Urgent need to conduct study on ethics of media practice to check unethical practice of social media

Doha: Professor Ibrahim Al Kaabi, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University, has said that there is an urgent need to conduct a study on the ethics of media practice to check the unethical practice of social media. 

He said that digital social media allows billions of users to do the media practice without any knowledge of ethics of professionalism.

“Neither the users abide by the rules of professionalism nor there are any authority to regulate it properly,” said Professor Ibrahim Al Kaabi while addressing the opening ceremony of 3rd International Conference for Media and Communication at Qatar University.

He said that conference comes at a time when there is an urgent need to shed light on contemporary media practices and the extent of their commitment to the ethics of the profession after growing number of cases of fake news and manipulation of the sources.

“Several entities unrelated to the media professions entered into media field systematic processes, to produce false news in order to falsify consciousness and create fabricated public opinion which is used in political conflicts,” said Al Kaabi. 

He said that now the traditional media has become simple and fighting for survival due to widening spaces of digital media, covering all people.

“The danger of current situation is caused by communicative globalisation that makes false news and media practices without abiding by professional ethics spreading worldwide, and deepening the drawing negative images of societies,” said Al Kaabi.

He said that this is the way such conferences are needed with look into the reality of the ethics of media practices during the turmoil and chaotic situations which led to falsify consciousness distorting the image of media built in past centuries.

“I hope that the conference will come up with a road map for a new media ethic for digital spaces putting an end to chaos which threats the role of traditional media in spreading reality shouldering social responsibility,” said Al Kaabi. 

He said that sessions of this conference will make recommendations that benefit decision makers, scholars and interested parties, for a better future for a media practice based on an ethic derived from values, morals and culture.