Abstract There are debates on the relevance of Eurocentric normative frameworks for studying the media in post-colonial Africa. Emerging from these debates is a rebuttal of the dominant Western-derived paradigms for the conceptualisation of journalistic norms, values and practices. Given that the dominant Western liberal models for normative media ethics are incongruent to the needs of Africa, there is a growing call to reconceptualise media ethics anchored upon alternative epistemologies and moral foundations such as ubuntuism. Although there is existing scholarship on ubuntuism as a framework for media ethics in Africa, none of these studies has focused particularly on Zimbabwe. Using the 16 August 2019 (hereafter August 16) protests as a photojournalistic “moment” as a frame, this article explores the views and perspectives of Zimbabwean journalists on their understanding of media ethics and professionalism. Further, it probes the possibilities of ubuntuism as a moral foundation of journalistic practice in the country. Journalists’ views are diverse and contested on the nature and practice of media ethics in the country. Although ubuntuism is touted as a normative framework for media ethics, the Western liberal perspectives remain dominant. As such, post-colonial theory offers a useful approach to understanding the interconnections, contradictions and tensions underpinning media ethics in post-colonial Zimbabwe.

中文翻译：

---

Ubuntuism 作为津巴布韦媒体伦理的基础？记者的观点和不满

摘要 关于以欧洲为中心的规范框架对研究后殖民非洲媒体的相关性存在争论。从这些辩论中出现的是对西方主导的新闻规范、价值观和实践概念化范式的反驳。鉴于主流的西方自由主义规范媒体伦理模式与非洲的需求不一致，人们越来越多地呼吁重新定义基于替代认识论和道德基础（如 ubuntuism）的媒体伦理。尽管有关于 ubuntuism 作为非洲媒体伦理框架的现有学术研究，但这些研究都没有特别关注津巴布韦。以 2019 年 8 月 16 日（以下简称 8 月 16 日）的抗议活动作为新闻摄影“时刻”为框架，本文探讨了津巴布韦记者对媒体道德和专业精神的理解。此外，它还探讨了 ubuntuism 作为该国新闻实践的道德基础的可能性。记者们对本国媒体道德的性质和实践有不同的看法并存在争议。尽管 ubuntuism 被吹捧为媒体伦理的规范框架，但西方自由主义观点仍然占主导地位。因此，后殖民理论提供了一种有用的方法来理解支撑后殖民津巴布韦媒体伦理的相互联系、矛盾和紧张局势。记者们对本国媒体道德的性质和实践有不同的看法并存在争议。尽管 ubuntuism 被吹捧为媒体伦理的规范框架，但西方自由主义观点仍然占主导地位。因此，后殖民理论提供了一种有用的方法来理解支撑后殖民津巴布韦媒体伦理的相互联系、矛盾和紧张局势。记者们对本国媒体道德的性质和实践有不同的看法并存在争议。尽管 ubuntuism 被吹捧为媒体伦理的规范框架，但西方自由主义观点仍然占主导地位。因此，后殖民理论提供了一种有用的方法来理解支撑后殖民津巴布韦媒体伦理的相互联系、矛盾和紧张局势。