A Trend in Global Media Ethics: Theravada Buddhist Precepts and Journalism Ethical Decision-making

This study is a cross-cultural inquiry of ethical decision-making among Cambodian, Chinese and U. S. journalism students, and an identification of relationships between major Buddhist precepts and ethical decision-making of different demographic groups of Cambodian journalism students. Students from the three counties (Cambodia, China and the United States) identified their logic and feelings, personal values, professional conduct, and code of ethics as more relevant to their ethical decision- making than their colleagues' actions, colleagues' view, editor's reaction, and needs of their news organizations. Cambodian journalism students are more likely to consult their colleagues and editors than their Chinese and American counterparts. The Buddhist precepts of avoiding killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, idle chatter, divisive speech and hurtful speech have little influence on the decision-making of Cambodian journalism students although different demographic factors of the students identified differences when they considered the Buddhist precepts.