Navigating conflicts of interest: Ethical policies of 12 exemplary Asian media organisations

Abstract

While research into non-Western media systems and professional norms are growth areas in journalism studies, little is known about the policies of news organisations beyond a few celebrated global brands. This exploratory study is situated in that gap. It examines 12 reputable media organisations in seven territories -China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines and Taiwan. Through interviews with top-level editors and executives, the study analyses their stated policies with regard to commercial conflicts of interest. In particular, how they deal with pressures from owners and advertisers who want favourable news coverage and how they respond to the demand for commercial deals that blur the boundaries between editorial and advertising. The study responds to recent calls in media ethics scholarship for critical-empiricist research on the 'possible' world, focusing on actually existing exemplars rather than abstract ideals. The 12 organisations have adopted a range of responses to these pressures. In general, most have policies aimed at preserving their editorial integrity even as they become more accommodating to the market. Our interviewees point to the importance of organisational culture, more than written policies, in maintaining professionalism: most of the organisations were founded by journalist-publishers whose ethos continues to exert a strong influence. While these organisations have lessons for others, it may be unrealistic to expect their culture of journalistic independence to diffuse beyond a small set of principled media outlets.

Predictors of audience engagement among Nigerian journalists

“…Similarly, a study by Neilson and Gibson (2022) showed that audience engagement editors defined their roles as simply the pursuit of an audience for their publication. Though many of the respondents are willing to acknowledge the influence of economic consideration in the articulation of their roles, the blurring line between the editorial department and that of business in several newsrooms (George, Zeng & Mazumdar, 2021;Bogart, 2017;Carlson, 2015) makes this effort unsustainable. An empirical study has shown that audience engagement is a priority if it is central to their business model (Lawrence, Radcliffe & Schmidt, 2018).…”

Profit Versus Partisan Causes in Diverse Ownership Models: A Case Study of Mainstream Newspapers in East Indian City of Kolkata

“…The Sarkar family, which co-founded the Bengali newspaper ABP in 1922, had strong links with Bengal's literary and cultural world (Mukherjee, 2012). Dailies such as the English language The Hindu, influential in southern states and reputed for editorial standards, and ABP had the tradition of family owners serving as chief editors (George et al, 2019;Ninan, 2013). In a significant break of tradition, ABP hired a professional editor in 2016 after proprietor Aveek Sarkar, who edited ABP since the mid-1980s, stepped down.…”

“…In a significant break of tradition, ABP hired a professional editor in 2016 after proprietor Aveek Sarkar, who edited ABP since the mid-1980s, stepped down. While family owners may turn newspapers to any direction, they could be credited with protecting editorial integrity and professionalism if the family places a high stake on the reputation of the news organization; the family owners of The Philippine Daily Inquirer are known to have upheld such a tradition in Asia among others (George et al, 2019). Proprietors may 'publish news or views with a potentially high economic or political downside' for the organization as a form of 'public service commitment' (Benson, 2016, p. 31).…”

“…Proprietors may 'publish news or views with a potentially high economic or political downside' for the organization as a form of 'public service commitment' (Benson, 2016, p. 31). Proprietor Aveek Sarkar, who edited ABP from the mid-1980s to 2016, is known to have resisted commercial pressures (George et al, 2019). A proprietor's ideological values, thus, can be said to have the potential to exceed the market-based criteria of profit maximization and efficiencydescribed as 'extra-economic' logic by Chakravartty and Roy (2013).…”