Chapter 1: Institutional Pressures The cases in this chapter deal with the ethical dilemmas of internal and external pressures in the business world. How can a business influence news? Is news reporting a business or a service? What does the public have a right to know?

Chapter 1 Cases Case 1: The New York Times Fires Jayson Blair Case 2: CNN in Baghdad Case 3: The Time Warner Colossus Case 4: NBC and GM’s Pickup Case 5: The Wichita Experiment

Case 1: The New York Times fires Jayson Blair Facts– Empirical Definition Values Loyalties Principles

What does the Potter Box tell us about Blair, The New York Times, and the scandal? Was Blair promoted too swiftly? When should supervisors step in and reprimand a reporter? Jayson Blair created facts and quotes, thus destroying reputations. Should this blatant disregard for ethical journalism garner a six-figure book deal?

Case #: Additional links Daily Briefing – A database of articles related to the Jayson Blair scandal. The Jayson Blair Project – How did he bamboozle The New York Times? What Went Wrong? – Did the accusations of plagiarism effect the public’s view of the media? The Scandal behind the Scandal – This article explores the aspect of affirmative action as it applies to the Jayson Blair case.

Case 2: CNN in Baghdad Facts– Empirical Definition Values Loyalties Principles

What should CNN have done with its information about the arrests, tortures and murders in Iraq? How could CNN have kept reporting if they had been thrown out of the country? Is not reporting a story the same as lying?

Case 2: Additional links Eason Jordan's Statement – The original statement CNN’s Baghdad affiliate made in The New York Times. CNN's Iraqi Cover-Up – An opinion piece promoting honesty above all things. CNN thrown out of Baghdad – The results of Jordan’s announcement. Silence of the CNN Lambs – Did the suppression of information hurt people in the long run?

Case 3: The AOL Time Warner Colossus Facts – Empirical Definition Values Principles Loyalties

Covers of magazines owned by Time Warner devoted to projects funded by Time Warner. Can a parent company give an unbiased opinion of things it has produced? In what ways are these mergers beneficial? In what ways are they harmful? When mergers of multibillion dollar companies sour, should the government help financially?

Case 3: Additional links Media Conglomeration: A Threat to Press Freedom? – This article discusses a company’s ability to be unbiased. Media Consolidation – A history of the FCC’s stance on media giants and what mergers mean for small business. Time Warner – The official company site includes a history and list of companies owned by Time Warner. AOL/ Time Warner Merger – A database of articles relating to Time Warner.

Case 4: NBC and GM’s Pickup Facts – Empirical Definition Values Principles Loyalties

A sales brochure for the 1986 model GMC pickup truck. Was the accident that sparked Dateline’s investigation the fault of General Motors? What elements of Dateline’s “Waiting to Explode” segment were unethical? What repercussions should NBC and Dateline experience? How can news magazines strike a balance between entertainment and dependability?

Case 4: Additional links Cars in the News – This article discusses other instances in which news magazines have gone too far in reporting vehicular safety. Where NBC Went Wrong -This article lists reasons why such exposes are so common yet controversial. Lawyer Frenzy - This article lists reasons why such exposes are so profitable for lawyers. Video of Dateline’s Apology – The disgraced news magazine apologizes to General Motors and the public at large.

Case 5: The Wichita Experiment Facts – Empirical Definition Values Principles Loyalties

Aristole’s Golden Mean What are some examples where talking about an unpopular subject has bettered society? Can a news source give patrons what they want without “dumbing down” the paper? Aristole’s Golden Mean Profit Social responsibility What the reader wants “spinach journalism” Cheap, easy entertainment oblivious to reader What would the balance of Aristotle's golden mean look like?

Case 5: Additional Links Wichita Eagle – read the newspaper involved in the case. American Society of Newspaper Editors – newspaper code of ethics. Knight-Ridder – This site contains information on the Knight-Ridder corporation.