Differences between News Ethics and Public Ethics in Public Crisis Communication A Case Study of the 'Hebei Typhoon' Public Opinion Incident

Abstract

In recent years, the gradual increase in public emergencies has had a significant impact on society. Against this backdrop, news media, as the "fourth estate" and disseminators of information, play a crucial role in public life. However, the question of how to adhere to journalistic ethics in reporting while also reflecting public ethics in dissemination remains unresolved. On one hand, news media are required to adhere to professional ethical norms in their reporting, including principles such as truthfulness, objectivity, and non-misleading practices. On the other hand, public ethics emphasize that media should prioritize social responsibility and public moral consciousness in their communication efforts, with the goal of safeguarding the interests of the public. Therefore, in the context of public crisis communication, news media must comprehensively consider the factors of journalistic ethics and public ethics. They must ensure the preservation of news value and the portrayal of factual truths while also paying attention to guiding public emotions and fostering positive impacts on society.