chapter 13 mass media and ethics

Ethics

Chapter 13The Media in Your Life, 4/e

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Ethics in Your Life

Ethics in American Life Colonial newspapers were highly partisan

Ethical decisions were based on the view of the party they supported

Mid-nineteenth century newspapers remained partisan Began to include stories about common people

Papers were criticized for including trivial gossip Sensational journalism began in the 1890s

Commercial concerns were shaping newspapers Critics argued for good taste in story selection


Development of Standardsfor Public Relations

Propaganda used in World War I raised ethical issues for Public Relations Edward L. Bernays argued

Crystallizing Public Opinion The public demands information and makes

up its own mind A public relations counselor was to get

clients the best possible hearing for their message


Classical Ethics ina Modern Society

The Golden Mean The Categorical

Imperative The Principle of

Unity The Veil of

Ignorance Judeo-Christian

Ethic


The Golden Mean

Aristotle Greek philosopher

Moderation in life Operating between two extremes

Applying the Golden Mean Reports should search for balance in news

reports Report both sides of an issue


The Categorical Imperative

Immanuel Kant Eighteenth century philosopher

Ethical principles should be determined by what could be applied universally Absolute ethics Nonconsequential reasoning

Applying the categorical imperative If lying is unethical then a reporter who lies

to go undercover is violating ethics

The Principle of Unity

John Stuart Mill/Jeremy Bentham Nineteenth century British philosopher

What provides the greatest good for the greatest number Rule vs act / Consequential Reasoning

Applying the principle of unity Tobacco advertising is unethical

Tobacco advertising makes a profit for the media while making thousands of people sick

The Veil of Ignorance

John Rawls Twentieth century writer

Justice emerges when social differentiations are eliminated Information is treated outside social context

Applying the veil of ignorance – distributive justice ABC reporters covering Disney should be

able to ignore that Disney owns ABC

Judeo-Christian Ethic

The Golden Rule (Divine Ethics) Do unto others as you would have them do

unto you Applying Judeo-Christian ethic

Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl, murdered by terrorists while researching a story

Before showing the video tape of the murder the reporter should ask

“If I were Daniel Pearl would I want it shown?”

Universal egoism & Ayn Rand:1905-1982

Author and philosopher

We should take actions that satisfy our self interest (not to be confused with selfishness)

Compatible with capitalism and free market philosophy-competition


Political and Economic Demand for Ethical Behavior Credibility and Profit Credibility is an economic

incentive for ethics News organizations that

are not ethical will lose credibility

Loss of credibility will produce a loss in readers or viewers

News reporters/anchors not citing sources of information

The Video News Release (VNR) as a source


Ethics and Media Concentration

Increased concentration of ownership has made the public more sensitive to possible unethical behavior Reporters may be afraid to cover the

conglomerates that employ them ABC News killed an unflattering story

about Disney theme parks


Impact on Other Industries

News stories affect the subjects they cover

Can affect profits of other companies

Food Lion ABC Prime Time Live

reported on tainted food at the supermarket chain

Food Lion stock dropped $1.5 billion

Decline in food sales


Basic Ethical Standardsin U.S. Media

Accuracy Objectivity

Unbiased Fairness and

balance Absence of fakery

Can Dateline be believed after faking video of crash?

Truth Avoid lying

Integrity of Sources Janet Cooke made up

source, a six-year-old drug addict

Avoiding conflict of interest NBC’s chief foreign

affairs correspondent, Andrea Mitchell, is married to Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan


Question

What kind of philosophy do your think guides the presentation of mass media today? Egoism (self interest), utilitarianism (for the general good), duty ethics (from Kant), or the Golden Rule (Divine Ethics)?

Question

Do you see questionable ethics with how the news is presented?

chapter 13 mass media and ethics

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