Journalism Midterm

First Amendment

congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or profiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

Fourth Estate

journalists jobs are to act as a check for the government and find out political secrets

journalism

the objective recreation of reality within context

what must you do when using Anonymous Sourcing

get an independent source to back it up

on the record

everything is publishable--names, quotes

off the record

nothing is publishable--can go back w a paper trail

background/deep background/not for attribution

in between on and off the record; "a high ranking official said..."

sensationalism

The reporting of a single shocking event without wider significance, context, or meaning

fundamentality

The essential facts upon which the rest of the story revolves

law of identity

Accept reality and accept what isn't reality

Metaphysics

Objective reality exists; bottom fundamental building block of philosophy

Epistemology

The study or theory of the limits of the human mind; middle fundamental building block of philosophy

aesthetics

Comprehension or understanding of objective reality can be corrected from one human mind to another; top fundamental building block of philosophy

first revolution of communication

oral-->scribal

second revolution of communication

mass communication

third revolution of communication

electronic age

1450, Johannes Gutenberg

printing press

1960, Benjamin Harris

Publick Occurrences

Publick Occurrences

First time someone published something of their own views; didn't ask the king to publish

First to ever get censored--all but two copies collected and burned

Publick Occurances

1721, James Franklin

New England 'Curoant'--now Hartford Currant

New England 'Curoant'--now Hartford Currant

published without authority of the crown--but crown did nothing

1723, Ben Franklin took over New England Curoant

First practical use of Fourth Estate--covers pennsylvania legislature for free

1735: Trial of John Peter Zenger

For the first time in law: "the truth shall set you free"

libel

wrongful defamation of character

the burden of proof

to be wrong about someone that jeopardizes someone's reputation

Defense against Libel for journalists

Truth

qualified privilege

public v private distinctions

Qualified privilege

report government fairly and impartially and receive legal protection

Fair comment

you are protected to give an opinion so long as it is not malicious

Milkovich vs Lorain Journal

a statement of opinion may constitute libel if sufficiently factful to be proved true or false

Absolute privilege

elected and appointed leaders have free public discourse

Sullivan vs NYT

Actual Malice test

Actual Malice Test

public official knows information is false or shows a reckless disregard for the truth

AP vs Walker

AMT applied to public figures

1974, Gertz vs Welch

if a person does not thrust themselves into the public spotlight through promotion or circumstance, then they are a private individual

1980, Saturday evening post

how often something gets published makes a difference in the expectation of accuracy

Gross Negligence test

A publisher has to work in a grossly irresponsible manner to prove libel