The Extent of Journalists’ Commitment to Media Publishing Ethics in Saudi Online Journalism :

This study aimed to identify the extent to which journalists adhere to the ethics of media publishing, and journalistic codes of honor in Saudi online journalism, and revealing the difficulties facing the application of publishing ethics, and proposals for development. The study relied on the gatekeeper theory and the hierarchy of influences model as a theoretical framework and used the survey method to apply the study to a sample of 100 Saudi journalists working in several Saudi online journalism, who were selected using the non-probability volunteer sample method. Data was collected from them using the (Electronic Questionnaire) tool, and this study reached a set of results, the most important of which are the following:
- Practical practice in press editing rooms issues a list of sources of knowledge of ethical standards for journalists, followed by the directives of bosses at work, then professional training courses.
-The most important standards regulating electronic journalistic work from the point of view of journalists are the ethics of dealing with the public, followed by the standards of credibility and objectivity of content, and then the standards of preserving national security.
- Most of the journalists stressed their commitment to publishing ethics, as well as their commitment to signing a professional code of ethics that regulates publishing ethics in Saudi online journalism.
- Preventing publication and rehabilitating journalists in Saudi online journalism took the lead in penalizing them by deducting their salary, suspending them, or dismissing them from work in the event that journalists do not adhere to publishing ethics.
-The results revealed that the absence of a local law that defines the ethics required for media publishing in electronic newspapers is considered one of the most prominent difficulties that limit the application of publishing ethics in Saudi online journalism, followed by the lack of some media professionals in the new media with media work qualifications.
- There is a correlation between journalists’ perception of the ethical values that Saudi online journalism adhere to and their perceptions of journalists’ commitment to publishing ethics in Saudi online journalism.
-The demographic variables of journalists (gender, age, educational level, years of experience, specialization) do not affect the journalists’ perception of the ethical values that Saudi online journalism adhere to, and their perceptions of the measures taken by press institutions in the event that the journalist does not adhere to publishing ethics.