When West Writes East: In Search of an Ethic for Cross-Cultural Interviewing

    Authors

    R. Kenney;K. Akita

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Mass Media Ethics

    Keywords

    Communication; Ethics

    Abstract

    Cross-cultural interviewing can pose challenges for journalists, given potential differences in language, word choice, volume, body posture, and group dynamics. This article explores some of the complexities of cross-cultural interviews with the dual aim of heightening awareness of ethical considerations for journalists who conduct them and of discussing ethical principles that may help in guiding their work. This article attempts to move the discussion of cross-cultural interviews beyond traditional Western ethics. Eastern moral philosophy and ideals of trust and human relations similar to, but predating the work of contemporary Western communitarians are considered. The authors' ethnographic study of MLB's "Nippon Summer"-the influx of Japanese players in 2007-and analysis of articles resulting from press coverage of those players serve as a framework for discussing ethical considerations at play in cross-cultural journalism, when, for example, West writes East.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Mass Media Ethics

    Volume

    23

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2008

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    280

    Last Page

    295

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000207600800003

    ISSN

    0890-0523

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