JOMC 101 Principles of Mass Media Exam 2

Morals

Refers to an individual's code of behavior based on religious or philosophical principles. Morals are defined as right and wrong in ways that may or may not be rational religious or philosophical code or behavior that may not be rational.

Ethics

A rational way of deciding what is good for individuals or society. Ethics provide away to choose between competing moral principles and to help people decide in cases where there is not a clear cut or a right answer.

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ): Code of Ethics

https://www.spj.org/pdf/spj-code-of-ethics.pdf

*Know the headings!

SPJ Code of Ethics - Heading 1

Seek truth and report it

SPJ Code of Ethics - Heading 2

Minimize harm

SPJ Code of Ethics - Heading 3

Act independently

SPJ Code of Ethics - Heading 4

Be accountable and transparent

Aristotle

Writings on ethics, logic, natural science, psychology, politics, and the arts. Ultimate goal of all human effort is "the good".

Family tree: studied under Plato, tutored Alexander the Great

The Golden Mean

Aristotle's term for describing ethical behavior as a midpoint between extremes: "Achieving happiness, involved striking the balance between the 'just right point between excess and defect'"

To behave ethically, an individual must... (according to Aristotle) - 3 terms

1. Know what they are doing

2. Select their action with a moral reason

3. Act out of good character

Who is Ida B. Wells?

Journalist, educator, human rights activist, women's rights activist, founder of NAACP.

Fought for women's right to vote and to outlaw lynching (know the lynching part!!)

"The Struggling Girl" by Kevin Carter

Photograph won the Pulitzer Prize in 1994 but because of the backlash received from not helping those impacted by the famine, Carter took his own life at the young age of 33 (in 1994)

Categorical Imperative

Concept developed by Immanuel Kant. Also known as "The Principle of Universality": We should act in a way in which we would be willing to have everyone else act.

"Society must adhere to moral codes that are universal and unconditional"

Hutchins Commission

The report reached 2 major conclusions:

1. The press has a responsibility to give voice to the public and society

2. The free press was not living up to that responsibility to the public because if its need to swerve its commercial masters

Social Responsibility Theory (5 Requirements)

1. The media should provide a truthful, comprehensive, and intelligent account of the day's events in a context that gives them meaning

2. The media should serve as a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism

3. The media should project a representative picture of the constituent groups within the society

4. The media should present and clarify the goals and values of the society

5. The media should provide full access to the day's news

Who is Nellie Bly?

Pioneering investigative journalist. Famous for going undercover by pretending to be insane and getting institutionalized. Exposed the abuses of the system.

The development of the free press is because of....

the First Amendment.

*This protects not only popular or conventional ideas; it protects all forms of expression, including offensive ideas

(The First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.")

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Laws passed making it a crime to criticize the government of the United States.

The Smith Act (1940)

Becomes a crime to advocate the violent overthrow of the government (to protect the gov. from the Communist Party)

USA Patriot Act (2001)

In order to combat terrorism, the following is now allowed under the 4th Amendment: wiretaps, domestic surveillance, broadened accusations of terrorism

(4th Amendment: rights to search and seizures)

Can a social media company legally ban you from posting under the 1st Amendment?

Yes, the 1st Amendment protects us from the government - not other companies and corporations.

Guest Speaker on 10/1

Shoun Hill - professor at UNL. Talked about limited spots for photography class travelling abroad. Must submit a portfolio to be considered.

3 main issues of protecting individuals

1. Libel

2. Invasion of Privacy

3. Right to a Fair Trial

Libel

A published statement that unjustifiably exposes someone to ridicule or contempt

(Individuals have the right to protect themselves themselves from being harmed by the media. US individuals are allowed to sue the press for damage the public has suffered.)

3 elements for a statement to be libel

1. Defamation

2. Identification

3. Publication

Defamation

To damage a person's reputation in some way

Identification

Defamation must be proved to apply to an individual to be sued for libel.

