News Media Ethics Opening Themes
First questions
What role should news journalism play in democratic public life?
First questions What role should news journalism play in democratic public life? – Does this differ in authoritarian and oligarchic governments
First questions What role should news journalism play in democratic public life? – Does this differ in authoritarian and oligarchic governments How do different media (e.g. newspapers, radio, broadcast tv, 24/7 cable news, internet based sources) differ in their coverage of news?
First questions What role should news journalism play in democratic public life? – Does this differ in authoritarian and oligarchic governments How do different media (e.g. newspapers, radio, broadcast tv, 24/7 cable news, internet based sources) differ in their coverage of news? – How have new digital media changed journalism?
First questions What role should news journalism play in democratic public life? – Does this differ in authoritarian and oligarchic governments How do different media (e.g. newspapers, radio, broadcast tv, 24/7 cable news, internet based sources) differ in their coverage of news? – How have new digital media changed journalism? Where do you get your news? – Who owns your content, what is their business model, and why does it matter?
What is news journalism?
Journalism as a Civic/Public Good
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Civic/Public Good Journalism is the only media enterprise that democracy absolutely requiresand it is the only media practice and business that is specifically mentioned and protected by the U.S. Constitution
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Civic/Public Good Journalism is the only media enterprise that democracy absolutely requiresand it is the only media practice and business that is specifically mentioned and protected by the U.S. Constitution Provides the public information necessary for self-governance
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Civic/Public Good Journalism is the only media enterprise that democracy absolutely requiresand it is the only media practice and business that is specifically mentioned and protected by the U.S. Constitution Provides the public information necessary for self-governance Plays a watchdog function and serves as a check to corporate and political power
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Business
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Business Journalists must create content that attracts mass audiences whose attention can be sold to advertisers
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Business Journalists must create content that attracts mass audiences whose attention can be sold to advertisers We do the work of watching commercials and are compensated with news content
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Business Journalists must create content that attracts mass audiences whose attention can be sold to advertisers We do the work of watching commercials and are compensated with news content News must compete with other media options and journalists have an incentive to produce a form of info-tainment
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Business Journalists must create content that attracts mass audiences whose attention can be sold to advertisers We do the work of watching commercials and are compensated with news content News must compete with other media options and journalists have an incentive to produce a form of info-tainment Journalists have incentives to produce stories that stimulate commercial consumption.
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Business Journalists must create content that attracts mass audiences whose attention can be sold to advertisers We do the work of watching commercials and are compensated with news content News must compete with other media options and journalists have an incentive to produce a form of info-tainment Journalists have incentives to produce stories that stimulate commercial consumption. They may be discouraged from producing stories that challenge corporate or political power
What is news journalism? Journalism as a Business Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, we have seen the return of enormous media monopolieswith just a handful of corporations controlling the vast majority of of content.
What is news journalism? Journalism as Activism/Advocacy
What is news journalism? Journalism as Activism/Advocacy Journalism driven by personal passions and ethical, political, philosophic commitments
What is news journalism? Journalism as Activism/Advocacy Journalism driven by personal passions and ethical, political, philosophic commitments Revitalized by new digital media (which allow individuals and small groups to publish on small budgets)
What is news journalism? Journalism as Activism/Advocacy Journalism driven by personal passions and ethical, political, philosophic commitments Revitalized by new digital media (which allow individuals and small groups to publish on small budgets) Journalism as a tool to help create the world we wish for
What is news journalism? Journalism as Activism/Advocacy Journalism driven by personal passions and ethical, political, philosophic commitments Revitalized by new digital media (which allow individuals and small groups to publish on small budgets) Journalism as a tool to help create the world we wish for Critics say the rejection of objectivity is unethical
What is news journalism? Journalism as Activism/Advocacy Journalism driven by personal passions and ethical, political, philosophic commitments Revitalized by new digital media (which allow individuals and small groups to publish on small budgets) Journalism as a tool to help create the world we wish for Critics say the rejection of objectivity is unethical Advocates argue that no news is objective-- all journalism is advocacy, but the mainstream journalists values are just hidden behind a mask of objectivity