Abstract:

Over the past decade, incidents have occurred and new technologies have appeared which together have raised questions about the ethical values of journalists. One of these questions evolves the need for global media ethics.
Global media ethics aims at developing a comprehensive set of principles and standards for the practice of journalism in an age of global news media.
Our job, as researchers, is to pave the way for a global journalism ethics or a global code of ethics, not only by spreading awareness among journalists or Media decision makers. But also important are the media students who should show good understanding of the "The Global Media Ethics" and why should "Journalism Ethics" go global?
Mass Communication students represent an important population to understand in terms of how they view global media ethics. Their education is, arguably, a critical factor in the development of their understanding of global ethics. So too, would be experience in media organizations that they would gain through internships.
This paper will investigate undergraduate students' orientations and views on global media ethics in general and their perceptions of contentious news gathering practices in particular and their relevance to global ethics, focusing on comparisons between three groups of students: incoming freshman, graduating seniors, and intern students.
Research Hypothesis:
1. There is a significant relationship between variables like age, education and experience and students' understanding of Global Ethics
2. There is a significant positive relationship between variables like religion and culture and students' attitudes towards Global Ethics
3. There is a significant positive relationship between Students' Understanding of Global Ethics and their attitudes towards applying it in practice
4. There is a significant positive relationship between Students' attitudes towards Global Ethics and journalistic practices
5. There is a significant relationship between students' understanding of Ethics and journalistic practices.
Methodology:
The total number of 60 students will be asked to complete a questionnaire designed to identify students’ perceptions of global media ethics. Twenty students will be selected from each of the three groups. (Freshman, graduating seniors & interns). The questionnaire will cover three main parts:
Part I: Understanding of Global Media Ethics
Includes a multiples choice 10 questions quiz that measure the understanding of the concepts , principles and tasks of journalists in terms of global media ethics .
Part II: Attitudes towards Global Ethics:
Includes 10 statements that measure students' attitudes towards global media ethics. The students are requested to agree/ disagree with each of these statements on a five level Likert scale.
Part III: Practices of contentious News gathering
Includes list of Cases /practices undertaken by journalists and the decision made by the media corporations towards these negative practices. Students are asked to agree/disagree with the journalist practice (right versus wrong) and indicate whether the decision/ punishment of the corporation was fair / unfair. If the punishment is regarded as unfair, students are requested to give an alternative.
In conclusion, we will build on the findings of this study to develop a number of recommendations that shape the future of teaching Global Media Ethics in UAE.

Keywords:

Global Media Ethics, Education, Journalistic practices.