media ethics midterm
principle of stewardship
"Responsibility" is central to the idea of "stewardship." Social responsibility was advocated by the Hutchins Commission in 1947.
principle of humaneness
A journalist should give assistance to another in need. Likewise, journalists should do no direct, intentional harm to others, and should prevent suffering where possible. A journalist takes risks by assuming that he knows how to maximize the good, or that doing so for "the greatest number" is possible, or part of his duty.
appiah
Appiah, a British-Ghanaian philosopher, has written extensively on race, identity, politics and the African-American experience. He has explored the possibility of universal ethical principles that can apply to everyone regardless of culture, advocating the idea of "universality plus difference" -- cosmopolitan thinking that recognizes our obligation to care for others regardless of citizenship, yet also appreciate the role of culture in individual lives.
utilitarians (other extreme besides egoists) teleological
Attempt to promote the greatest good or the most favorable consequence for the greatest number of people.
benhabib
Benhabib promoted a moral framework that retains "active universalism" as a good to which we should aspire but with an ethic of care that feminist theorists say is essential if our moral standards are expected to reflect how we live our lives. This is meant to counterbalance male-dominated ethical theory.
List three learning objectives for MC4090.
C-I Certification Syllabus Statement instruction and assignments emphasizing informal and formal [mode 1] and [mode 2]; • teaching of discipline-specific communication techniques; • use of feedback loops for learning; • 40% of the course grade rooted in communication-based work; and • practice of ethical and professional work standards. COURSE OBJECTIVES: (understanding of contemporary ethical dilemmas; development of critical thinking) This course provides a basic understanding of moral reasoning and a framework for analyzing and resolving ethical problems faced by mass media professionals. The objectives of this course are two-fold: (1) to examine selected contemporary ethical issues related to the mass media and (2) to provide an opportunity for students to develop their critical thinking about those issues. Through reading and discussing actual cases that present ethical problems, class members will attempt to define the problems and analyze a variety of ethical choices. Although many issues raise perplexing questions that journalist claim must be answered on a case-by-case basis, a basic understanding of moral reasoning will students a better foundation for solving problems. The course will not stress right or wrong answers but will provide many opportunities for evaluating ethical theories and their "fit" for determining a workable course of action. The emphasis will be on techniques students can use to evaluate ethical problems, to define their own solutions and to enhance critical thinking.
possible functions of a code of ethics
Codes can serve as a collective recognition by members of a profession of its responsibilities Codes help to create an environment in which ethical behavior is the norm. Codes can serve as a guide or reminder in specific situations. Codes can serve as an educational tool, providing a focal point for discussions in classes and professional meetings. Codes can indicate to others that the profession is seriously concerned with responsible, professional conduct. The process of developing and modifying a code of ethics can be valuable for a profession.
smoking ad scenario: egoist approach
Consider how much your personal wealth will increase regardless of potential harm to people.
You have a small advertising firm that unexpectedly receives a call from the tobacco division of a large parent corporation that is one of the largest producers of packaged food (cookies, cereal, etc.) in the country. Your company is being approached to develop a two-pronged advertising campaign. One is for a new e-cigarette that the company projects will targeted mostly college-age women. If your company successfully develops a campaign, the tobacco company is promising that you could get a share of the food division advertising as well. That could net you more than $20 million in profits. You do a little research and discover that smoking is up 10 percent among college women compared with five years ago. How will you decide whether to take on this advertising campaign? If you take a duty-based approach Kantian approach, you are likely to:
Consider the health dangers your advertising campaign might bring to customers.
smoking ad scenario: egalitarian, consequence-based approach
Consider young people to be the weaker party who should not be the target or your advertising.
smoking ad scenario: veil of ignorance approach
Convening the client, the advertising team and potential customers to discuss different approaches to advertising that considers multiple points of view.
Which of the following is a circumstance in which the media should not be concerned about privacy issues? Select one: a. Revealing the name of a person who committed suicide in his/her own home. b. Revealing the name of the victim of a rape/sexual assault. c. Revealing the names of juveniles who have committed minor criminal offenses. d. The media should be concerned about privacy in all the above examples.
