Exam 3

Journalism 1100 with Horvit at University of Missouri- Columbia

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By: rachel gleason
Created: 2011-05-04
Size: 77 flashcards
Views: 97

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List three factors that caused a crisis in the newspaper industry in 2008-2009

Recession

Internet

Reduction in advertising

Basic Funding Model for Newspapers

80% of revenue from ads

20% from subsciptions

Why is classified advertising down for print newspapers?

The internet (Craigslist, cheap & easy)

How have print newspapers tried to cut costs?

Cut labor

Cut circulation

Trimming the size of newspapers

eliminating staff

reducing number of subscribers

What did Sen Benjamin Cardin propose to help newspapers?

Allowing for newspapers to be non-profits and accept government subsidies

Which size newspapers are doing the worst?

Metropolitan

Christian Science Monitor

first newspaper to go completely web only edition

Why do Nichols & McChesney say downsizing is bad for democracy?

As newsrooms shrink, along with them goes the circulation of news and ideas that is indispensable to liberty

How do they propose saving journalism?

-Government subsidies

-It is the duty of the govt to guarantee the promise and reality of free press

-renewal that a free people can govern themselves

History of Government subsidies

o Starting in 19^th century, there were printing and postal subsidies aimed at expanding quality, quantity and range of journalism

o Govt subsidies foster democracy through foundation and growth

o Macarthur and Eisenhower instituted lavish subsidies after WWII to spawn an independent press in both nations in Germany and Japan- stable economy requires diverse news media

First Amendment

-freedom of speech

-freedom of press

-freedom to petition government

-freedom to assemble peacefully

-freedom of religion

John Milton’s famous quote from Areopagitica & its implications

"Censorship is unnecessary because truth will always win in a battle with falsity."

-believed open debate is the only way for people to discern truth and reject falsehood--"marketplace of ideas"

John Locke's view of people's relationship with government

Government should answer TO the people, NOT the other way around. Govt's job is to safeguard people's rights, freedom of expression is essential

Seditious Libel

criticism against government

Truth is NOT a defense- exacerbates the crime

John Peter Zenger

1734:One of the most famous seditious libel cases: Zenger published harsh attacks written by two opponents, James Alexander and Lewis Morris on the governor of New York. He was jailed for seditious libel.

To which cases does the first amendment apply?

First amendment rights protect from the government firing you. Only Govt can violate, not corporations

Which types of expressions are not protected by the first amendment?

obscenity, fighting words, endangering/threatening national security

Which are, and to what degree?

Political expressions are most protected, commercial speech

In what ways can government regulate expression? In what ways can't it?

CAN regulate based on time, place, and manner

CAN NOT based on content

Strict Scrutiny

Government must have a strong reason to cut off speech. Government must demonstrate that the regulation is necessary and narrowly tailored so as not to regulate speech unrelated to goal.

Examples of protected speech beyond speech and press

entertainment, movies, performance

Reasons to value free speech

The discovery of truth

the continuance of self-govt

a check on govt power

a promotion of stable change

individual fulfillment

John Stuart Mill's argument

Valued free speech because without it truth would have no chance to prevail in the marketplace

Believed truth should be challenged

Thomas Jefferson's thoughts on government and newspapers

Rather have free press than a free government

Clear and present danger test

Once government limits speech, they have to make sure actually brings about evil. Watchdog role: make sure legislature is not too oppressive

Libel

Occurs when a false or defamatory statement about an identifiable person is published to a third party, causing injury to that person's reputation

Defamatory Communication

One that exposes a person to hate, ridicule, or contempt, lowers him in the esteem of his fellows, causes him to be shunned, or injures him in business or calling

When doesn't harm have to be shown?

If the statements in question concern a criminal offense, a loathsome disease, a female’s unchastity, or matter harming a person’s business, trade, profession or office. When any of these types are involved, damage to plaintiff’s rep is presumed.

How does the standard differ for public figures vs private figures?

Public figures include celebrities, high-ranking government personnel, others with power in a community and have a higher standard for proof in a libel case, such as proving that publisher acted with actual malice

Private figures just have to prove publisher was negligent in ascertaining that statement was false or defamatory

Defenses against libel

1. truth

2. fair report

3. opinion

4. consent

5. statute of limitations

6. retraction

7. Anti-SLAPP status

Ways to avoid libel suits

-Check sources thoroughly

-Do not let your own opinion color your decision to verify accuracy

-Understand criminal and civil procedure terminology

-Be cautious when editing

-Watch for headlines and cutlines that might be defamatory

Personal vs Private Obligations

Personal obligations are often overridden by professional principle of providing the public with information useful to them

Privacy violations:

Appropriation

False light

Disclosure of embarrassing private life facts

Intrusion on someone private affairs

What ethical obligations do journalists, advertising, and public relations have in common?

truth telling

avoidance of harm toward constituents

need for credibility

How do those obligations relate to credibility?

Without credibility, their messages are less effective, even unbelievable. Credibility is closely tied to truth telling.

