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WHY ETHICS?

This report delves into the ethical considerations surrounding print media in Slovakia, as presented at the Congress of Latvian Journalists in 2007. Dr. Andrej Školkay, a member of the Press Council of Slovakia, shares thoughts on the importance of ethics in journalism and provides a detailed analysis of the Slovakian case. The report compares the Slovak and Czech systems for regulating media ethics, highlighting differences in focus, organization, and decision-making processes. It addresses controversies, bad decisions, and the challenges of upholding ethical standards in journalism. Drawing on philosophical insights, the report explains the complexities of ethical decision-making and offers guidance on navigating moral dilemmas in journalism.

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WHY ETHICS?

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  1. Ethical Self-Control of Print Media in SlovakiaReport presented at the Congress of Latvian JournalistsRiga, September 22, 2007Dr Andrej Školkayaskolkay@hotmail.comMember of the Press Council of Slovakiawww. trsr.sk

  2. WHY ETHICS? What is not forbidden by a law, it is forbidden by shame Seneca

  3. Who Should Decide? (Human Factor) • All journalists - current • - former • - mixture • All „Semi-celebrities“ – famous and/or respected public professionals,... • Combination: semi-celebrities plus journalists • Alternative A: retired senior editors and respected commentators, one or two recognised media experts,a philosopher, a lawyer • Alternative B: your choice....

  4. The Slovak Case:(Professional Background) Painter Two lawyers (one of them judge) Historian Psychiatrist Journalist/novelist Media expert/political scientist

  5. Lawyers are not always bad... Č.j.: ………./2006. R O Z H O D N U T I E Tlačová rada Slovenskej republiky v zložení Miroslav Cipár – predseda, Zuzana Ďurišová – podpredseda a členovia Ivan Kamenec, Peter Kerecman, Gabriela Rothmayerová a Andrej Školkay vo veci vedenej pod por.č. ......./2006 na zasadnutí dňa 1.7.2006 o sťažnosti

  6. The 7 Members

  7. The Czech Commision for Ethics of the Syndicate of Journalists of the Czech Republic • mostly journalists who still work in the media • 11 members

  8. The Czech system more focused on practical journalistic experience of its members more monocratic in its organisation more dynamic in circulation of its members More frequent meetings COMPARISON I. The Slovak system • more focused on external members • more democratic in its organisation • more focused on personnel stability of its body • Less frequent meetings

  9. deals with all the media Right to initiate process Delegative and postponed decsion-making COMPARISON II. • deals only with the print media and issues related to acces to information for all journalists and, occasionally, if there is complaint on unethical behaviour of a journalist in general • Right to initiate process • Consensual decision-making by all members, or voting by all members (no single expertise)

  10. CONTROVERSIES • External Analyses/Experts • (1. case - of motivation of a journalist and 2. case - moral standards of the society) • Activism vs. Passivism • (in particular public educational role, but also complaints submitted by e-mail, et)

  11. A lawyer, candidate for a Constitutional Court, and article in daily saying that his participation as advisor for company involved in financial “pyramide games” was not O.K. BAD/WRONG DECISIONS • „Open Letters“ • /VOTUM SEPARATUM/ (regional press)

  12. ETHICS IS NOT EASY Moral rules should be carefully evaluated and balanced, if we cannot keep them all at once. Ethical thinking cannot be replaced by any universal criterion and it is a sign of moral advancement. Paul Kurtz, Forbidden Fruit: The Ethics of Humanism,1998

  13. ETHICS CAN BE EASY • While solving ethical dillemas it is necessary to use rational thinking. • It is always possible to explain and justify examptions from rule. • Whether we are oblidged to do anything in particular situation depends on circumstances. • We should always ask ourselves if an old or a new moral rule does or does not contradicts our customs to which we adhere. Paul Kurtz, Forbidden Fruit: The Ethics of Humanism,1998

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