morality?

The second chapter of the Thussu text, International Communication. Continuity and Change, tells about dependency theory, a "one-way flow of values, ideas, models, methods and resources." In this theory media is a tool of "propaganda for corporate and state power." This made me think; here we are looking at mass media as this abstract whole; it is spoken about as one group, rather then as individual pieces (broadcast and print), or people who create those pieces, within the larger frame of mass media.

What kind of moral decisions do journalists face when dealing with such problems as those defined in the Thussu text? Is there a thought process involved in whether or not to perpetuate western ideas or does it just happen? Isn't journalism and broadcast about truth? How often are stories purposefully bent to serve political agendas? I know it happens, but I am interested in knowing more about the process.

"The job of the news media is not to try to solve all the world’s problems, but to shake awake the world’s conscience. Good journalism can do that."

Philip Seib, The Global Journalist, 2002, p.xiv