accordance with the wants, needs, and demands of the public in making government policy’ (in Kennamer, 1994, 2). In accordance with the above, media can have their own way of influencing the development of social and political conditions around the world but their role can be limited in states where there are no wide borders for such activity – as par example in states governed by less democratic regimes. On the other hand, media can have a significant role in the presentation of political and social events around the world and in this way they can influence the international public policy as it is designed and applied by governments globally. Indeed, Spitzer (1993, 4) supported that ‘coverage of international crises may have a different policy consequence as well, in that media-supplied information may be useful, even vital in supplanting government-obtained information, and therefore in shaping decisionmaking’. The war in Iraq and the role of media in the presentation of the relevant events are used by the above researcher as an indicative example of the interaction between media ethics and international public policy. In the particular case, media around the world have been extensively criticized for their views regarding the reasons and the justification of the military intervention in the specific country. In a similar sector, this of the human rights, media have played a significant role in the identification and presentation of problems of citizens living in developing countries internationally. Regarding this issue, media ethics have been used in order to prevent the presentation of scenes that could possibly harm the human rights and indignity. On the other hand,