FUNCTIONING OF THE MEDIA IN NORTH MACEDONIA DURING COVID-19 AND RESPECTING JOURNALISTIC ETHICS

Ethics is the study of human behavior through the lens of moral prin ciples. It helps us understand what is right or wrong and how we make decisions that affect others. In journalism, ethics form the foundation of professionalism. A journalist’s most important asset should be ethical integrity. Yet, today, this principle is often overlooked. We live in an era of rapid and uncontrolled information sharing. Journalists some times fail to report even basic facts accurately. In more serious cases, they may violate individuals’ rights through careless or sensational reporting. Social media has made this worse. Now, anyone can present themselves as a journalist simply by creating a page and posting content, regardless of training or accountability. This flood of information has created a dangerous imbalance: we have more quantity of news, but less quality. As a result, ethical standards in journalism are weakening. This trend became especially visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, when misinformation spread rapidly and caused real harm. To rebuild trust, media professionals must return to core ethical principles: verify information, respect privacy, avoid sensationalism, and prioritize public interest. Media organizations should also develop clearer guidelines and provide training in ethics, especially during times of crisis. These steps are essential to ensure that journalism serves society, not harms it.