Media Ethics and Function from the Islamic Perspective

In this paper, I intend to discuss the function and ethics of media from the Islamic perspective. For this purpose, the media function and ethics will be explored form the Quran and Hadithes perspective. As will be shown, Islamic media ethics has similarities with the communitarian media ethics in which emphasis is laid upon both rights and responsibilities. In this view, the individual is not separate from the society and does not have an identity independently of the community. After discussing four theories of media ethics, including the liberal, social responsibility, interpretive and communitarian theories, I will explain the Islamic theory of media ethics. In the Islamic perspective, there is a simultaneous emphasis on rights and responsibilities. In this view, attempt is made to harmonize rights with responsibilities. The role of media in this view is to foster the common good. In the end, some indicators of Islamic media ethics will be set forth.