A Study On Marx's Thoughts Of Media Ethics

Presently, Marxism has been developing maturely in China, while the socialism media ethics under the instruction of Marxism is still not fully grown due to its relative youth. In addition, a series of moral problems caused by the rapid development of the mass media have not been brought to sufficient attention to be resolved because of the undeveloped media legislation. The author believes that the study about the Marx's thoughts on the subject of media ethics will contribute to resolving these problems. This can also endorse the rationality and urgency of the project.The article consists of three parts. The first part starts from the concept of media ethics and other related definition. It analyzes the social and theoretical background of Marx's thoughts on media ethics as well as its present study situation in and outside the country. The second part studies the content of Marx's thoughts of media ethics from five aspects, they are: views of interest and views of class; requirement on accuracy and objectivity of news; requirement on service to the people; requirement on freedom; and responsibility of the media. Last but not least, the article reflects upon the problems caused by the rapid development of information age and commercialized operation.The article has no intention of providing a specific series of moral codes and standards, rather to provide the referable theoretical and moral principles. Marx does not have his integral system of media ethics, and his thoughts on media ethics is inevitably limited by his time. However, the wisdom in his thoughts on media ethics still deserves careful study. In a Marxism-directed country like ours, the studies on Marx's thoughts of media ethics will contribute to enriching the development and increasing maturity of socialism media ethics, while aiding the development of the present media and the resolving of the media ethic problems.