Session

Journalism, Media and Communication

Description

Information is considered the oxygen and barometer of democracy where the fair and correct information is achieved through free media. Freedom of the media is the main pillar for the functioning of a democratic society, and the media is rightly considered as the "fourth power" of a state, after the legislature, executive and judiciary. (Bacaj, 2010) But still, journalistic ethics in our case of shared social media portals and news takes the main focus of the review. Media professionals are solely responsible for drafting the code of ethics. Formal intervention would jeopardize the independence of such a project. (Wilkins, 2009) Journalists have a role to play in conveying information, ideas and opinions, and the right to comment. It is the right and obligation of journalists to try to prevent censorship and distortion of the news (Çausidis 2012). Methodology: quantitative, historical, and descriptive. Survey-based on valid references. (OSCE, 2017), (Progni, 2012), (Zotaj 2014) Samples: 501 citizens from 2/3 of Kosovo municipalities, with two focus groups-sociologists-political scientists and journalists- editors. 53% of respondents had a university degree, and 94% received the news from their smartphones and personal computers. Results and discussion: 16% of respondents perceive online news as effective, 1/3 think that cyber journalism does not have enough time for editing. 77% are disturbed by the news where anyone can be a publisher and 89% believe that politics has an impact on the media. 57% believe in media ethics and 90% of them think that news should have its limit. From the portals and online newspapers, the most read was the Express newspaper with 52.5% followed by Telegrafi 33% and the others, 19-10%. Conclusions and conclusions: the majority of opinions were that online news is read more because it is easy to access, and free even though very few trusts in efficacy. Focus study groups think the news can be bought or even copied. The data suggest that the government should regulate the status of journalism with criteria, be impartial, and respect the law on the issue of authorship.

Keywords:

Social Media, Laws, Codes of Ethics, Professionalism, Credibility, and Access

Session Chair

Gjylie Rexha

Session Co-Chair

Musa Sabedini

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-437-96-7

First Page

32

Last Page

52

Location

Lipjan, Kosovo

Start Date

31-10-2020 9:00 AM

End Date

31-10-2020 10:30 AM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2020.362

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Oct 31st, 9:00 AM Oct 31st, 10:30 AM

Social Media Ethics in Kosovo

Lipjan, Kosovo

Information is considered the oxygen and barometer of democracy where the fair and correct information is achieved through free media. Freedom of the media is the main pillar for the functioning of a democratic society, and the media is rightly considered as the "fourth power" of a state, after the legislature, executive and judiciary. (Bacaj, 2010) But still, journalistic ethics in our case of shared social media portals and news takes the main focus of the review. Media professionals are solely responsible for drafting the code of ethics. Formal intervention would jeopardize the independence of such a project. (Wilkins, 2009) Journalists have a role to play in conveying information, ideas and opinions, and the right to comment. It is the right and obligation of journalists to try to prevent censorship and distortion of the news (Çausidis 2012). Methodology: quantitative, historical, and descriptive. Survey-based on valid references. (OSCE, 2017), (Progni, 2012), (Zotaj 2014) Samples: 501 citizens from 2/3 of Kosovo municipalities, with two focus groups-sociologists-political scientists and journalists- editors. 53% of respondents had a university degree, and 94% received the news from their smartphones and personal computers. Results and discussion: 16% of respondents perceive online news as effective, 1/3 think that cyber journalism does not have enough time for editing. 77% are disturbed by the news where anyone can be a publisher and 89% believe that politics has an impact on the media. 57% believe in media ethics and 90% of them think that news should have its limit. From the portals and online newspapers, the most read was the Express newspaper with 52.5% followed by Telegrafi 33% and the others, 19-10%. Conclusions and conclusions: the majority of opinions were that online news is read more because it is easy to access, and free even though very few trusts in efficacy. Focus study groups think the news can be bought or even copied. The data suggest that the government should regulate the status of journalism with criteria, be impartial, and respect the law on the issue of authorship.