Spaces for debate, mediation and régulation of journalism practices

Press ethics are debated in many different areas, and not always those one would expect. This diversification underlines the new and widespread emphasis on moral issues, an unusual trend in journalism till now. The rights and responsibilities of the press have often been discussed, but never before have so many different entities taken a stand on the issue. Some advocate for moral journalism, as if this should be enforced, imposed, like a responsibility. Others defend journalism’s reflexivity, based on individual judgment, reflection and arbitration and considered to be a right. These two outlooks draw a fine line between morals and ethics, between what is clearly compulsory and what is deemed to be right, to quote Paul Ricoeur. What does this evolution mean, and how do ethics make their way into these many areas of debate?