Towards a global journalism ethics model: an Islamic perspective^†

^†Numbers in parentheses in the article represent, respectively, chapters and verses from the Qur’an.

ABSTRACT

There seems to be an internationally shared consensus that search for a universal journalism ethic has often ended with the attempt to import traditional and underlying Western free-press values, such as objectivity and an adversarial platform forged in Enlightenment philosophy. There is also a universally shared consensus on the dilemma of how to invent a universal journalism ethical framework that sustains the universal solidarity of human being and recognises cultural, religious and ideological differences. The central argument of this article is that the Islamic worldview offers a modern journalism ethical model that both protects and limits universal pluralism in a multi-cultural society. It favours pluralism to the extent that it does not threaten unity of the universe or create the state of anarchy. It, therefore, establishes universal values that human beings share without transcending local cultures. The suggested model is based on four guiding principles: respecting pluralism and cultural diversity, freedom of expression, justice and moderation.

KEYWORDS:

• Cultural diversity
• global journalism ethics
• Western liberal values
• Islamic perspective
• respect of pluralism
• freedom of expression
• justice
• moderation

Acknowledgement

The author gratefully acknowledges the helpful comments of both the journal’s editor and the referees on an early version of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributor

Dr Basyouni Hamada is Professor of Communication and Public Opinion at Qatar University Department of Mass Communication. He serves on several national, regional and international editorial boards in his field. His articles have appeared in many highly regarded international journals. He has established and reviewed numerous journalism and mass communication programs, supervised, co-supervised and examined more than 40 dissertations and theses at Cairo University and International Universities.

He was an elected member of the International Council of IAMCR, Chair of IAMCR Islam and Media Working Group. In 2006, he was selected by the World Bank, UNESCO, and FAO as a member of the Steering Committee of the First World Congress on Communication for Development and as a member of a UNESCO panel for the preparation phase of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in 2002. He is a member of the Worlds of Journalism Study and Journalism Students Across the Globe.

Notes

^† Numbers in parentheses in the article represent, respectively, chapters and verses from the Qur’an.