media ethics midterm review

media companies have moral agency, whereas tech companies argue they are neutral

the main reason to consider platforms as media companies rather than tech companies is _________

teleology

this is a word, from the greek, that describes consequentialist ethics

deontology

this is a word, from the greek, that describes duty-based ethics

relationships

the central focus of care ethics is __________

the training of ethical muscles through constant practice

define the word phronesis

facts over stereotypes, care with words

name one of the best practices from the hutchins commission for journalists

distortion of reality

according to the study by young, kananovich, and johnson, the many possible harms of content on social media can best be generalized as a ________

hedonism focuses on pleasure and pain while utilitarianism focuses on happiness and harm

hedonism differs from utilitarianism in what way

non-maleficence, fidelity, reparation, formal justice, autonomy

name three of ross's perfect duties

justice

according to nel noddings, the value diametrically opposite to care ethics is ________

the good life, human flourishing

define the word eudaemonia

market model and public sphere model

name the two models of journalism that are often in tension with one another

individual users/content-creators

according to the study by young, kananovich, and johnson, participants in the survey placed both blame and responsibility for solving harms on social media and ______

john stuart mill

utilitarianism is most associated with which philosopher

golden mean

aristotle's principal that a virtue is found at the midpoint between extreme deficiency and excess of a quality is better know as the principal of the ________

mirror, watchdog, marketplace

name the three metaphors commonly used to describe journalism's role in democracy

always act such that you can will your maxim to be a universal law

describe kant's first categorical imperative

attentiveness, responsibility, competence, responsiveness

the four sub-elements of care

role model

to become a virtuous person in any facet of your life, it is essential to have a _______ as a guide

john dewey and walter lippman

name the two 1920s scholars who debated the role of journalism in democracy

subjective, hard to know what is "good" for certain circumstances

give a criticism of utilitarianism/consequentialism

act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always ... as an end and never merely as a means to an end

describe kant's second categorical imperative

luxury goods

according to the study on social media discussed on freakonomics, social media is best approximated to __________ due to people being willing to pay money to deactivate their entire friend group's access to social media

it must exist or have the potential to exist

what must be true of a relationship for care ethics to apply

Consequentialism

“the good”, benefits/outcome consequences, includes hedonism and utilitarianism

Hedonism

pleasure and pain analysis in decision making (avoid pain and increase pleasure)

happy vs pleasure

Happy: serotonin, long term, shared, etheral (above neck)

Pleasure: dopamine, short term, addictive, body, more

Act Utilitarianism

action is correct if it produces greatest possible happiness for greatest number affected while producing least harm for fewest affected individuals

“right now consequences”

Harm

Value of individual rights and personal liberty

Rule Utilitarianism

middle of consequensalism and duty based:

correct moral decision rules on whose inclusion in our moral code will more likely produce better results than other rules

rules tend to lead to better outcome

Richard Brandt

Rule Utilitarianism

Duty Based ethics

“the right”

a is ethical to extent that it follows a rule

Ross’s Perfect Duties

don’t harm, fidelity/keep promise, reparation, formal justice

Ross’s Imperfect duties

you should: beneficence (make others happy), gratitude, honesty, self improve, distributive justice

Deontology

rule based “duty”

Teleology

ends or consequences “outcome”

Immanuel Kant

categorical imperative, autonomy

Categorical Imperative

act in way that you treat humanity as a person always as an end and not a means to an end

-permissible if and only if A doesn’t violate autonomy of moral agent

-obligatory is not doing A would violate autonomy

Phronesis

practical wisdom, we learn by doing until becomes habit

Habituation

when we practice courage, we become couragous

Heraclitus

reflection and role matter in good character

virtue ethics

act as virtuous person would in similar circumstances

exemplars

people who practice virtues in their lives

Eudaimonia

“ the good life” and fully flourishing

Plato cardinal virtues

temperance, fortitude, prudence, justice

Aristotle Golden Mean

moral maturity seek action that furthers excellent moral character, between two extremes

Carol Gilligan

“women tend to reason through ethical problems different than men” because they have been taught language of care and self sacrifice

duty of care

how can we maximize relationships as key factors in ethical decision making

Nel Noddings

ethics is should be concrete and not abstract

elements of care (nel noddings)

attentiveness, responsibility, competence, responsiveness

Gilligan obligation to care

1. when relationships exist (potential to exist)

2. need for care

3. able to provide care

Euthypro

1. right to persecute wrongdoers

2. right is what’s dear to God

3. what god approves = right

Divine Command Theory

to say action A is right = God approves action A

Euthrypro Dilemna

is something right because God says or does God say approve because its right

Problems with divine command theory

1. how do you know whats from God

2. what is source of morality if not God

3. if true, morality is objective

ethical cultural relativism

it is right for S to do action A if S’s culture approves of S doing A

Problem with cultural relativism

• no objective moral truths

• no standard to measure morality

Journalism role in democracy

Mirror: reflect good and bad within society

Watchdog: bark to sound alarm and bite to defend little guy

Marketplace: provide marketplace of ideas to cover range of topics, views, and issues

Tension of journalism in democracy

between public sphere and market model

private business with public trust

Dewey Lippmann debate

Lippmann- low literacy rate and less leisure means too much info for people to take in and vote accurate

Dewey- what matters is journey, not destination

Hutchins commission

1947- press is endangering its own freedoms with

1. Sensationalism: scandal, blood

2. Ownership concentration: too many news orgs

*journalism is public service to be conducted professionally

objectivity method

to ensure unbias, you can

1. test info

2. weigh evidence

3. use transparent means

4. verify info

False Balance

balance for its own sake is problematic: giving each side equal weight regardless of truth does not benefit

Image ethics process

staging, digital manipulation, permission

image ethics of meaning

how will audience react/what will take away from image

-stereotyping

-images of grief, destruction,

human suffering (why)

Image restoration remedies

denial, evasion of responsibility, reducing offensiveness, corrective action, mortification

Denial

refute accusation or harm of act and shift blame to another person or organization

evasion of responsibility

refer to action as response of offensive act

suggest not enough information

claim action was accident and they had right intention

reducing offensiveness

increase positivity to offset negative ones

play down effects of wrongful act

attack accusers and compensate victims

corrective action

promise to correct problem

yes we messed up, how can we fix

mortification

confess, accept blame, ask for forgiveness

moral myopia

“moral blindness”

inability to determine moral qualities

*consumer is smart

greenwashing

making unenvironmental products seem healthy/sustainable

claims

if making claim, must imply casual relationship and make specific comparisons and define in fine print

qualified claims

better or helps

puffery

‘worlds best’ so out there that reasonable people wouldn’t believe it

endorsements

must reflect honest opinions, findings, beliefs of the endorsers

influencer marketing rules

must disclose financial, personal relationships and put it where you can see it

if expert, must be qualified for evaluating product

Lessig 4 modes of regulation

Law

Market

Norms

Design

john perry barlow

said internet would only have golden rule to be humane and fair

fighting neutrality

platforms meant to be seen as neutral

fighting beta mode

platforms say they are constantly in testing for bugs and are constant progressing

AI Ethics

used to be democratized but know ownership is impacting it all