Reconceptualizing CSR in the Media Industry as Relational Accountability

In this paper, we reconceptualize CSR in the media industries by combining empirical data with theoretical perspectives emerging from the communication studies and business ethics literature. We develop a new conception of what corporate responsibility in media organizations may mean in real terms b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of business ethics 2017-07, Vol.143 (4), p.665-679
Main Authors: Painter-Morland, Mollie, Deslandes, Ghislain
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Broadcasting industry
Business and Management
Business Ethics
Communication
Conversation
Corporate responsibility
Education
Ethics
Management
Mass media
Philosophy
Political communication
Professional identity
Quality of Life Research
Social responsibility
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Summary:In this paper, we reconceptualize CSR in the media industries by combining empirical data with theoretical perspectives emerging from the communication studies and business ethics literature. We develop a new conception of what corporate responsibility in media organizations may mean in real terms by bringing Bardoel and d'Haenens' (European Journal of Communication 19 165-194 2004) discussion of the different dimensions of media accountability into conversation with the empirical results from three international focus group studies, conducted in France, the USA and South Africa. To enable a critical perspective on our findings, we perform a philosophical analysis of its implications for professional, public, market, and political accountability in the media, drawing on the insights of Paul Virilio. We come to the conclusion that though some serious challenges to media accountability exist, the battle for responsible media industries is not lost. In fact, the speed characterizing the contemporary media environment may hold some promise for fostering the kind of relational accountability that could underpin a new understanding of CSR in the media.
ISSN:0167-4544
1573-0697
DOI:10.1007/s10551-016-3083-0