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VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 (2025)
Favouritism in media practices and ethical concerns
Authors
Dr Debjani Roy
Abstract
Favouritism in media practices presents a critical
challenge to the foundational principles of journalistic ethics, including
fairness, objectivity, and impartiality. Media outlets, driven by political
affiliations, economic interests, ownership influence, or ideological bias,
often engage in selective reporting or unequal representation of individuals,
groups, or political entities. This bias can shape public opinion, reinforce
stereotypes, marginalise minority voices, and erode democratic discourse. The rise
of social media and digital news platforms has further complicated the ethical
landscape, blurring the lines between factual reporting and opinion-driven
content. Favouritism may manifest subtly through choices of language, imagery,
framing, or prominently through editorial decisions on whom to feature,
support, or ignore. This paper critically examines how favouritism operates
within various media systems globally, the ethical breaches it entails, and its
consequences on public trust and democratic accountability. It explores
historical and contemporary case studies, regulatory frameworks, journalistic
codes of conduct, and theoretical models such as agenda-setting and framing
theory. By analysing these dimensions, the paper aims to uncover how institutional
and individual biases are perpetuated in media practices and to propose
actionable recommendations for more ethical and balanced reporting. Ultimately,
it argues that the commitment to ethical journalism must be reinforced through
stronger accountability measures, media literacy initiatives, and a reassertion
of public interest journalism in the face of growing partisanship and
commercial pressures.
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Pages:1-6
How to cite this article:
Dr Debjani Roy "Favouritism in media practices and ethical concerns". World Journal of Academic Research
, Vol 1, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 1-6
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