The principle of personality vs journalistic duty? The issue of ethical research in the field of journalism

The object of the study is the approaches, positions and concepts of scientific theories, which, according to the author, form dominant positions in Russian communication studies appealing to ethical normativity. Three segments of scientific discourse are characterized, which are thematically related to ethics. The first is represented by the theory of social responsibility of the press; the second by the deontology of journalism; and the third by ethical theories. The internal logic of the development of these segments, as well as the peculiarities of their assimilation in Russian conditions, in the author’s opinion, led to the fact that in the dominant concepts and terminology the emphasis is not in favor of the individual. Namely, the theory of social responsibility with its idea of self-regulation of the professional community has not received real support in the conditions of the Russian economy; the deontology of the profession and the theory of morality associated with domestic culture are focused on the modality of duty. The author believes that the observed trend towards total systemic determinism, which excludes spontaneous practices, does not contribute to the development of heuristic possibilities of the “ethics of good” and views based on faith in the creative potential of a sovereign person. Ignoring the principle of personality leads to the fact that the concept “journalist’s duty”, professional ethical and other norms of public communication are represented by a set of requirements and responsibilities that are perceived by practitioners as “external”. This situation has a negative impact on the media. They create conditions for the formation of a mediacracy that hides manipulative activities alienated from the “human situation” behind compliance with the professional “protocol”. The conclusions are illustrated by case studies of information disputes considered by the author as an engaged expert of the Public Collegium on Complaints against the Press (Moscow). According to the author, it is necessary to return ethical objectivity to media research. In methodological terms, this can be facilitated by a situational approach and “qualitative” research. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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