"Journalism, Ethics and Society" provides a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of debates within media ethics in relation to the purpose of news and journalism for society. It assesses how the meaning of news and journalism are central to a discourse in ethics and further evaluates the continuing role of liberalism in helping to define both theory and practice. It claims that many of the normative debates and assumptions within media ethics perceive both news and journalism as a form of enlightenment that seek to democratize and bring substantive benefits to society. Analyzing key debates on the purpose of journalism and information in both the US based Public Journalism 'movement' and the European Union media policies, it also provides an in-depth discussion on objectivity and truth; two of the most central concepts within media ethics and journalistic practice.A timely and topical book, providing new ways of thinking about media ethics, "Journalism, Ethics and Society" will be of interest to students and researchers working within the field of media, cultural studies and journalism, as well as to scholars of philosophy.