ETHICS AND LEGALITIES JOURNALISM

JOBS OF JOURNALISTS POLITICAL FUNCTION – WATCHDOG OF THE GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC FUNCTION – BUSINESS, FARMING, INDUSTRIAL SENTRY FUNCTION – POINTING OUT SOCIAL PROBLEMS RECORD KEEPING FUNCTION – IMPORTANT NEWS ENTERTAINMENT FUNCTION – DIVERSION SOCIAL FUNCTION – GETS PEOPLE TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER MARKETPLACE FUNCTION – PLACE FOR EXCHANGING IDEAS AGENDA SETTING FUNCTION – WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT

FIRST AMENDMENT GUARANTEES FREEDOM OF: RELIGION SPEECH PRESS ASSEMBLY PETITION DOES NOT GUARANTEE FREEDOM OF: DEFAMATION INVASION OF PRIVACY ADS FOR ILLEGAL PRODUCTS OBSCENITY COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT SECURITY ISSUES DISRUPTION OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

OBSCENITY REPRESENTATION OF SEXUAL ACTS, NORMAL OR PERVERTED, ACTUAL OR FAKE HARD TO DEFINE BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY STANDARDS OBSCENE IS NOT THE SAME AS INDECENT. CUSS WORDS ARE INDECENT.

LIBEL WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT IS FALSE AND HARMS A PERSON’S REPUTATION OR BUSINESS

STARTING LAWLESS ACTION FOR EXAMPLE, SHOUTING FIRE IN A CROWDED THEATER. WHY IS THIS WRONG? WHAT ARE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE THIS MIGHT APPLY IN A SCHOOL?

FIGHTING WORDS ABUSIVE LANGUAGE PROVOKING SOMEONE TO VIOLENCE “COME ON, HIT ME!” IS THE SAME AS THROWING THE FIRST PUNCH. SO ARE INSULTS.

INVASION OF PRIVACY INTRUDING ON A PERSON’S PRIVATE LIFE PAINTING A FALSE PICTURE USING SOMEONE’S PHOTO IN AN AD TO SELL SOMETHING

DECEPTIVE ADS PURPOSELY MISLEADING PEOPLE MAKING PROMISES YOU CAN’T DELIVER IN SCHOOL – ADS FOR SOMETHING ILLEGAL FOR MINORS

THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY SPEECH OR PRESS THAT WOULD MAKE TROOPS JOBS HARDER OR WOULD REVEAL THE LOCATION OF SECRET AGENTS IN TIMES OF WAR, THIS LAW GETS STRICTER.

COPYRIGHT VIOLATIONS USING ANOTHER PERSON’S WORK AS YOUR OWN COPYRIGHT IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE INTERNET YOU MUST CITE SOURCES

SCHOOL GROUND DISRUPTION ANY EXPRESSION THAT CAN CAUSE A DISRUPTION TO THE LEARNING PROCESS SCHOOL’S JOB IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS. ALL OTHER FREEDOMS FAIL IN COMPARISON

HAZELWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. KUHLMEIER PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL “CENSORED FROM THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER A SPECIAL TEEN ISSUE SECTION THAT INCLUDED ARTICLES ON TEEN PREGNANCY AND IMPACT OF DIVORCE ON STUDENTS THAT HE FOUND OBJECTIONABLE.” ARTICLE INCLUDED SEXUAL HISTORIES OF THE GIRLS INVOLVED. THE INFORMATION WAS NOT GRAPHIC, BUT WAS STILL INAPPROPRIATE FOR YOUNG READERS. INFORMATION WAS REMOVED FROM THE ARTICLE AND A STUDENT STAFF MEMBER SUED. RULING WAS THAT SCHOOLS MUST WORK TO PROTECT RIGHTS OF STUDENTS. SCHOOL PRESS IS NOT ALLOWED TO PUBLISH INAPPROPRIATE ARTICLES.

SHIELD LAW DESIGNED TO PROTECT REPORTERS’ PRIVILEGE REPORTERS CAN REFUSE TO TESTIFY ABOUT INFORMATION AND/OR SOURCES OBTAINED DURING AN INTERVIEW OR NEWS GATHERING OR PUBLISHING PROCESS

NEW YORK TIMES VS. UNITED STATES IN 1971, DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, NYT OBTAINED A COPY OF AN INTERNAL DEFENSE REPORT DISCUSSING THE WAR. THE DOCUMENTS BECAME KNOWN AS THE PENTAGON PAPERS. THE US GOVERNMENT ISSUED AN INJUNCTION NOT ALLOWING THE NYT TO PUBLISH ANYTHING ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS BASED ON NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES. NYT SUED SAYING THAT IT VIOLATED THE FIRST AMENDMENT. SUPREME COURT DECIDED IN FAVOR OF NYT

IMPORTANT VOCAB ETHICS – SYSTEM OF MORAL PRINCIPLES PLAGIARISM – TAKING AND USING ANOTHER’S WRITINGS OR INVENTIONS AS YOUR OWN LIBEL – WRITTEN DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER, FALSE STATEMENTS THAT APPEAR IN WRITING SLANDER – SPOKEN FALSE STATEMENTS PRIOR RESTRAINT – CENSORSHIP BANNING PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN MATERIAL CREDIBILITY – MUST BE ABLE TO BE BELIEVED AND TRUSTED ACCURACY – CLOSE DOESN’T COUNT. NAMES, DATES, DETAILS MUST BE CORRECT OBJECTIVITY – CANNOT PERMIT THEIR OWN OPINIONS TO BE PART OF THE STORY