INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF NEWS COMMERCIALIZATION ON JOURNALISTIC ETHICS AND AUDIENCE TRUST

Abstract

The media plays a crucial role in disseminating information and shaping public opinion. The rise of news commercialization, however, has had a significant impact on journalistic integrity, news content, and audiences. This paper aims to explore the impact of news commercialization on journalistic ethics and audience trust. Through an  analysis of various scholarly sources, this paper examines the influence of commercialization on journalistic integrity, news content, and audience trust. The paper is based on the press's social responsibility theory, which motivates media organisations to make positive contributions to their society. The study concludes that the commercialization of news can lead to conflicts between profit-driven journalism and ethical practices, and news organisations may prioritise sensationalism, clickbait, and attention-grabbing headlines over balanced, fact-based reporting, resulting in a decline in news coverage and a loss of public trust. The paper recommends that the promotion of ethical rules should be a top priority for news organisations, ensuring the adoption and strict adherence to these guidelines in order to protect the integrity of journalism.