Media outlets should adhere to ethical standards

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 110 views

Student Opinion on Media Ethics: A Case Study of Wayan Mirna Salihin's Death Case on TV One

Introduction

The world of journalism is a complex and multifaceted field, where the lines between truth and fiction, fact and opinion, are often blurred. In this context, media ethics plays a crucial role in ensuring that the media acts as a pillar of information that not only conveys news but also protects individual rights. However, the media's failure to adhere to ethical standards can have serious consequences, including prolonged social stigma and reduced public trust in the media. This study aims to explore the views of communication science students from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of North Sumatra (USU) on television media ethics, particularly in the coverage of the judicial process of the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin, which was aired on TV One.

Theoretical Framework

This study is grounded in the theory of mass communication, mass media, television, journalism, justice, mass media ethics, and guidelines and broadcast behavior standards. The theory of S-O-R (stimulus-organism-response) and public opinion is also an important reference. The S-O-R theory posits that the media's coverage of a particular event can stimulate a response from the public, which can be influenced by various factors, including the media's own behavior. Public opinion, on the other hand, refers to the collective views and attitudes of the public towards a particular issue or event.

Methodology

This study employed a quantitative descriptive approach, which involved collecting data through questionnaires and interviews. The population studied consisted of 197 communication science students in USU, and a sample of 66 respondents was obtained using the Taro Yamane formula. The sampling technique used was purposive and accidental sampling, which allowed for a diverse range of respondents to be selected.

Results

The results of the study showed that the majority of respondents stated that the coverage of the judicial process in the case of the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin on TV One had violated a number of broadcasting legal norms. Many respondents assumed that the coverage violated the principle of presumption of innocence, the right to privacy, and showed an impolite attitude from journalists to the speakers. This raises critical questions about the role of the media in presenting information, especially in sensitive cases concerning individual personal lives.

Discussion

The results of this study highlight the importance of media ethics in ensuring that the media acts as a responsible and integrity journalism culture. The media's failure to adhere to ethical standards can have serious consequences, including prolonged social stigma and reduced public trust in the media. The principle of presumption of innocence is a fundamental right that is often ignored in media coverage, which can damage the reported individual's reputation and shake public trust in the justice system.

The right to privacy is another aspect that is often ignored in media coverage. In the case of Mirna, excessive exposure to personal and family details can result in traumatic and worsen the sense of loss felt by related parties. Therefore, it is essential for journalists to consider the impact of their coverage of individual personal lives.

The impolite attitude shown by journalists is also in the spotlight. Professionalism in interacting with resource persons is the key to maintaining good relations and getting accurate information. This is a challenge in an era where news must be conveyed quickly, but still requires an ethical and human approach.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of media ethics in ensuring that the media acts as a responsible and integrity journalism culture. The results of this study show that the majority of respondents stated that the coverage of the judicial process in the case of the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin on TV One had violated a number of broadcasting legal norms. Therefore, it is essential for journalists to consider the impact of their coverage of individual personal lives and to adhere to ethical standards in their reporting.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Media outlets should adhere to ethical standards: Media outlets should ensure that their coverage of individual personal lives adheres to ethical standards, including the principle of presumption of innocence and the right to privacy.
Journalists should be trained in media ethics: Journalists should be trained in media ethics to ensure that they understand the importance of adhering to ethical standards in their reporting.
Media outlets should prioritize accuracy and fairness: Media outlets should prioritize accuracy and fairness in their reporting, and avoid sensationalism and bias.
Media outlets should respect the right to privacy: Media outlets should respect the right to privacy of individuals, and avoid excessive exposure to personal and family details.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Sample size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
Sampling technique: The sampling technique used in this study was purposive and accidental sampling, which may not be representative of the larger population.
Data collection method: The data collection method used in this study was questionnaires and interviews, which may not be comprehensive.

Future Research Directions

Future research directions include:

Investigating the impact of media ethics on public trust: Investigating the impact of media ethics on public trust in the media.
Examining the role of media ethics in sensitive cases: Examining the role of media ethics in sensitive cases, such as the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin.
Developing a media ethics framework: Developing a media ethics framework that can be used to guide media outlets in their reporting.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of media ethics in ensuring that the media acts as a responsible and integrity journalism culture. The results of this study show that the majority of respondents stated that the coverage of the judicial process in the case of the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin on TV One had violated a number of broadcasting legal norms. Therefore, it is essential for journalists to consider the impact of their coverage of individual personal lives and to adhere to ethical standards in their reporting.
Q&A: Student Opinion on Media Ethics

Q: What is the main focus of this study?

A: The main focus of this study is to explore the views of communication science students from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of North Sumatra (USU) on television media ethics, particularly in the coverage of the judicial process of the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin, which was aired on TV One.

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

A: The key findings of this study show that the majority of respondents stated that the coverage of the judicial process in the case of the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin on TV One had violated a number of broadcasting legal norms. Many respondents assumed that the coverage violated the principle of presumption of innocence, the right to privacy, and showed an impolite attitude from journalists to the speakers.

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: The implications of this study are that the media's failure to adhere to ethical standards can have serious consequences, including prolonged social stigma and reduced public trust in the media. Therefore, it is essential for journalists to consider the impact of their coverage of individual personal lives and to adhere to ethical standards in their reporting.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The recommendations of this study are:

Media outlets should adhere to ethical standards: Media outlets should ensure that their coverage of individual personal lives adheres to ethical standards, including the principle of presumption of innocence and the right to privacy.
Journalists should be trained in media ethics: Journalists should be trained in media ethics to ensure that they understand the importance of adhering to ethical standards in their reporting.
Media outlets should prioritize accuracy and fairness: Media outlets should prioritize accuracy and fairness in their reporting, and avoid sensationalism and bias.
Media outlets should respect the right to privacy: Media outlets should respect the right to privacy of individuals, and avoid excessive exposure to personal and family details.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study are:

Sample size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
Sampling technique: The sampling technique used in this study was purposive and accidental sampling, which may not be representative of the larger population.
Data collection method: The data collection method used in this study was questionnaires and interviews, which may not be comprehensive.

Q: What are the future research directions of this study?

A: The future research directions of this study include:

Investigating the impact of media ethics on public trust: Investigating the impact of media ethics on public trust in the media.
Examining the role of media ethics in sensitive cases: Examining the role of media ethics in sensitive cases, such as the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin.
Developing a media ethics framework: Developing a media ethics framework that can be used to guide media outlets in their reporting.

Q: What are the implications of this study for media practitioners?

A: The implications of this study for media practitioners are that they should prioritize accuracy and fairness in their reporting, and avoid sensationalism and bias. They should also respect the right to privacy of individuals, and avoid excessive exposure to personal and family details.

Q: What are the implications of this study for media outlets?

A: The implications of this study for media outlets are that they should adhere to ethical standards, including the principle of presumption of innocence and the right to privacy. They should also prioritize accuracy and fairness in their reporting, and avoid sensationalism and bias.

Q: What are the implications of this study for the public?

A: The implications of this study for the public are that they should be aware of the importance of media ethics in ensuring that the media acts as a responsible and integrity journalism culture. They should also be critical of media coverage that violates ethical standards, and demand that media outlets adhere to ethical standards in their reporting.