Ethics is the study of morality. And while you're correct that people have subjective ideas of morality, it absolutely does not matter for the sake of this conversation. You are detracting.
Just because in some place a practice is considered to be okay (morally, whatever), does not mean it is okay, has to be tolerated without comment, and is beyond criticism by those with differing views.
Just based on the value of fairness and that punishment should be decided in an actual court, not the court of public opinion or handed out by some guy named Brian, it is wrong regardless of where it occurs and I've made my reasoning for that pretty clear in this thread. I stand by that and you are still free to make some actual argument to the contrary. If the argument is just "in this country a lot of people feel it is fine", that's okay, just not very convincing to anyone I would imagine.
> Just because in some place a practice is considered to be okay (morally, whatever), does not mean ... [that it] has to be tolerated without comment...
Sure, I agree. If you were USian, I would defend to the death your right to speak openly and publicly about your concerns. [0]
And just because you feel strongly about your incorrect opinion about a widely-held-to-be-acceptable practice in USian journalism doesn't mean that I have to let that incorrect opinion pass by without comment.
It's a big world, and there are differing opinions on many, many things... morals (and the formation of explanatory systems overtop of the same) included.
[0] Whereas if you're in a more draconian jurisdiction that would prohibit such comments, I'll be publicly miffed about it and express my deep displeasure.
Morals and ethics aren't the same thing. What is considered to be moral varies from person to person and from culture to culture.