Chapter 2

Ethics: The

bedrock of

a society

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Define ethics

• A set of moral

principles.

• A code – often unwritten

– that guides a person’s

conduct.

Ethics requires action

2 aspects of

ethics:

• Knowing right

from wrong.

• Then doing

what is right.

Applied ethics

•Using ethical principles to resolve concrete cases in a profession, such as journalism.

• Your course in news media ethics is an exercise in applied ethics.

The Golden Rule

Hinduism: 3,200 BC, from the Hitopadesa:

“One should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated.”

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The Golden Rule

Judaism: 1,300

BC, from Leviticus

19:18:

“Thou shalt love

thy neighbor as

thyself.”

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The Golden Rule

Buddhism: 560

BC, from the

Udanavarga 5:18:

“Hurt not others with

that which pains

yourself.”

The Golden Rule

Confucianism:

557 BC, from the

Analects 15:23:

“What you do not

want done to

yourself, do not do

to others.”

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The Golden Rule

•Christianity: 30 AD, From the Bible, Matthew 7:12:

•“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”

The Golden Rule

Islam: 610-32 AD, from Hadith 13: “No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.”

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Ethics versus Law

•Law = doing the minimum.

• Ethics = doing the right thing.

Socialization

•The process by which ethical values are handed down from one generation to the next.

Socialization

Each generation learns from parents, peers, role models and institutions.

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Ethical + nonethical values

• Values are a person’s

deeply held convictions.

• Ethical values relate to

what is right and proper.

• Nonethical values relate

not to moral duty but to

desire.

Examples of ethical values

• Honesty.

• Promise-keeping.

• Fairness.

• Compassion.

• Respect for others’

privacy.

Examples of nonethical values

• Wealth, status, happiness.

• For a journalist: beating the competition on an important story, raising broadcast ratings, selling more papers.

The ethical dilemma

• Two ethical values conflict.

• The Heinz Dilemma illustrates such a dilemma.

The Ethical Dilemma

In Heinz, it is honesty versus compassion.

False Ethical Dilemma

• A conflict of an ethical value

and a nonethical value.

• The ethical value must win.

• The ethical choice is clear, but

often requires sacrifice.

Moral agent

• The person who makes a decision in a given situation is the moral agent.

• Would you be okay with having your decision process on the front page of a newspaper?

Homework for June 15

• Read Chapter 6 in the text: Applying Four Classic

Theories of Ethics

• Read the news: BBC Burmese Facebook and Irrawaddy

Facebook

• Study for quiz on June 15 on Chapter 2, lectures this

week and the news.

• Study for vocabulary quiz on June 22 using text and/or

Quizlet.

• OPTIONAL: Put your email on the sheet to sign up for

closed Facebook group.

• OPTIONAL: Be a Reporter Game on Newsu.org:

http://www.newsu.org/courses/be-reporter-game