Exploring Media Ethics & Governance: A Journey Toward Responsible Media
In an era where media shapes how we think, act, and interact, and stands as one of the most powerful tools in shaping societies, the question of ethics and governance has never been more critical. My recent journey of study and reflection led me to complete the Media Ethics and Governance course, an experience that provided both theoretical insights and practical tools to navigate today’s media landscape responsibly.
What Do We Mean by Media Ethics & Governance?
- Media Ethics focuses on the principles guiding fairness, truthfulness, and responsibility in content creation and distribution. It raises important questions: What is right? What is fair? How should media serve society?
- Media Governance, on the other hand, ensures that ethical principles are not just ideals but are operationalized through systems, policies, and oversight. Governance translates moral intent into practice, through codes of conduct, editorial standards, accountability mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks.
In essence, ethics explores the moral principles guiding the creation, distribution, and use of media, while governance ensures these practices align with societal values, transparency, and accountability. Ethics defines what ought to be done; governance makes it doable and enforceable, through standards, workflows, risk management, audits, and public accountability.
Together, ethics and governance form the backbone of responsible media communication.
What I Learned
This course gave me a structured understanding of how ethics and governance interact within media communication. Key takeaways included:
- History & Development: How ethical perspectives in media have evolved alongside communication technologies, and how governance structures have matured to support accountability.
- Theoretical Approaches: From deontological (duty-based) to consequentialist (outcome-based) ethics, and how governance tools such as policies and review boards operationalize these theories.
- Applied Decision-Making: The ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and develop well-guided, reinforced by governance mechanisms that ensure decisions are enforceable and accountable.
Why It Matters
The role of media extends beyond storytelling; it shapes narratives, builds trust, and influences collective action. Without ethics and governance, media risks becoming a tool for misinformation, exploitation, or unchecked influence.
Embedding ethical values into practice and governance frameworks enables us to:
- Strengthen credibility and trust
- Minimize misinformation and manipulation
- Encourage transparency and accountability
- Support fair representation and social responsibility
The Somali Context
In Somalia, media plays a vital role in shaping public opinion and connecting communities. Yet, governance structures are still developing. Ethical discussions often remain theoretical, and without mechanisms to enforce standards, ideals remain abstract.
Building clear editorial policies, adopting professional codes of ethics, creating independent review mechanisms, and fostering collaboration between universities, media houses, organizations, and regulators are critical steps for our context. By combining media ethics and governance, Somali media can serve as a tool for nation-building rather than division, minimizing the influence of clan-driven narratives and misinformation.
Looking Ahead
Completing this course has added a valuable dimension to my professional portfolio. It has sharpened my ability to think ethically and equipped me to integrate ethical approaches and governance frameworks into media practice.
As Somalia continues to grow and engage with global media systems, I am committed to contributing to a media ecosystem that is ethical, accountable, and governance-driven.
Responsible media is not just about what we create, it is about how we create it, how we enhance the community through it, and how we regulate, sustain, and hold it accountable.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Coursera for providing a platform that makes quality online education accessible and flexible; to the University of Amsterdam for offering this course with professionalism and depth; and to Kiron Open Higher Education for empowering me with inclusive access to education and making this learning experience possible.
#Media #MediaEthics #MediaGovernance #SomaliMedia #Somalia #AbdullahiOnline #Online
Sahaminta Anshaxa & Maamulka Warbaahinta: Safar Ku Dheehan Helista Warbaahin Mas’uul Ah
Xilligan casriga ah, warbaahintu waxay saameyn weyn ku leedahay sida aan u fekerno, u dhaqanno, una falgalno, waxayna ka mid tahay aaladaha ugu awoodda badan ee bulshada qaabeeysa. Su’aasha ahi anshaxa iyo maamulka warbaahintu weligeed ma aysan noqon mid muhiim ka badan sida maanta. Safarkaygii dhawaan ee barashada iyo ka fiirsashada ayaa i geeyay inaan dhameystiro koorsada Anshaxa & Maamulka Warbaahinta, taasoo i siisay aragtiyo dhab ah iyo aalado wax ku ool ah oo aan ku maareeyo deegaanka warbaahinta maanta si mas’uuliyad leh.
Maxaynu Ka Wadnaa Anshaxa & Maamulka Warbaahinta?
- Anshaxa Warbaahinta wuxuu diiradda saaraa mabaadi’da hagta caddaaladda, daacadnimada, iyo mas’uuliyadda abuurista iyo qaybinta warbaahinta.
- Maamulka Warbaahinta, dhanka kale, wuxuu hubiyaa in mabaadi’da anshaxeed aysan kaliya ahayn fikrado, balse lagu hirgeliyo nidaam, siyaasad, iyo kormeer. Maamulka wuxuu u rogaa ujeedooyinka anshaxeed ficil, iyada oo loo marayo xeerarka dhaqanka, heerarka tafatirka, hababka isla xisaabtanka, iyo qaab-dhismeedka sharciga.
Si kooban, anshaxu wuxuu sahmaayaa mabaadi’da dhaqameed ee hagta xog abuurista, qaybinta, iyo isticmaalka warbaahinta, halka maamulka uu hubiyo in dhaqamadaas ay waafaqsanyihiin qiyamka bulshada, hufnaanta, iyo isla xisaabtanka. Anshaxu wuxuu qeexaa waxa la sameynayo; maamulkana wuxuu ka dhigaa mid la hirgelin karo oo la dhaqan gelin karo, iyadoo loo marayo heerar, hanaan, maareynta khataraha, kormeer, iyo isla xisaabtanka bulshada.
