Journalists & The Law Introduction and Vocabulary Journalism I Mr. Bruno

Scenarios I will present three scenarios. Answer the questions/propose your solution in your notebooks. We will discuss your answers after the notes. After discussion, you will hand in written answers that show that you have given this enough thought.

You are the advertising manager of the school paper. A group called PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) has called you and asked to place an ad in the school paper. The ad shows an open door and is promoting a meeting on a local college campus in a few weeks. T he purpose of the meeting is to help high school students find support for unpopular or unusual lifestyles. The principal thinks the ad is outrageous and insists that it be refused. What should you and the newspaper staff do?

The mother of one of your friends is upset about a book her daughter brought home from school. The book is about a teenager who becomes an unwed mother and a substance abuser. The mother thinks that the book should be removed from the school’s library and plans to bring the matter to the school board. You have read the book and think it has a valuable message. What role could the school media play in discussing this issue?

You are all members of the SCA. One day some students approach you with a request. They have noticed that a cafeteria dishwasher has tattoos that feature the Nazi swastika and the letters KKK. The tattoos can be seen easily because the worker always wears short- sleeved shirts. The students want the council to ask the principal to have the dishwasher fired. What action, if any, should you take?

Journalist’s Responsibility Gather News Record keeping Entertainment Protect Citizens

Public Journalism A style of journalism that seeks to revitalize public life and to promote a sense among members of the public that their institutions actually belong to them.

Ethics in Journalism Ethics: The branch of philosophy that deals with matters of choice. Confidentiality: the assurance of secrecy for restricted information Censorship: removal or prohibition of material by an authority, usually governmental.

Ethics in Journalism “Off the Record”: comments made to a reporter as background information and not for publication Retraction: a correction in a subsequent issue of a publication Prior review: the review of a proof of a newspaper by an official before it goes to press

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Restrictions to 1 st Amendment Rights Obscenity: material that offends local community standards and lacks serious artistic purpose. Fighting Words: racial, ethnic, gender or religious insults which can cause violence. Invasion of Privacy: confidentiality has been ruled to be protected in some cases. Violating confidentiality is invasion of privacy.

Restrictions to 1 st Amendment Rights Copyright: The exclusive rights to something a person has written or otherwise created. Libel: the printing or broadcasting of false information that damages someone’s reputation Slander: a spoken falsehood that damages someone’s reputation.

Scenarios Take a moment to look at your answers to the scenarios from the beginning. Based on the terms and vocabulary, make whatever changes you feel appropriate. Class discussion.