Between truth and respect – towards an ethics of care in journalism

Abstract

This article seeks to explore the contributions of an ethic of care for journalism. Far fromrefusing the objectivity paradigm, the ethics of care emphasizes the role of journalism in its engagementwith the public sphere and democracy, stressing the social responsibility dimensionbased on respect for the different stakeholders in the complex process of information: the subjectwho informs, the public and the information sources; journalism as a professional culture. Thisperspective can be a response to the contradictions that we find across the normative field ofjournalism, tightly placed between the paradigm of objectivity, freedom of speech and the marketdemands. In a communication where the logics of commodification, entertainment and audiencesprevail, the ethics of care based on respect can become an alternative response towards anew public contract and journalism's credibility.