D. all of the above
Lambeth's Philosophy:A Socially Responsible Press
Definition: Having a positive duty to exercise freedom of expression. (Hutchinson Commission) 1)Provide a "truthful, comprehensive account of the day's events in a context which gives them meaning." 2) Serve as a "forum for the exchange of comment and criticism." 3) Offer a "representative picture of the constituent groups of society." 4) Present and clarify the "goals and values of society." 5) Provide "full access to the day's intelligence."
duty vs. virtue theories
Duty- and consequence-based theories are concerned with standards and principles for evaluating moral behavior. Virtue theories are concerned with building moral character. Federal Communication Commission: The vice of doing nothing on one extreme and censorship on the other end. The compromise is in banning such material during children's viewing hours. The virtuous position is to protect children.
deontological (duty based) theories
Emphasize acting on principle or according to certain universal moral duties without regard to the good or bad consequences of their actions. The ends DO NOT justify the means. (Kant) advantages - 1)Concrete rules that provide for few exceptions take some of the pressure off moral agents to predict the consequences of their actions. 2)There is more predictability in the deontological theories, and one who follows these ideas consistently is likely to be regarded as a truthful person. Rules can be devised for special circumstances to take some of the ambiguity out of ethical decision making. disadvantages - 1) Rigidity: Reporters would not be justified in using deception in ferreting out a story, and Hollywood producers could not defend their use of gratuitous sex or violence just to achieve higher ratings or audience appeal.
Which of the following is NOT a section in the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics? Select one: a. Seek Truth and Report It b. Minimize Harm c. Act Independently d. Be Accountable and Transparent e. Exercise the Highest Personal Ethics in Creating Information
Exercise the Highest Personal Ethics in Creating Information
principle of freedom
In the most literal sense, the journalist must guard the First Amendment. But, there is also freedom in the sense of autonomy or independence. "Journalists must avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety as well as any conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict. They should neither accept anything nor pursue any activity that might compromise or seem to compromise their integrity." --ASNE
egalitarianism
JOHN RAWLS Self-interested individuals enter into a social contract that minimizes harm to the weakest parties. Step in an "original position" behind a hypothetical "veil of ignorance." They are temporarily deprived of knowledge about themselves that is likely to influence judgments in their favor, such as sex, age, race and social standing. All views receive equal standing to force impartiality. When the veil is lifted, all stakeholders are asked to visualize what it would be like to be in each sociopolitical position. The goal is to protect the weaker party in the relationship and to minimize harm.
Which of the following is NOT one of the topics in the final, original case studies presented in class? Select one: a.Stephanie Wilson Wolkoff wrote an unflattering book about former friend Melania Trump. b.Joe Biden is bringing dogs back to the White House. c.Johnny Depp asked to leave his role in the movie franchise, Fantastic Beasts, after losing his defamation suit against his ex-wife. d. USA Today released an article about sexual assault cases that LSU may not have handled well under Title IX. e. Johannes Leak, cartoonist at The Australian, depicted U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and U.S. President-elect Joe Biden in a racist cartoon.
Joe Biden is bringing dogs back to the White House
"Love your neighbor as yourself" describes:
Judeo-Christian Persons as Ends
plato
Justice is achieved through the harmony of wisdom, temperance and courage. · Moral conduct should be based on experience and knowledge of the world, moderate behavior as the means of achieving sound ethical judgment and the courage to live up to those judgments. "Good" is a value independent of the standards of behavior prevalent at any moment in society. An individual would be justified in defying conventional wisdom in the name of some higher moral good, even if that meant social ostracism. (Consider Liz Cheney and her stand against former President Trump.)
socrates
MORAL REASONING Moral absolutes and moral knowledge exist. · Moral absolutes and knowledge can be discovered by intellectually and persistently curious citizens. · Requires individual initiative, emotional stamina, critical reflection and a great deal of determination.
aristotle
Moral virtue was obtainable but tough choices had to be made in the process. The exercise of virtue is concerned with means — the ends do not necessarily justify the means. · The Golden Mean — Virtue lay between the extremes of excess and deficiency or overdoing and underdoing. In the Golden Mean, courage is the middle ground between cowardice and foolhardiness. Pride is the mean between vanity and humility. · Remember that some actions are always wrong, and the Golden Mean doesn't apply to these. · Virtue is achieved through habit.
philippa foot
Philosophers have argued over how we know what makes something, such as a behavior, "good." Foote argued that we can point to "objective" reasons for saying something is good and another is not, and we can do so by simply pointing to the natural world. We should focus on the value of defining the good. (Much of her thinking evolved from wondering how people did nothing when faced with the Nazis and that vice is a human defect.)
judeo-christian ethics
The 10 Commandments (Old Testament) Love thy neighbor as thyself (New Testament) The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
utilitarianism
The concern is with the consequences of an ethical judgment. Rather than looking at the intention behind the act, one must explore the best outcome for the greatest number of people.