Anshaxa iyo maamulka warbaahinayd oo wada wadajira waxay dhisaan aasaaska isgaarsiinta warbaahineed oo mas’uuliyad ku dheehan.
Maxaan Ka Bartay
Koorsadani waxay i siisay faham nidaamsan oo ku saabsan sida anshaxa iyo maamulka ula falgalaan isgaarsiinta warbaahineed. Waxyaabaha muhiimka ah ee aan bartay waxaa ka mid ahaa:
- Taariikhda & Horumarka: Sida aragtiyada anshaxeed ee warbaahinta u soo mareen horumarka tiknoolajiyada isgaarsiinta, iyo sida qaab-dhismeedyada maamulka ay u taageereen isla xisaabtanka.
- Hababka Fikradaha: Laga bilaabo anshaxa waajibka ku saleysan (Deontological) ilaa anshaxa natiijada ku saleysan (Consequentialist), iyo arimaha maamulka sida siyaasadaha iyo guddiyada dib-u-eegista ay u hirgeliyaan fikradahan.
- Go’aan-qaadasho La Dhaqan Gelin Karo: Awoodda lagu falanqeeyo dhibaatooyinka anshaxeed iyo in la sameeyo habab hageed oo wanaagsan, iyadoo ay xoojinayaan hababka maamulka ee hubiya in go’aamada la dhaqan gelin karo oo la isla xisaabtami karo.
Maxay Muhiim U Tahay
Doorka warbaahintu kuma koobna kaliya sheeko-sheegid; waxay qaabeysaa sheekooyinka, dhistaa kalsoonida, waxayna saameyn ku yeelataa ficil togan. Haddii aysan jirin anshax iyo maamul, warbaahintu waxay halis ugu jirtaa inay noqoto aalad warar been abuur ah, ku takrifal, ama saameyn aan la xakameyn.
Hirgelinta qiyamka anshaxa iyo qaab-dhismeedka maamulka waxay noo oggolaanaysaa:
- Xoojinta kalsoonida iyo daacadnimada
- Yaraynta wararka been-abuurka ah iyo xadgudubka
- Kor u qaadida hufnaanta iyo isla xisaabtanka
- Taageerida matalaad caddaalad ah iyo mas’uuliyadda bulshada
Xaaladda Soomaaliya
Soomaaliya, warbaahintu waxay door muhiim ah ka ciyaartaa qaabaynta ra’yiga dadweynaha iyo isku xirka bulshada. Si kastaba ha noqotee, qaab-dhismeedka maamulka weli wuu kobcayaa. Doodaha anshaxeed badanaa waa kuwa fikradeed, haddii aanay jirin habab lagu dhaqan geliyo heerarka, fikradahaas waxay ahaanayaan kuwo aan wax ku ool ahayn.
Dhismo siyaasado tafatir oo cad, qaadashada xeerarka anshaxa xirfadeed, abuurista habab dib-u-eegis madax-bannaan, iyo dhiirrigelinta iskaashi u dhexeeya jaamacadaha, warbaahinta, ururada, iyo hay’adaha sharci-dejinta waa tallaabooyin muhiim u ah xaaladdan. Isku darka anshaxa iyo maamulka warbaahineed, warbaahinta Soomaaliya waxay u adeegsan kartaa aalad dhisaysa qaranka, halkii ay ka noqon lahayd mid kala qaybinaysa, iyadoo yaraynaysa saameynta sheekooyinka ku saleysan qabyaaladda iyo wararka been-abuurka ah.
Rajada Mustaqbalka
Dhameystirka koorsadani waxay iigu dartay xirfad dheeraad ah oo muhiim ah oo dhamaystiraysa xirfadeyda. Waxay xoojisay awooddayda fikirka anshaxa & maamluka warbaahineed waxayna ii suurtagalisay inaan ku daro habab anshaxeed iyo qaab-dhismeedyo maamul oo la dhaqangelin karo.
Soomaaliya oo kobcaysa sidoo kalena la falgalaysa nidaamyada warbaahinta caalamiga ah, waxaa iga go’an inaan ka qayb qaato dhisidda warbaahin mas’uuliyad leh, isla xisaabtan leh, oo ku dhisan dhaqan & maamul wanaag. Warbaahinta mas’uuliyad leh ma ahan kaliya inaan wax aan abuurno, balse waa sida aan u abuurno, sida aan bulshada ugu faa’iideyno, iyo sida aan u xakameyno, u joogteyno, oo aan u iskula xisaabtanno.
Mahadnaq Gaar Ah
Mahad gaar ah ayaan u diraayaa Coursera oo bixisa madal waxbarasho oo sahlaysa in laga helo waxbarasho tayo leh oo online ah; University of Amsterdam oo si xirfad leh oo qoto dheer u soo gudbisay koorsadan; iyo Kiron Open Higher Education oo i siisay fursad waxbarasho oo loo siman yahay iina suurta gelisay safarkayga waxbarasho.
#Media #MediaEthics #MediaGovernance #SomaliMedia #Somalia #AbdullahiOnline #Online
