Media EthicsMedia Ethics
Morals vs. EthicsMorals vs. Ethics
Morals - a religious or philosophical Morals - a religious or philosophical code of behavior code of behavior
Ethics - rational way to decide what Ethics - rational way to decide what is good or bad for the individual or is good or bad for the individual or societysociety
Two approachesTwo approaches
Creator's process of creating the Creator's process of creating the product product
The product itself should be judged The product itself should be judged
AristotleAristotle
Golden MeanGolden Mean
Try to achieve the “good”Try to achieve the “good” Ultimate good is happinessUltimate good is happiness Achieve happiness by finding a Achieve happiness by finding a
balance between extremesbalance between extremes To behave ethicallyTo behave ethically
Know what you’re doingKnow what you’re doing Do it with a moral reasonDo it with a moral reason Act out of good character – be a good Act out of good character – be a good
guy, not a badguy, not a bad
Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant
Categorical ImperativeCategorical Imperative
What if what you do becomes a What if what you do becomes a universal law of nature?universal law of nature?
Action is more important than Action is more important than outcomeoutcome
John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill
Principle of UtilityPrinciple of Utility
The greatest good for the greatest The greatest good for the greatest numbernumber
The challenge is determining just The challenge is determining just what is the greatest good for the what is the greatest good for the greatest numbergreatest number
John RawlsJohn Rawls
Veil of IgnoranceVeil of Ignorance
That which is just is also that which That which is just is also that which is fairis fair Don’t consider the status of the people Don’t consider the status of the people
involvedinvolved Don’t consider where you personal fall Don’t consider where you personal fall
in the social systemin the social system Don’t ask “How does this affect me?”Don’t ask “How does this affect me?”
Sissela BokSissela Bok
3-step model3-step model
1. Consult your conscience1. Consult your conscience 2. Seek alternatives2. Seek alternatives 3. Imagine yourself in other 3. Imagine yourself in other
people’s shoespeople’s shoes
Society of Professional Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics Journalists’ Code of Ethics
1. seek truth and report it1. seek truth and report it
Society of Professional Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics Journalists’ Code of Ethics
1. seek truth and report it1. seek truth and report it 2. Minimize harm2. Minimize harm
Society of Professional Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics Journalists’ Code of Ethics
1. seek truth and report it1. seek truth and report it 2. Minimize harm2. Minimize harm 3. act independently3. act independently
Society of Professional Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics Journalists’ Code of Ethics
1. seek truth and report it1. seek truth and report it 2. Minimize harm2. Minimize harm 3. act independently3. act independently Be accountable and transparentBe accountable and transparent
Sensationalism and Sensationalism and EthicsEthics
Sensationalism is telling stories that Sensationalism is telling stories that are generally unimportant but the are generally unimportant but the audience is interested inaudience is interested in CelebritiesCelebrities JerksJerks Stories that are lurid and emotionalStories that are lurid and emotional
Tabloid launderingTabloid laundering
Mainstream media retelling tabloid Mainstream media retelling tabloid storiesstories Often to decry themOften to decry them Ethical problem solved by not reporting Ethical problem solved by not reporting
the stories themselves, but reporting on the stories themselves, but reporting on the reporting of the storiesthe reporting of the stories
Why sensationalism?Why sensationalism?
CompetitionCompetition The rise in so many sources of news, The rise in so many sources of news,
from TV and cable news to the internet, from TV and cable news to the internet, requires pandering to the audiencerequires pandering to the audience
The InternetThe Internet Quickened the pace of rumors and Quickened the pace of rumors and
stories getting “out there”stories getting “out there”
Problems with Problems with SensationalismSensationalism
Does it lower “hard” news to the Does it lower “hard” news to the level of mere entertainmentlevel of mere entertainment
Displaces the news about things that Displaces the news about things that people should be concerned aboutpeople should be concerned about
Appeals to people’s basest feelings Appeals to people’s basest feelings and instinctsand instincts
PhotographyPhotography
Pictures are not like wordsPictures are not like words Which, if any, pictures or videos to Which, if any, pictures or videos to
useuse Photo manipulationPhoto manipulation