Media Ethics- Reality or Myth ? (A Collection of Essays)

The Media, also known as the Fourth Estate, often sways power that influences states, societies and governments. With the passage of time and emergence of new technologies, style and system of news coverage is changing and so is the business of journalism. As the society is growing more complex and the need for Truth, Fairness and Objectivity is a public demand, every media tries to present an image of a highly fair and unbiased media. But when one delves deeper into the aspect, the scenario may appear to be different.

With the emergence of New Media, journalism is changing like never before. Every major media outlet now has its presence on this new media platform and tries to get a share of the public psyche. Advertising too has changed its format of production and dissemination with new media. All these issues make the business of journalism and the inter-relation between the media and the advertisers more complex.

The book is a collection of essays on the aforesaid topic by some of the eminent personalities of India in the academicals as well as profession of Journalism, Mass Communication, Media Studies and the related fields. The book tries to present a 360 degree analysis of the issue of media ethics. The authors try to present various aspects which raise concern on the existing practices, the probable future trends and their impact on journalism. They explain what the issue is, why is it so important, how it affects. news coverage as well as presentation, their effect in society, economy and democracy. They also take into consideration the existing pattern of media ownership, the control of business, the style of management and operation and the various implications related to them. The essays go beyond the news media and take an in-depth view on the other related media as well, for example Film, Advertising and Public Relations. Many of the essays deal with the emerging scenario of new media and its impact on coverage, presentation, business and ethics.

Dr. Mausumi Bhattacharyya, Associate Professor and present In-Charge, Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication (CJMC), Visva-Bharati, started her career as the Kolkata Correspondent of Dainik Bhaskar. She also worked as a faculty of Loreto College and St. Xavier's College, Kolkata.

Dr. Bhattacharyya completed both her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta. Her areas of specialization include New Media, Science Communication, Audience Research, Gender Studies, Convergent Journalism and Mobile Communication for which she was nominated from India in the Scientific Committee of the 'Symposium on ASIA-USA Partnership Opportunities' organized by the Kennesaw State University, USA, held in Atlanta in April 2013.

Dr. Bhattacharyya has been associated with the Global Media Journal, Indian Edition as the 'Guest Editor' of the Summer 2014 issue and is also a member of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television. She is one of the pioneering members of the Young Leader's Think Tank (YLTT) of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (Germany), India Chapter. She has also been involved with the formulation of the 'Youth Agenda of India' by YLTT. She was nominated from India for an 'International Learning Project for Shaping Globalization' held in Bonn, Germany in 2010.

She is attached with the academic bodies of Rabindra Bharati University, Vidyasagar University, University of Kalyani, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, and also with one of the Curriculum Development Committees of the National Institute of Open Schooling, Ministry of Human Resource, Government of India.

In January, 2014, the book titled 'Voice of Social Media in Democracy - An Anthology' edited by Dr. Bhattacharyya has been published from Granthana Vibhaga, Visva Bharati.

**Contents and Sample Pages**