Topic #1: Ethics

Ethics

1. the study of standards of conduct and moral judgment; moral philosophy

2. the system or code of morals of a particular person, religion, group, profession, etc.

Is it ever ethical to….

WIKILEAKS

Freedom of the Press has been crucial in facilitating the political discourse and

education necessary for the maintenance of democracy.

(Code of Ethics)

Activity: Choose five ethical practices from the

SPJ Code of Ethics handout that are most

important in maintaining the media’s role in

democracy

Cook’s Top 5

• #5 – Balance a criminal suspects fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed

• #4 – Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges

• #3 – give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid

Cook’s Top 5

• #2 – Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.

• #1 – Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

Topic #2: Hype / Sensationalism

MediaThe 4th branch of government?

Is the media actually the one who sets the agenda?

Multiple reasons lie behind the lack of real investigative

journalism today and the plethora of simplistic, eye-

catching stories.

$$$ and Media Conglomerates (more on conglomerates later)

Did the shift from issues to character result from the shift

to television from newspapers?

Freedom of the Press has been crucial in facilitating the political discourse and

education necessary for the maintenance of democracy.

Does the press meet its obligation to provide objective, issue-based

coverage or does the media tend to focus on the trivial and sensational??

Topic #3: Is news coverage biased?“Slanted Words”

This is not rocket science, simply be aware of “slants” or “bias” in the news. It may be obvious, it may be very subtle, but it’s almost always there.

Andre Agassi beat his opponent soundly in straight sets. It was also six-love, six-

love for America’s sweetheart, Serena Williams

Hillary spoke at the National Convention on Friday. Her chat was followed by an address by Senator Joe

Lieberman.

The Navy’s mission team included four aviators from Miramar and one female

aviator from the Naval Air Station.

11 year-old boy charged with murder, was an avid hunter.

Young woman, 22, was bound and raped repeatedly for 10

days.

(One station reported she was a prostitute and went to his house for “business”, the

other station never mentioned it)

Riot/Demonstration

Aggressive/Assertive

Bold/Shrill Lecture/Speech

Threaten/Warn

Plan/Scheme

Lively/Heated

Integrity/Stubbornness

Explained/Insisted

Agenda/Platform

Topic #4: Propaganda

PropagandaThe spreading of ideas,

information, and rumors for the purpose of

helping or hurting an institution, a cause, or a

person

Propaganda

Propaganda is amoral

Propaganda

Many techniques are not only used in

marketing, but in politics as well.

Generally divided into three main categories:

• White Propaganda: acknowledged sources and aimed at a sympathetic audience

• Grey Propaganda: anonymous quotes “Some Say” “Our Sources indicate…”

• Black Propaganda: pretends to be from a source it really is not and is aimed at an enemy audience

Propaganda

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates advertising.

Their role is consumer protection (more on them in CH 13)

Who regulates all of this?

The IPA An organization composed of social scientists, opinion leaders, historians, educators, and journalists.

“To teach people how to think rather than what to think.”

Criticisms of the IPA

• Some argue that the IPA's approach is too simplistic because many messages fall into more than one category.

• They do not discuss the credibility of the propagandist.

• HOWEVER…Few argue with the IPA's basic goal of promoting critical thought among citizens.

Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA)

Created the ABC’s of Propaganda:

7 of the basic techniques very much used and discussed today

#1 Name-Calling

John Kerry is a Flip-Flopper. George W. Bush is too dumb to be

president.

#2 Glittering Generalities(Virtue Words)

Making broad statements that really say nothing of

importance.

“If elected, I will get this country back on track!”

A vote for Shawn is a vote for peace and security

#3 Transfer

Attempting to make viewers apply their feelings of love, admiration, distrust, or disgust from one thing

to something else totally unrelated.

Perry endorsers say Obama “may be a Muslim”

Transfer as “Name Dropping”

Jarrod Martin mentioned he was at Steve Austria’s

fundraiser.

#4 Testimonial

Our customers say……

#5 Plain Folks

Thanks ya’ll! I reckon this is the greatest class I’ve ever teached.

I’m not a big city lawyer; I am a regular guy like you!

#6 Card Stacking(I simply think of this one as “bias”)

Emphasizing one side and repressing another.

#7 Bandwagon

Don’t be the last on your block to own a new

Chevrolet !

Many different (and similar) techniques have been added/identified through the years as

politics and advertising have evolved

“Ad Hominem”

An assertion which usually attacks a person,

rather than looking at the merits of their

argument.

You can’t trust Jane Higgins to be your mayor, she is just a

geek!*Reverse ad hominem may work

as well…Jane Higgins is such a

professionally dressed woman, she will make a great mayor.

Appeal to Authority

Referring to a well-known expert to strengthen an

argument.

“AP Government teacher Shawn Cook is voting for

The Rent is Too Damn High candidate Jimmy McMillan.

What more do you need to know?”

Scientific Appeal Providing the audience with survey results and statistical evidences to publicize their

product.

(overlaps many times with A.T.A.)

Appeal to Elitism

Appeal to the audience’s desire to be

better than other people.

http://encore-ephemera.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_19_762&products_id=700&zenid=6cb36624008d74d6bb8685764b5ec54b

Appeal to Tradition

Something is better simply because it is older.

This government has worked for over 200 years, why

change it?

“Vote to keep the curfew in effect in Beavercreek, after all, it’s been around for 10

years now!

…any ad with “since….”

Appeal to Emotion

Sex Appeal

Euphemisms and Dysphemisms

Euphemism: making something sound better

Dysphemism: making something sound worse

Car dealerships no longer sell “used cars;” they sell “______ vehicles.”

“Freedom Fighter” OR “Terrorist?”

Euphemisms Dysphemisms

• Kick the bucket• “Powder my nose”• “Birds and the Bees”• “Hankie-Pankie”• “Mess Around”

• “Cancer Sticks”• “Feminazi”• Junk Food• Snail Mail• Idiot Box• Blow chunks

False Dilemma

Framing an argument in a misleading way, as though there are only two possible

options.

Superintendent Jones opposes school prayer. She must be an

atheist.

FearDisaster will result if people

do not follow a particular course of action.

Storm Center 7 Weather can save your life!

Fear

Help! I’ve fallen….and I can’t get up!!

Obtain Disapproval

Associating the opposite of your message with

individuals or groups your audience dislikes.

The NRA loves this policy, let’s be sure we get it voted down!

Straw-ManIgnoring a person's actual position and substituting a

distorted, or misrepresented version of that position.

(very similar to a false dilemma)

"Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack

submarine program. I can't understand why he wants

to leave us defenseless like that."

Repetition