Media harassment of public figures from the ethical perspective of journalists in Madrid

Abstract

In the journalistic ethics sphere there is hardly any exhaustive field work on collective behaviour processes for obtaining information, much less on the media harassment to public figures and on the ethical evaluation of the professionals themselves. In-depth interviews (30) and surveys on media professionals (410) indicate that journalists in Madrid show themselves largely in favour of the harassment suffered by politicians currently in power. Supporters and detractors of the chase after scoop-selling-celebrities are equally divided. On the other hand, journalists clearly reject the persecution of members of the royal household –especially when their families are affected–, and are also against the persecution of relevant characters who do not trade their privacy.