Research Article
Navigating Digital Media Ethics: Challenges and Responsibilities
Shahla Shiraliyeva*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
1-6
Received:
29 September 2025
Accepted:
14 October 2025
Published:
16 January 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.com.20261301.11
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Views:
Abstract: The rapid development of digital technologies has transformed not only how news is produced and distributed but also how ethical principles are understood and applied in journalism. The article explores the ethical challenges facing modern media in the digital age, focusing on issues like misinformation, privacy concerns, and the ethics of algorithmic content curation. It draws on various ethical theories - including utilitarianism, deontological ethics, and virtue ethics-to analyze the role of media professionals in navigating these dilemmas while maintaining trust and credibility in an increasingly fragmented media environment. The rise of digital media and social platforms has led to the rapid spread of misinformation, with serious consequences for public trust and democratic processes. High-profile examples like the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the role of fake news in elections underscore the need for media professionals to verify information and serve the public good. The ethical dilemma here involves whether tech platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, should be held to the same standards as traditional media in combatting misinformation. The spread of fake news, particularly during conflicts (e.g., the 2020 Azerbaijan-Armenia war), exemplifies how media manipulation can distort public opinion and escalate tensions. The article also addresses the ethical implications of algorithmic curation in digital platforms. Algorithms designed to personalize news and content often reinforce existing biases, creating "filter bubbles" and limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints. This raises questions about the ethical design of algorithms, emphasizing the need for transparency, fairness, and accountability. Virtue ethics suggests that media organizations should cultivate values such as integrity, fairness, and responsibility in algorithmic systems, ensuring they do not manipulate users for financial or political gain.
Abstract: The rapid development of digital technologies has transformed not only how news is produced and distributed but also how ethical principles are understood and applied in journalism. The article explores the ethical challenges facing modern media in the digital age, focusing on issues like misinformation, privacy concerns, and the ethics of algorith...
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