Psychology

The changes that are happening in the society nowadays are largely influenced by the development of technology. The emergence of different technological innovation also paved the way for the mass media to have a larger influence among people because communication and propagation of information has never been as easy during this period of time. Nevertheless, the influence of mass media also has its corresponding challenges, especially when it comes issues that are regarded as unethical because it go against the concept of what is right. This kind of adage is exemplified in a current event regarding Forbes Magazines list of most powerful people in the world. In this list, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, a reputed Mexican drug lord ranks no. 41 in the list. This event shows that media has a way of adversely affecting the perception of people by making them believe that doing something illegal could actually make someone powerful.
    The list of the most powerful people in the world that was published by Forbes Magazine raises ethical issues, especially with the inclusion of Joaquin Guzman. Guzman even ranks higher in the list as compared with some head of states, such as Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (Cable News Network, 2009). This event raises ethical issues regarding Forbes Magazine definition of power and its effects to the public. Including a drug lord who achieves affluence in life because of doing something illegal, which also adversely affects other peoples life because of addiction, is unethical.
    Social contract theorists might claim, though, that since the purpose of the Forbes Magazine list as a product of journalism is to treat every potential candidate with objectivity. Their definition of powerful could have been treated with an objective approach which enables all potential candidates to be included without considering how they came to be powerful. Because it is the magazines virtue or purpose to provide objective report and avoid discrimination of subjects, it is not unethical to include Guzman on the list as he could actually be considered powerful in his line of industry. The weakness of this perspective, though, is the idea that they seem to have not considered the consequence and sensibilities of their readers which could lead to major ethical problems in the society.
However, based on the deontological perspective, the action of Guzman is unethical because the end does not justify the means, he might be rich but he achieved through illegal means. Duty ethicists would most probably be fixed on the idea that Forbes actions are unethical because how could glorifying drug pushers by publishing them in a magazine as one of the most powerful people in the world be any good In line with this, they will most likely assume that Guzmans way of life is already unethical in the first place. However, one of the weaknesses of the perspective is that they are focusing too much on the idea of Guzman being on the list and not on the objectives of Forbes Magazines with regard to putting him on the list. The point is how the magazine defines powerful.
    Utilitarians would most probably conclude the actions of Forbes Magazine to be unethical too as the effect of the inclusion of Guzman in the list would be negative as he could become a model for others who wish to become powerful. Millar (n.d.) gives importance to perceptual knowledge and the way by which it affects an individuals decisions and actions. The decision of the Forbes Magazine to include Guzman in the list of most powerful people in the world and even rank him higher that some world leaders is unethical. The Forbes Magazine reinforces an idea among the public that doing illegal things could make you powerful, which makes them believe that good results could be obtain from bad actions. The concept of right and wrong is greatly challenged by this list, which could adversely affect the perception of people when it comes to engaging to untoward behavior.
    In my honest belief, I think that the argument of the duty ethicists is most superior among the other ethical arguments. The issue of illegal drugs in the society is one of the major contributors of crime and poverty in the world and therefore, could never be considered as a good means. Drug pushing is an absolute destroyer of a persons life and future. With regard to its weakness in correlating the definition of power, it is important that journalists consider the short-term and long-term effect of the concept that their articles may convey to their readers.