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