The Principle of Truth Telling
The need is for a habit of accuracy, of checking and rechecking to establish the accuracy of questionable information. Journalists should seek not only the facts but also the larger truths behind the facts. Every effort must be made to assure that the news content is accurate, free from bias and in context, and that all sides are presented fairly.
Which of the sentences below is written correctly to avoid passive voice? Select one: a.The prisoner who escaped Thursday was captured by the police. b.The police captured the prisoner who escaped Thursday. c. The prisoner that escaped Thursday was captured by the police.
The police captured the prisoner who escaped Thursday.
principle of justice
The principle of justice is reflected in the journalist's concern for fairness. 1.Fairness includes completeness. 2.Fairness includes relevance. 3.Fairness includes honesty—leveling with the reader/viewer 4.Fairness requires straightforwardness ahead of flashiness.
The fatal error in the Stolen Voice Mail case was:
The reporter, Mike Gallagher, lied to his editors about how he obtained information and, therefore, violated the truthtelling imperative.
trolley decision
The school of thought that killing the one person to save the five is usually aligned with utilitarianism (the belief that the best actions are those that result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people). Another school, that of deontological ethics, argues that an action is inherently right or wrong regardless of the consequences. This school would favor against taking the action that results in the killing of the individual on the other track.
Virtue Ethics Defined
Virtue ethics frames moral questions in this way: What would persons with a proper understanding of honorable behavior do in a given situation, and how might they cultivate a character that predisposes them to model virtuous behavior in their daily lives?
relativism
What is right or good for one is not necessarily right or good for another. Situationists decide on a case-by-case basis. Critics (Merrill) says this approach amounts to a non-ethic.
smoking ad scenario: Judeo-Christian
Whether you would want to promote products to the world that you would not want your own family to use.
which of the following would fall within the advertising code of ethics? a.You are free to advertise tobacco products without any health warnings on the packaging. b.You can advertise flavors, such as fruit and mint, as long as you make sure the buyers are older than 16. c.You can advertise tobacco products within certain restrictions, such as including a health warning and not make fake or exaggerated claims that could violate FDA standards. d.No tobacco products can now be advertised.
You can advertise tobacco products within certain restrictions, such as including a health warning and not make fake or exaggerated claims that could violate FDA standards.
The following cases, The North Face at the Top; Marketing Prescription Pharmaceuticals; Sharenting: The Commodification of Kids; Patagonia Takes the Next Step are examples of: Select one: a.The Commercialization of Everyday Life b.Advertising in an Image-Based Culture c.The Media Are Commercial d.Advertising's Professional Culture Feedback
a.The Commercialization of Everyday Life
The essential role of ethics in a civilization includes which of the following: Select one: a. Building trust and cooperation among individuals in society b. Serving as a moral gatekeeper c. Acting as moral arbitrator in resolving conflicting claims d. Improving society's moral ecology e. All of the above.
all of the above
Which ethical argument would you make to turn down this project? Select one: a.It is not a socially responsible undertaking. b.I don't smoke, and I don't want to encourage anyone else to either. c.The risk to my company's reputation, and thus my employees' well-being could be endangered. d.All the above are ethical arguments that could lead you to turn down the project.
all of the above
2. Marvin will be ______________ once he knows his test grade. Select one: a.alright b.all right
all right
"Moral virtue is a middle state determined by practical wisdom" is attributed to:
aristotle
The following cases, Altering Images: Attaining the Unattainable?; Stereotyping Disability; Spectacle for Social Change: Celebration or Co-operation?; Advertising in a Culturally Contested World are examples of: Select one: a.The Commercialization of Everyday Life b.Advertising in an Image-Based Culture c.The Media Are Commercial d.Advertising's Professional Culture
b.Advertising in an Image-Based Culture
The economy performed _____________ in the second quarter. Select one: a.bad b.badly
badly
Data sets too complex and dynamic for the standard processing tools to store and manage, and therefore requiring new technologies and strategies, are called: a. Algorithms b. Big data c. Data mining d. None of the above.
big data
Media ethics deals with ___________________________. Select one: a. required conduct b. impact issues c. required and voluntary conduct d. voluntary conduct
c. required and voluntary conduct
The following cases: Media Gatekeepers--Closing the Gate; The Spymaster's Car; Disinformation; and Advertiser Pressure Campaigns are examples of: Select one: a.The Commercialization of Everyday Life b.Advertising in an Image-Based Culture c.The Media Are Commercial d.Advertising's Professional Culture
c.The Media Are Commercial
teleological theories
consequence based
According to the introduction to Persuasion in Advertising on p. 169, advertising continues to play a number of crucial roles in our society, that include all but which one of the following: Select one: a.Advertising is a strategic business tool. b.Advertising is a cultural system. c.Advertising is a source of funding for our commercial media system. d.Advertising drives technological advances for low income people.
d.Advertising drives technological advances for low income people.
