The role of personal values in ethical decision making among Singapore journalists.

Abstract

This is an ethnographic research that attempted to find out the role and components of personal values in ethical decision making by Singaporean journalists and editors. A total of 15 journalists and editors from the Straits Times and The New Paper were interviewed over a period of nine months. The experience of the interviewees varied from half a year to 30 years. A few of the journalists were not named as they requested for anonymity before agreeing to be interviewed. This study is full of anecdotal examples of how personal values were reflected in the choices made by the journalists in the course of their book. For empirical purposes, some data were collected to find out the extent which personal values affect ethical decision making as compared to other social influences. Being ethnographic in nature, this study is an exploratory one that attempted to chart the uncharted waters of personal values. Recommendations for follow ups were given in the hope that others will pick up where this researcher left off.