The building blocks of journalism: An architectural perspective

Journal of Interdisciplinary Ethical Research

 
 
Field Value
 
Title The building blocks of journalism: An architectural perspective
 
Creator Claassen, George
 
Subject Journalism; mass communication; ethics journalism; watchdog; truth-telling; media ethics; independence; accountability; social responsibility; scepticism; critical thinking
Description Background: Journalism as a profession or craft dates back to Roman times but has progressed through many stages over two millennia. Journalists today should follow basic principles to practice their profession.Objectives: This study endeavours to analyse the requirements for trusted, reliable journalism. This article investigates the building blocks on which journalism is based, an analysis that looks at the watchdog and guardian functions, the role truth-telling plays in modern-day reporting of news, how news media are providers of a forum of debate and critical thinking, why the independence of journalists to fulfil their guardian role is important, and how journalists’ credibility and trust in them by the public are closely linked to ethical codes in which the social responsibility of reporters is paramount.Method: The analysis is based on research studies about, firstly, journalism as a profession, and, secondly, mass communication and practical guidelines that have become embedded in journalism.Results: The study shows how journalism has progressed from Roman times, through print, radio, television and other forms to the technologically based frameworks so characteristic of 21st century journalism, as reflected in social media and e-news platforms.Conclusion: The study may contribute to enhancing the perspectives on modern journalism and the dire need for trusted news amidst fake news rife on social media platforms and how it may be acquired and fulfilled.Contribution: The study may contribute to enhancing the perspectives on modern journalism and the dire need for trusted news and how it may be acquired and fulfilled.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2025-06-11
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Review & qualitative research
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/jier.v1i1.6
 
Source Journal of Interdisciplinary Ethical Research; Vol 1, No 1 (2025); 9 pages 3078-2260
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://ethicalresearchjournal.org/index.php/jier/article/view/6/44 https://ethicalresearchjournal.org/index.php/jier/article/view/6/45 https://ethicalresearchjournal.org/index.php/jier/article/view/6/46 https://ethicalresearchjournal.org/index.php/jier/article/view/6/47
 
Coverage International 500 bCE to 2025 Media
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 George Claassen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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