Normative principles in applied ethics: benevolence

help those in need

Normative principles in applied ethics: paternalism

assist others in pursuing their best interests when they cannot do so themselves

Normative principles in applied ethics: harm

do not harm others

Normative principles in applied ethics: honesty

Do not deceive others

Normative principles in applied ethics: autonomy

acknowledge a person's freedoms over his/her actions or physical body

Normative principles in applied ethics: justice

Acknowledge a person's right to due process, fair compensation for harm done, and fair distribution of benefits

Normative principles in applied ethics: Rights

Acknowledge a person's rights to life, information, privacy, free expression and safety

Moral Claimants

1. Our clients/ customers

2. Organization for which we work

3. Profession for which we are a part

4. Society as a whole

Moral vs. functional obligations

Moral: who you have an obligation to (moral claimants), concept of being a journalist and reporting to people, your personal morals and values

Functional: practical means of your career necessary to maintain certain relationships over others (how dependent a claimant is on you vs how dependent you are on claimant)

Ross' Moral Duties: Fidelity

If you promise to perform some act or to abstain from performing an act, then you are obliged to perform that act or to abstain from the act (telling truth, not lying)

Ross' Moral Duties: Reparation

If you perform a wrongful act in respect to another person, you are obliged to undo the wrong

Ross' Moral Duties: Gratitude

If any person performs some favor for you, you have an obligation to the person who performed that favor

Ross' Moral Duties: Justice

If any person merits a distribution of something (typically something that will result in pleasure, happiness, or satisfaction), and you can bring that distribution about (or prevent), then you are obliged to distribute what is merited

Ross' Moral Duties: Beneficence

If you can make some person better with respect to their existence, then you are obliged to do so

Ross' Moral Duties: Self- improvement

If you can make yourself better with respect to state of existence, then you are obliged to do so

Ross' Moral Duties: non-injury

If you are in a position to avoid hurting someone, then you are obliged to do so

Ethics

A set of standards and behaviors

Ethics is NOT:

the same as feelings, science, religion, following the law, following the culturally accepted norms

"Gold Rule" of journalism is

to do you job, and do not cause unjustified harm

Harm

something that people try to avoid (suffering, pain)

Justified

Having an explanation or reason as to why to do something. (logical, as in others would do it too)

Difference between ethics and law

Ethics is something that ought to be followed, while law is something that MUST be followed

Are ethics codes required by law?

Key to ethical decision making: Reflection

What are all the important elements of the situation we face?

-ethical issue or problem

-What are the facts that bear on the decision being made?

-List moral claimants and how they are affected

-Think about alternate courses of action

Key to ethical decision making: Justification

How one explains or excuses ethical behavior

Key to ethical decision making: Consistency

Our decisions can't be random, must apply over and over again

Wal-Mart case study:

Laura and Jim traveled around from Las Vegas to Georgia in an RV, blogging about the nice employees they met. Blog noted they were sponsored by an org called Working Families for Wal-mart, but what was not disclosed was that the pr firm, Edelman, funded this org and paid for the entire trip.

Ethical issue: disclosing identity

Moral Behavior: Truthfulness &Transparency, Authenticity, Respect, Equity and Social Responsibility

Radio Marti Case Study

Journalists from El Nuevo Herald were taking payments from the government for programs on Radio Marti and TV Marti

-Conflict of interest, shows that taking payments violates a “sacred trust” with the public, independent action

Cheating Scandal Case Study

The St. Paul Pioneer Press uncovered widespread academic cheating among University of Minnesota basketball players. When the paper published its findings the day before the Gophers were to play an NCAA tournament game, the public reacted with anger against the Pioneer Press

SPJ's Code of Ethics

1. Seek truth and report it

2. Minimize harm

3. Act independently

4. Be accountable

Jayson Blair

Journalist for NYT who was caught for plagiarism, deceit, and fiction in his stories. Sent to Washington yet his stories appeared from many other states and were claimed to be “disturbingly similar” to another paper’s editor. Everyone expected he was not legit, but no one talked about it within org.

Why do individual journalists mater when it comes to media ethics?

Journalists have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience. Each journalist must have a personal sense of ethics and responsibility- a moral compass

NBC's Dateline and GM Trucks

In early 90s, there were problems with GM trucks. Michele Gillen voiced opinion that test crashes of NBC did not produce accurate results, yet dateline previewed the rigged trucks anyway and it was the low point of NBC News. Poor ethical decision making

What role do managers play in promoting "exercising conscience"?

Managers and owners have to create an open newsroom, an environment that is essential to fulfilling the principles. A newsroom in which all can bring their diverse viewpoints. It will be harder to run newsroom.

Carol Marin and QMAQ

Station that hired Jerry Springer, Carol was very upset and protested and ended up quitting. Shows standing up for own morals

Pentagon Papers

Dialogue in the newsroom: Washington Post publishing the Pentagon papers was one of the best decisions ever made and came to be through thorough discussion of ethics and moral dilemma in newsroom, obligation to readers not to politicians

“A Citizen’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities”: Truthfulness

Right to expect that the evidence of the integrity of the reporting be obvious. The process of verification should be transparent. A story should make clear the sources of information and the basis of knowledge, story’s relevance should be clearly stated.

“A Citizen’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities”: Loyalty to Citizens

We should expect to see evidence that the material has been prepared for our use above all. One way to judge is to see how well news over time avoids stereotypes.

“A Citizen’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities”: Independence

We have a right to expect that the commentators, columnists, and journalists of opinion are serving the interests of citizens’ debate rather than the narrow interests of a faction or a predetermined outcome.

“A Citizen’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities”: Monitoring Power

We have a right to expect monitoring on the most important and difficult centers of power. Right to expect that the watchdog role will demonstrate the news organization’s public interest obligation. (focusing on major issues rather than minor)

“A Citizen’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities”: Public Forum

We should expect our news providers to create several channels through which we may interact with them (including: letters, e-mails, phone contacts, chat room discussions, space to write guest opinion columns)

“A Citizen’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities”: Proportionality and Engagement

We have a right to expect journalists to be aware of our basic dilemma as citizens: that we have a need for timely and deep knowledge of important issues and trends in our community, but we lack both the time and the means to access most of this crucial information.

About this deck

By: rachel gleason
Created: 2011-05-04
Size: 77 flashcards
Views: 97

About StudyBlue

“I have used this website for three exams, and I see a huge difference in my test results.”
Naj