Introduction to Ethics

1
Introduction to Ethics

• The accepted manner of doing things
• Accepted by whom?
• Deeply personal individualistic
• How to behave in given situations

2
Professional Ethics

• The accepted standards for an industry, typically
  as developed by those in the industry
  (self-regulation)
• Individual businesses (Times, NBC)
• Industry organizations (RTNDA, PRSA)
• Enforcement?

3
Contemporary Professional Ethics

• What duties do I have, and to whom do I owe them?
• What values are reflected by the duties Ive
  assumed?

4
Ethics and Morals

• ETHICS rational process focused on certain
  principles (ethos)
• MORALS based within the realm of religion
  (mores)
• Ethics begins when elements within a moral
  system conflict.
• Ethics are about moral choices

5
Greek Culture

• Philosophical world divided into three parts
• AESTHETICS--the study of beauty
• EPISTEMOLOGY--the study of knowing
• ETHICS--the study of what is good, both for
  individual and society
• Good v. Bad/Right v. Wrong

6
Moral Dilemmas

• Stealing to provide food/drugs
• Hiding a man who is to be killed
• Publishing information about police location
  during hostage situation
• Broadcasting information about troop movements
  during a war

7
Philosophers

• SISSELA BOK/Lying analysis
• 1. consult your conscience
• 2. consider alternatives
• 3. hold a public ethical discussion

8
Philosophers

• ARISTOTLE Golden Mean
• People and their acts, not rules, are the moral
  basis
• Virtue lies between extremes
• The ACTOR is emphasized

9
Philosophers

• KANT Categorical Imperative
• It is the act itself, rather than the person who
  acts, in which moral force resides
• Act so your choices could be universal law end,
  not means
• The ACTION

10
Philosophers

• MILL Utilitarianism
• Consequences of actions are important in deciding
  whether they are ethical
• Acts rightness is determined by its contribution
  to a desirable end
• The OUTCOME

11
Philosophers

• COMMUNITARIANISM Responsibility
• Responsibilities to the conditions and elements
  we all share
• Family instead of Town
• Civic Journalism the Internet

12
Ethics in Mass Media

• Editing/Making Up Quotations
• Doctoring Photographs/Video
• Borrowing Slogans
• Leaking Information

13
Doing Ethics

• Good ethical decision making in mass
  communication is a craft and skill comparable to
  good writing, good photography and good editing.

14
Standards

• Must be learned and developed
• Is reasoned, principled and consistent thinking
  (maximizing truth while minimizing harm)
• Is about individual responsibility
• Is about being accountable
• Is about the medias societal contribution

15
Difficulties

• Situational ethics
• Ethics on the fly
• Individual ethics contrasting with professional
  culture (poor fit)
• Competitive pressures

16
Our Responsibility

• Self-assessment
• Application to professional realm
• Development of team-based code
• Application of code to hypothetical
• Public presentation/justification