Media Ethics

1
Media Ethics

• Is that an oxymoron?

2
Getting it RightThe News

• Fairness in media means pursuing the truth with
  both vigor and compassion, and reporting
  information without favoritism, self-interest, or
  prejudice.
• Distortion

3
Staged NY Times/Washington Post 1981 Janet Cooke
4
2003 Jayson Blair

• New York Times
• Fabricated stories

5
More

• Checkbook journalism paying for news stories
• Hidden cameras ambush interviews
• Withholding information AIDS/Rape victims

6
The News. . . .

• Invasion of Privacy
• Did the tabloids kill Princess Diana?
• Prominence
• Your DUI not on the front page but the Governors
  sons is?
• Diversity
• Avoiding stereotyping/more accurate portrayal

7
Advertising

• Inserting ads into programming (video)
• Warning labels on Rx
• Liquor and cigarette advertising (slides)

8
Content of ProgrammingEditorial Content

• Warning labels
• Artistic freedom
• Violence, sex, language (video)