What are responsibilities of the media – owners, journalists and entertainers?

How should we react to the media as consumers or producers? 

5.2 Conclusions Regarding the Media                                                              (Statement 28)

Because we have concluded that

●          there are no absolute certainties, but we can share reasonable global beliefs;

●          most people are fundamentally good but common ignorance often causes harm, and we all have responsibilities to minimize harm and reduce ignorance;

●          we share beliefs in freedom, equality and personal responsibility, even though we may differ on where the boundaries lie;

●          people do learn their values and beliefs from the media and these do affect us all;

●          we believe that open discussion that accompanies a diversity of opinion can lead to better choices for society;

the principal goal of the media must be open and effective, authentic communication, providing news, current affairs, information and entertainment – comedy, drama, etc

●          allowing all sides a chance to present, proportionate to the authenticity and reasonableness of their view;

●          seeking and expressing reasonable expert opinion where appropriate;

●          avoiding the creation of misleading stereotypes or unwarranted fears;

●          being aware of and acknowledging responsibility for the overall effect of the total offering;

and to ensure this occurs, as consumers we must

●          actively seek out and support principled media suppliers,

●          become more informed consumers ourselves, being aware of the bias, errors etc

●          educate the young especially to be discriminating media consumers;

and to ensure quality media is available, because the media business has a special place in society, shaping attitudes, forming opinion,

●          as regulators we must do what can be done to improve the quality of media presentations, to the extent that it is practical, with laws regarding freedom of thought and expression, defamation, obscenity, violence, vilification;

●          and the sole defense against these should be the truth, that the facts portrayed and the impressions conveyed reflect the truth in a reasonable way;

●          as societies we must insist on diversity of ownership and control, which includes national, public non-government not-for-profit, and private for-profit ownership;

●          allow many diverse methods of distribution – live, print, internet etc;

●          as suppliers – media owners and shareholders – we must value it, acknowledging the long term profitability of maintaining a market in a more discriminating world;

And as in all endeavors the media must be authentic and promote global values:

               uncertainty, reason, life, love, responsibility, equality, freedom;

for the sake of our survival.