Media Ethics 1

Ethical Decision Making in Media

1. Recognize Ethical Dilemmas — Develop the ability to identify and evaluate complex ethical issues that arise in the media
   practices.

2. Apply Ethical Frameworks — Explore philosophical principles like utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics to guide
   rational, consistent decision-making.

3. Navigate Competing Priorities — Balance professional responsibilities, audience needs, and societal impact when faced with
   difficult ethical choices.

Bok’s Model of Ethical Decision Making

1. Conscience — Consult your own conscience about the “rightness” of an action.

2. Expert Advice — Seek advice from experts about the action, living or texts; different views than your own.

3. Public Discussion — Conduct a real or hypothetical dialogue with all involved parties in the action.

Aristotle’s Standard of Ethical Conduct

1. A Virtuous Person — Excels at their profession, with that excellence achieved by knowing what you are doing (your activity/act).

2. Virtue Ethics — Focuses on the character of the person and the cultivation of sound virtues, like courage, judgement, temperance, and wisdom.

Aristotle Virtue Ethics

1. Golden Mean — Virtue lies at the mean between two extremes of excess and deficiency; wise instead of arrogant or naive.

2. The Ultimate Goal is Happiness — Happiness or flourishing is the ultimate human good, and that is achieved through setting high standards of conduct in your activity.

Confucius’ Self-Cultivation 

1. Internal Focus — Self-cultivation is the path to wisdom and excellence, the development of the internal over
   external awards, to become a
   profound individual.

2. Key Elements of Self-Cultivation — Includes reflection/examining self, and
   internalizing social values, classics, family, and relationships.

3. Patience — Will take repeated learning and practice.

Kant's Categorical Imperative

1. Universal Law Test — This means that before acting, you should consider whether the principle (maxim) behind your action should be a universal law, applicable to everyone in similar circumstances.. Would you lie if it became
universal?
2. Act-Based — It is the act itself, rather than the actor, where moral force or ethical determination resides.

Utilitarianism

Ross’ Pluralistic Theory of Value

Multiple Duties — Recognizes competing ethical values in decision-making; you missed your friend's birthday (a commitment) because you saved a dog on the road.

Choices/Flexibility — Choosing the "right" right because of the circumstance.

Applying Kant’s Ethics

1. Identify Principle

2. Universalize 

3. Evaluate

4. Decide

Zoroastrianism

Good Thoughts (lead to…): The first step in the threefold path to righteousness; positive, kind thoughts.

Good Words (lead to…): Virtuous speech follows from virtuous thoughts; truthful and kind speech.

Good Deeds: Righteous actions complete the path to virtue or righteousness.

Buddha’s Middle Way

Rejection of Extremes: reject both self-indulgence and extreme asceticism.

Moderation: the path to enlightenment lies in the middle between opposite extremes.

The Middle Way: this approach promotes a balanced, virtuous life free from attachment to extremes.

Buddhism: Noble Eightfold Path

Wisdom, Ethical Conduct, Mental Discipline

Commonalities among frameworks

1. Conscious Action 2. Moderation 3. Character Development

Consequentialism

The rightness or wrongness of an action rests in its consequences or the outcomes/results it produces. (Judging Actions by Their Results)

Altruism

The belief that ethical decisions should produce good consequences for others, even at a cost to oneself.

Ayn Rand’s Objectivism

1. Rational Self Interest: Pursuing one’s own happiness through reason and productive achievement.

2. Voluntary Benevolence: Favoring chosen kindness over obligatory self-sacrifice.

Happiness should be the result of one’s own work and achievement.

Deontological Ethics: Duty-Based Framework

The ethics of an action is based on adherence to rules or duties, rather than its consequences.

Strengths: Clear Guidelines and Universal Application

Challenges: Conflicting Duties and Ignoring Consequences

Deontology Conflicts in Mass Communication

Right to Know: Balancing individual privacy rights with the public’s right to know

Objectivity: Maintaining objectivity while navigating relationships with sources

Public Interest: Serving the greater goos, while harming some figures/institutions

Case Studies in Media Ethics

1. Identify Problem

2. Analyze Situation

3. Offer Solution

Challenges to Objectivity-Truth in Modern Journalism

Demographic Bias, Journalist Views, Technological Change, and Economic Pressures

Fourth Estate

The press as watchdog on government.

SPJ Code of Ethics

Seek Truth, Minimize Harm, Act Independently, Be Accountable.

Fake News

Deliberate misinformation for gain.

Junk News

Sensationalized or trivial content.

Ethics-Driven Journalism

Focus on context, truth, and public good, not conflict.

American Marketing Association Code

Do no harm; foster honesty and fairness.

Institute for Advertising Ethics

All communication fields share truth as a goal.

TARES Test

Truthfulness, Authenticity, Respect, Equity, Social Responsibility.

Coherence Theory of Truth

Truth fits within social beliefs, not always objective.

Deontological vs Consequentialism

Duty-based vs outcome-based ethics.

Media Concentration

Few corporations control majority of media.

Horizontal, Vertical, and Conglomerate Integration

Mergers across sectors.

Stockholder vs Stakeholder Theory

Profit vs broader public good.

Social Responsibility Theory

Media must provide truth, diversity, and access.

News Deserts

Areas with little or no credible local journalism.

Ad Principles

Clear, concise, emotional or humorous, ethically persuasive.

What are the main roles of the media in democracy?

Watchdog, informer, facilitator.

What does the SPJ Code of Ethics emphasize?

Truth, minimizing harm, independence, accountability.

Why is public trust essential in journalism?

It sustains media’s credibility and democracy.

What’s the TARES Test?

A framework ensuring truth, authenticity, respect, equity, and responsibility.

How does deontological ethics differ from consequentialism?

Deontological = duty-based; Consequentialism = outcome-based.

What’s the danger of media concentration?

Fewer voices, manipulation, reduced democracy.

news desert

Community lacking credible local news coverage.

What are ethical harms of TikTok?

Data exploitation, misinformation, mental health effects.

What are the key principles of social media ethics?

transparency, respect, responsibility, authenticity.