Read the Ethics Chapter, then:

Ethics Definition: Of or relating to moral action and conduct; determining what is professionally right; conforming to professional standards.

Types of ethical decisions:

news coverage decisions

economic pressure vs. social responsibility

conflict of interest

confidentiality

truthfulness

hidden cameras or microphones

intrusion

interference with police activities – hostage situation

workplace ethics

business ethics

privacy – health issues like AIDS, personal issues (private facts)

coverage of anti-social behavior

stereotypes

dealing with covering juveniles

implying condoning behavior – like drug use, sexual activity

Context of an ethical decision:

a) moral agents –communicators with a particular motive commits an act –either verbal of non-verbal – within a specific context directed at a particular individual or audience

b) Ethical decisions are always made within a specific context

c) Evaluation of the ethical decision requires examining the moral agent’s motives

Evaluating the act includes evaluating its effects on an individual or audience.

Can ethics be taught? Should it be taught? Social unity vs. anarchy – how to achieve social unity? Teaching Ethics?

Ethics training is a process of instilling moral values and attitudes

values: building blocks of attitudes—the learned emotional intellectual and behavioral responses to persons, things and events.

Three components of attitudes:

affective—the emotional side

cognitive—the intellectual side

behavioral—individual’s predisposition to respond

Sources of ethical development: parents, peer groups, role models, societal institutions

Socialization--the process by which all these introduce the individual to the conventions and norms of a given society. Your ethics choices are based on your socialization.

Codes of Ethics – see textbook -- enforcement? How can they be enforced?

Which gives us more freedom in our society—law or ethics?

Situational ethics – see textbook

A few other ethical theories:

• Judeo-Christian—says you live up to absolute standards of conduct because the

actions are good, not because of consequences

• Utilitarianism—create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

• Egalitarianism—the notion that individuals should be treated equally in terms of rights

and responsibilities—

Overall, some are duty based—deontological

some are consequence based—teleological

• Go back to 4 theories of the press – our battle between Social Responsibility

approach and Libertarian -- Developmental as fifth theory added later .

--Social Responsibility: the media had certain obligations to society. These obligations are expressed in the words “informative, truthful, accurate, objective, and balanced.” The goal of the social responsibility system is that media as a whole is pluralized, indicating "a reflection of the diversity of society as well as access to various points of view

--Libertarian: Short of advocating the violent overthrow of the government, the libertarian view rests on the idea that the individual should be free to publish whatever he or she likes. Its history traces back to the 17th century's thinker John Milton, who asserted that human beings inevitably choose the best ideas and values. In the libertarian system, attacks on the government's policies are fully accepted and even encouraged. Generally, there should be no restrictions on media messages.

--do we ever do Developmental approach?--what about post-‘Super Storm Sandy?’

--do we ever deal with Authoritarian or Communist approach?