While Media is the first one to jump the gun and paint people and politicians for insulting women, it is this media which is first in the queue to publish nude/semi nude images or use languages that are insulting in nature. And all this goes unpunished because there are no regulatory bodies.
It’s of grave concern that reputed news websites have been flouting the norms so openly, with not an iota of moral responsibility and media ethics. Lewd content, semi and frontal nudity is something that is taken for granted on lifestyle and entertainment sections of several websites; that too without any blur.
Under the shadow of grey areas in the law and the absence of a regulatory body for the news websites in India, media has been quite comfortable in flouting their arrogance towards the media ethics. While same actions on TV and Print publications warrant serious actions, there are no precedence of such actions being taken over websites.
Therefore, I have initiated this petition on Change.org: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/media-stop-using-nudity-commodification-of-women-to-sell-your-news
This petition seeks that media houses exercise restraint and adopt more aesthetic approach towards such marketing gimmicks.
Here is what can change this:
A regulatory body that not only reviews but also takes action against such media houses.
Stringent IT laws that define nudity in more detail rather than encapsulating it within the purview of restricting pornography.
Request editorial teams of all media houses to pull down such content and observe restrain from using such tactics to attract user clicks on the news, and show higher sense of responsibility as a media agency.
I think that you take a good point. Though there are somethings that I think you need to look at. First in the United States you pay attention to a half naked women more than you would anything else, sex is a taboo subject in the US. I think that if you look at the Danish culture were naked men and women are more readily available, I’m willing to bet that Danish(Ess) media culture doesn’t use sex in the media and advertisement as much. This is purely speculation on my part, but it would seem to make sense. The United States culture has been shamed so much when it comes to sexuality, that yes they will pay attention to the half naked female more so than a country or culture it may not be the case. Though can you blame a media source for using what people will pay attention to? I think that the women or sometimes men that are used for those ads or campaigns are paid well for their showing of there bodies in a sexual manner.
Digital Media Ethics Charles Ess (2009)
Gordon Hartel
Advertising and PR Major
Drury University
Posted by gordiehartel | February 22, 2013, 11:23 pm