The Culture of Journalism Values, Ethics & Democracy Media The Culture of Journalism Values, Ethics & Democracy

A Brief History of Media Ethics The study of guidelines that help people determine right from wrong in voluntary conduct The Print Era - Depended on political orientation. Advancement of political point of view was more important than a search for the truth. Objectivity Describing something based on factual elements rather than the feelings of the one describing it (subjectivity) as a journalistic standard.

A Brief History of Media Ethics In the 1830s hoaxes (purposeful deceptions) were used to sell newspapers. Many 19th century yellow journalism techniques were ethically questionable. Sensational slanting of news. Plurid headlines.

A Brief History of Media Ethics Theodore Roosevelt believed investigative reporters Were unethical when uncovering corruption Ignored good things that government accomplished Worries about media power led to development of ethical codes. The Canons of Journalism The American Association of Advertising Agencies

A Brief History of Media Ethics Motion Picture Code of 1930 Limited the sex and violence that could be portrayed in movies. Precursor to today’s movie rating system. National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Established code of ethics that limited sex/violence in programs & banned commercials directed at children. The NAB code was abandoned in 1983 Payola, Ethical and legal scandal in radio & recording industries. Do you think this occurs today? how? why?

A Brief History of Media Ethics In 2003 Jayson Blair, former New York Times reporter, resigned from the newspaper Plagiarized 36 of 73 articles Fabricated other stories over several years. Washington post Reporter Janet Cooke Won Pulitzer for fake story about 8yr old heroine addict Pg 490

A Brief History of Media Ethics The digital era has ushered in a rethinking of media responsibility “The ethics of unlimited information.” Pornography and hate sites flourish on the Web, 24 hour news services have shown that no information, no matter how lurid, can be hidden from children. Do you think internet content can be held to any standards? Is it possible to regulate web content effectively? Why/Why not

Today’s Media Ethics Basic Ethical Orientations Absolutist Ethics Right or wrong response for every ethical decision. Often based on religious ideals, and are often rigidly adhered to. Many news organizations have a two-source rule Nothing will be published as fact without a second independent confirmation.

Understanding Today’s Media Ethics Veil of ignorance Treating everyone equally Allows practitioners to be objective in presenting media Situation ethics Choices are made rationally without a predetermined set of rules. Sometimes called relativistic ethics. How important are ethics in the today’s society Can you think of media examples where ethics is/was an issue? What do you think about this commercial? Video Clip

Understanding Today’s Media Ethics Aristotle’s golden mean, Ethical behavior is a midpoint between extremes Practitioners navigate between professional needs and those of society. Utilitarian principle According to John Stuart Mill’s, Ethical behavior is that which is useful in generating the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Today’s Media Ethics Machiavellian ethics Enlightened self-interest Encapsulated in the expression “the ends justify the means.” A morally right action is one that produces a good outcome, or consequence Enlightened self-interest If you do what is right for yourself it will also probably be right for the rest of the world in the long run. Right or Wrong 4 Media Publishing the name of a person who is HIV positive? What if the person is ???

Understanding Today’s Media Ethics Conflicting Loyalties There are conflicting loyalties that influence the ethical decisions of media practitioners. Duty to personal conscience. Duty to one’s organization or firm. Duty to one’s profession or art. Duty to society. Which of these do you think is most important for a Journalist? Would it be the same for everyone else Why/Why Not

Understanding Today’s Media Ethics Conflicting Loyalties In entertainment: Filmmakers may seek to tell an artistic truth rather than a historical truth in movies.

Understanding Today’s Media Ethics Conflicting Loyalties In advertising: Advertisers want a truth that depicts the satisfaction the product will bring to the consumer. Video Clip Video Clip In the news media: Journalists are expected to present an objective truth Sometimes personal bias can make this challenging

Controversies Stereotypes “Pump and dump” Show the media present prejudice & can encourage prejudice in others. “Pump and dump” Occurs when broadcast analysts buy a stock, talk about it on the air, and then sell it as soon as the price goes up. Is this wrong for them to do

Convergence Enhances and Changes Journalism Able to update breaking news instantly Problems with online news E-mail interviews give power to interview subjects. Broad resources make it easy to copy others’ work. Reporters must meet the demands convergence has made on reporting.

The Power of Visual Language Visual imagery of TV news and the Internet Captures events more powerfully than words. The Internet is a go to for news images & videos. Allows us to catch up on stories May result in overexposure to clips Video clip

The Public Journalism Movement Key aspects of public journalism Moves from “Telling the news” to helping public life go well Detachment to being a fair-minded participant in public life Describing what is “wrong” to imagining what “right” would be like Seeing people as consumers to seeing them as a public

“Fake” News and Satiric Journalism Appeal to cynical viewers Use humor to critique the news media and our political system The Colbert Report satirizes partisan news hosts like Bill O’Reilly. The Daily Show parodies the conventions of evening news programs. News Link

Controversies Anonymity and who deserves it The use of anonymous sources is always controversial At least one editor must know the name of the source before information from source is used in an article Readers are to be told why a source is granted anonymity Do you think that controversial stories should be published if the source demands anonymity? Accusations towards a company/public figure Why/Why Not

Controversies Television news has been guilty of creating news stories whose sole purpose is to promote entertainment programs elsewhere on the schedule. CBS, for example, covered its program “Survivor” extensively on its morning news show. The public’s reaction to perceived political bias and entertainment values in the news have caused the public to lose confidence in the news media’s credibility. What news sources do you think are most credible? Least Credible? Why?