(Another reader must agree that the comment applies to the person suing. Leaving a person's name out is not enough)

True or false: The press cannot be restricted from publishing something, but it can be held accountable for what it does publish

True

(Example of recent defamation - Amber Heard and Johnny Depp case)

Publication

In order to be libelous, the statement must be published (or broadcasted), and seen by someone other than the author and the person defamed.

Privilege

A legal defense against libel that holds that statements made in government meetings, in court, or in government documents cannot be used as the basis for a libel suit

Invasion of Privacy (4 Types)

1. Intrusion

2. Embarrassment

3. False light

4. Misappropriation

Intrusion

Invasion of privacy by physical trespass into a space surrounding a person's body or onto property under his or her control.

Embarrassment

Invasion of privacy where a journalist publishes something that is true but embarrassing and not newsworthy about a person.

False Light

Invasion of privacy in which a journalist publishes untrue statements that alter a person's public image in a way that they cannot control.

Misappropriation

Invasion of privacy by using a person's name or image for commercial purposes without their permission.

Guest Speaker on 10/3

Dr. Ryan Tan, Esports. Introduced interface, mechanics, content (IMC) gameplay components.

Who is Darnella Frazier?

Filmed George Floyd and police officers leading to her being labeled as a community journalist

The relationship among politicians, citizens, and the press can take vastly different forms in other nations, depending on (3 things)

1. The country's culture

2. Government

3. Level of development

Four Theories of the Press (1956)

University of Illinois Journalism Professors:

1. Fred S. Siebert

2. Theodore Peterson

3. Wilbur Schramm

Built argument around 2 value- orientated theories about how the press should behave:

- Authoritarian

- Libertarian

Two variations:

- Soviet/communist

- Social responsibility

Last Rights: Revisiting Four Theories of the Press by John C. Nerone, et. al (1995)

No longer considered timeless, instead they reflect different time periods.

- Authoritarian Theory

- Communist Theory

- Libertarian Theory

- Social Responsibility Theory

- Development Theory

Development Theory

a theory of appropriate press behavior that states that developing nations may need to implement press controls in order to promote industry, national identity, and partnerships with neighboring nations

Authoritarian Theory

- A theory of appropriate press behavior that says the role of the press is to be a servant of the government, not a servant of the citizenry

- Oldest theory in the press

- Roots come from royal control societies

- Practiced most by totalitarian states

- Modern day: giving permits to only certain printers, prosecuting anyone who violates generally accepted standards of the press

Communist Theory

- A theory of appropriate press behavior that says the press is to be run by the government to serve the government's own needs

- Press is run by the gov.

- All media is required to follow the Communist Parties dictatorship

- Originates out of beliefs of absolute right and wrong

- Example: Vietnam

Libertarian Theory

- A theory of appropriate press behavior that says the press does not belong to the government but is instead a separate institution that belongs to the people and serves as an independent observer of the government

- Opposite of Authoritarian

- Main functions: inform, entertain, advertise

- People want to know the truth and be guided by it, the only way to arrive at the truth is for ideas to be freely and openly discussed, different people will have different opinions - most rational ideas will be accepted

- Example: USA

Social Responsibility Theory

- A theory of appropriate press behavior based on the concern that, although the press may be free from interference from the government, it can still be controlled by corporate interests; an outgrowth of libertarian theory.

- Main functions: provide news, give information for self-governance, overseer of gov., serve economic functions, provide entertainment, profitable enough to avoid outside pressures

- Gov. does not control, corporations and individuals control it

- Example: France, Sweden

The New 5 Dimensions

Alan Wells: over which media could be rated:

- Who CONTROLS the media system?

- Who is FINANCING the media industry?

- What are the media trying to accomplish with their PROGRAMMING?

- Who is the TARGET AUDIENCE?

- How do organizations hear back about their media from their audiences (FEEDBACK MECHANISM)

Al Jazeera

News not centered by the government, based in Qatar, world based news.

Manga in Japan

Popular category of magazines