Personal Ethics in Journalism and Legal Measures for Protecting the Public’s Right to Information through News Narration

Abstract

This article examines the role of news narrators as influential media professionals who shape public attitudes and beliefs through their style of news presentation, which often combines factual reporting with personal opinions. The author argues that news narrators should uphold a set of personal ethical standards appropriate to their professional responsibilities—not only to preserve their own credibility but also to protect the public’s right to receive accurate and impartial information. The personal ethics of individual journalists inevitably affect public trust in the information being conveyed. Furthermore, the article analyzes relevant legal frameworks, including the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand and the ethical standards established by national and international media organizations. It also presents case studies of news presenters who have been convicted in corruption-related cases. The study ultimately proposes the development of appropriate laws or regulatory measures to ensure that news narrators possess and adhere to suitable personal ethical qualifications.