The following cases: ...Ethics and the Theme Park Experience; Branding: Making the Same Different, Again; Niche Markets, Niche Media; Ethical Vision: What Does It Mean to Serve Clients Well?, The Risky Client: Yes? No? are examples of: Select one: a.The Commercialization of Everyday Life b.Advertising in an Image-Based Culture c.The Media Are Commercial d.Advertising's Professional Culture
d.Advertising's Professional Culture
Which of the following is NOT one of the American Association of Advertising Agencies' (AAAA) Standards of Practice? Select one: a.Avoid False or Misleading Statements b.Avoid Misleading Price Claims c.Avoid Inaccurate Testimonials d.Include Fair and Balanced messaging e.Avoid Insufficient Claims f.Avoid Offensive Material
d.Include Fair and Balanced messaging
Describe the components the Potter Box model used in MC4090 to analyze case studies:
definition, values, principles, loyalties
potter box
definition, values, principles, loyalties
Which ethical principle is concerned with duty? Select one: a.Deontology b.Teleology c. Values theory
deontology
Which of the following is NOT one of the issues in advertising discussed in a class PowerPoint (and from the book)? Select one: a.Truth and Falsity b.Stereotyping c.Body image d.Bad taste e.Consumers' dependence on their physicians for accurate prescription information.
e.Consumers' dependence on their physicians for accurate prescription information.
Advertising plays no role in media content, including which television/streaming shows are cancelled. true or false?
false
The concept of privacy is outlined in the U.S. Constitution. true or false?
false
Western cultures, especially Christian cultures, easily understand why Muslims abhor cartoon or other depictions of Mohammad. true or false?
false
The Cambridge Analytical scandal involved Snapchat. true or false?
false. involved facebook
Does your shopping cart contain _____________ 20 items? Select one: a.fewer than b.less than
fewer than
The following cases: HuffPost News and Opinion Website, Crises in the Journalism Profession, Bankruptcy at the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Paid Journalism Worldwide all involve:
institutional pressures
What ethical issues should a media professional understand is most likely to result from recording two people talking quietly in a coffee shop without obtaining their consent? Select one: a. Perpetuating stereotypes b. Invasion of privacy c. Acting with bias d. Breaking a promise of confidentiality e. Being nosy.
invasion of privacy
"Justice, human dignity and truth are unconditional duties" is attributed to:
islam's divine commands
"Act on that maxim which you will be become a universal law" is attributed to:
kant
"Seek the greatest happiness for the aggregate whole," is known as: Select one: a.Rawls' Veil of Ignorance Sorry! b.Mill's Principle of Utility c.The Judeo-Christian Perspective
mill's principle of utility
The case "Ten Weeks at Wounded Knee" deals with social justice for:
native americans
"The 'one-caring' attends to the 'cared-for' in thoughts and deeds" is attributed to:
nodding's relational ethics
egoists (other extreme besides utilitarians) teleological
one extreme, look out for number one (opposite of greater good)
Which of the following is not part of the Potter Box Model? a. Definition b.Values c.Prediction d.Principles e.Loyalties
prediction
The new technologies, which are typically said to threaten privacy, but actually benefit the users' privacy is known as: Select one: a. The privacy paradox. b. Disinformation c. Blogging d. Algorithms e. None of the above.
privacy paradox
What is right or good for one is not necessarily right or good for another., is known as: a. Rawls' Veil of Ignorance b.Relativism c.Egoism
relativism
The following cases: Data Mining and Algorithms, Stolen Voice Mail, Reporters Without Borders/Reporters Sans Frontieres, Korea Bans U.S. Beef/Candlelight Vigil, and Crisis in Darfur all involve:
reporters and sources
Media ethics deal with ___________________________. Select one: a. impact issues b. voluntary conduct c. required conduct d. required and voluntary conduct
required and voluntary conduct
Codes of Ethics reflect the Kantian Perspective
seek truth and report it minimize harm act independently be accountable and transparent
The cases: The Worldwide Refugee Crisis, "A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains," Global Media Monitoring Project, Ten Weeks at Wounded Knee, Peace Journalism are all concerned with:
social justice
Which ethical principle is concerned with consequences? Select one: a.Deontological b.Teleology c. Values theory
teleology
The appropriate location between two extremes is known as:
the golden mean
The goal of learning ethical decision-making in mass communication is _______________. Select one: a. to find the only correct answer to an ethical dilemma b. to dictate true moral behavior c. to increase our ability to defend our critical judgments using a rational basis d. to conform to the values of the community
to increase our ability to defend our critical judgments using a rational basis
The goal of learning ethical decision-making in mass communication is _______________. a. to find the right answer to an ethical dilemma b. to conform to the values of the community c. to determine true moral behavior d. to increase our ability to defend our critical judgments using a rational basis
to increase our ability to defend our critical judgments using a rational basis
An implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits is the definition of a social contract. true or false?
