Political and economic power and media ethics

Abstract

Abstract

Do we still adhere to the norms of ancient Egypt? A comparison of Ptahhotep’s communication ethics with current regulatory principles

“…In terms of current communications, it might not be enough to summarize a point of view in 5 minutes or between commercials. In order to function properly, media freedom must coexist with power-sharing, and at least some measures of principled unselfishness, accountability, care and cultural diversity (Abu-Fadil, 2015;Plaisance, 2014: 233-236;White, 2017). Directly related to that, one should neither talk too kindly of oneself nor too much: Do not boast.…”

“…In terms of current communications, it might not be enough to summarize a point of view in 5 minutes or between commercials. In order to function properly, media freedom must coexist with power-sharing, and at least some measures of principled unselfishness, accountability, care and cultural diversity (Abu-Fadil, 2015; Plaisance, 2014: 233–236; White, 2017). Directly related to that, one should neither talk too kindly of oneself nor too much:Do not boast…One has great respect for the silent manMan of character is man of wealth… (9)Too many leaders, already in Ptahhotep’s time, were apparently listening to themselves talking while they should have been listening to others.…”

“…7 This conception seems close to an economic liberal view, in particular, the notion of the ‘marketplace of ideas’, in which the truth will prevail, and the falsehoods and bad ideas will go under, as long as freedom of expression and information apply (for a critique of this notion, see Nordenstreng, 2013). On ‘other-regarding’ communications, such as good, not necessarily confrontational, journalism, as opposed to the predominantly ‘self-regarding’ echo chambers and mainly profitability-guided algorithms of (anti-)social media, see White (2017: 194f).…”