true
Consumers often are willing to pay more for well-known brands rather than generic products that may not be substantially different in taste or quality. true or false?
true
Controversial ads, such as FCKH8 or PETA, often get free publicity by going viral or getting news media attention. true or false?
true
Donald Trump's Tweets are said to illustrate the "post-truth era." true or false?
true
Journalist Diane Sawyer received both awards and criticism for her program: "A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains." true or false?
true
TOPS, and other student aid programs, can be considered a social contract. true or false?
true
The underpinning concept carried out through journalism- and advertising-related topics is truthtelling. true or false?
true
Utilitarian ethics tends to focus on the harm question: "How can harm be avoided and minimized, even repaired if at all possible?" true or false?
true
true or false? Truthtelling in advertising includes not making false claims about the product being advertised.
true
The one axiom that is the underpinning for most codes of ethics and journalistic ethics is:
truth telling
The following cases: Obesity Epidemic, Al Jazeera English, The Post-Truth Presidency, Muhammad Cartoon Controversy and International #MeToo Movement all involve:
truthtelling
socially beneficial consequences
·A socially beneficial consequences is sometimes used to justify an immoral means. Reporters who accept and publish stolen classified government information on the ground of the "public's right to know" are attempting to justify what they believe to be good consequences, even though the means of accomplishing the ends are rather questionable. (The end DOES justify the means.) · ·Focus is on minimizing harm.
duty - kant
•Categorical imperative: I should never act in such a way that I could not also will that my maxim should be a universal one. •Moral agents should check the principles underlying their actions and decide whether they want them applied universally. If so, these principles become a system of public morality to which all members of society are bound.
W.D. Ross' Seven Moral Duties
•Fidelity: We must keep the promises we make. •Honesty: We shouldn't lie for the sake of expedience. •Gratitude: We must help those who help us. •Justice: We must do our part to ensure a just society. •Nonmaleficence: We must strive to avoid harming others. •Reparation: We must address our mistakes and correct them. •Self-Improvement: We should cultivate good character.
islam's divine commands
•Justice, human dignity and truth are unconditional duties. • •With so much talk of Islamic extremism, keep in mind this basic tenant of Islam. Perverting a sense of duty is one way to attract converts to the radical vision of Islam.
kant - moral behavior
•Moral behavior is measured by living up to standards of conduct because they are good, not because of the consequences that might result. Although individuals should be free to act, they have a responsibility to live up to moral principles. One has a duty to tell the truth, even if it might result in harm to others. · One's motives for acting must be based on acceptance of the duty to act rather than just on performing the correct act. · Universal ethical principles—truth telling, fairness and honesty—should be obeyed unless there is a compelling reason for deviating from the norm.
nussbaum
•Nussbaum proposed a "capability" theory for societies; all of them, she said, should provide a list of "essential capabilities" for their citizens. •Includes the freedom to play, to exercise critical thinking and to love. •Extends John Rawls' theory of justice, by arguing that societies have a duty to cultivate empathy among citizens. •To that end, she bridges virtue, duty and justice theories.
Noddings' Relational Ethics
•The "one-caring" attends to the "cared-for" in thoughts and deeds. •"Law and justice" are inherently male. Values such as "receptivity, relatedness and responsiveness" are inherently female. •Noddings Ethics of caring developed from a feminist perspective of nurturing, empathy and inclusiveness. This could well describe how Louisianans pulled together during the Great Flood of 2016 and after Hurricane Laura.
ubuntu's human dignity
•Ubuntu is a traditional African concept typically translated as "humanity toward others." "I am because of others." "A person is a person through other persons." •Treat all humans with respect by friendly relationships. •"Humans are capable of being part of a friendly or loving relationship in a way nothing else is."
