Teaching Notes
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Is Media Ethics Education DOA?
No one admitted cheating despite pressure from the school’s administrators and pleas from classmates, who feared the scandal would damage the market value of their degrees. Meanwhile, the teacher of the course, New York Times columnist Samuel G. Freedman, refused to comment. But if the disgruntled posts on RateMyProfessors.com are any indication, his students hadn’t exactly been soaking up knowledge. “Maybe he could e-mail his ‘speeches’ to the students instead of making everyone suffer through the most wasted class in j-school. . . ,” one read.
There’s an old cowboy saying that goes, “When your horse dies, get off.” Journalism ethics education is a dead horse. Or else those aren’t vultures circling in the sky.
A Question for Socrates
The question of how ethics is learned, or even if it can be, is as old as Western philosophy. In Plato’s dialog Meno the title character asks, “Can you tell me, Socrates, whether virtue is acquired by teaching or by practice; or if neither by teaching nor practice, then whether it comes to man by nature, or in what other way?” Of course, Socrates, being Socrates, resists giving a definite answer. But we can’t. The sad fact is, students had better get an effective ethics education now or they may never.
Last summer I conducted an ethics workshop for some reporters and editors at the Poughkeepsie Journal, a small daily in upstate
But what I remember most is the air of defeat that clung to the staff as we sat on hard plastic chairs in the break room discussing the cases. I could hear in their voices the bitterness and cynicism of employees forced to follow corporate policies they despised. Recently, for example, the paper had started running display ads on the front page and section fronts, a much more grievous ethical lapse, their mumbled asides suggested, than anything the case studies might have to offer.
I don’t want my students to ever wear the gray, defeated expression I saw that day on the faces at the Journal. But given the downward direction in which the media are moving, and fast, how in the world can I prevent it from happening?
Teaching Media Ethics by Telling Stories
A friend of mine who teaches at a big Midwestern university recounts in class the events of her first week as a reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune. She was sent to Duluth to cover Democratic presidential candidate Hubert Humphrey on the campaign trail. When they were introduced, Humphrey vigorously shook her hand. “Oh yes, Susan,” he said, “I read your stuff all the time.” He couldn’t have read her stuff, though; she hadn’t written anything yet. “Just a few words,” she explains to her students, “but words that taught this fledging reporter a great lesson about pols and the little lies they tell.”
I usually find occasion during the semester to quote I. F. Stone’s dictum, “Every government is run by liars and thieves, and nothing they say should be believed,” to make the same point. But Susan’s story makes the point better. That’s because it has existential force. Her story vividly captures in a way a secondhand quote can’t the realities of a reporter’s life.
Some might think telling “war stories” is a waste of precious class time. I’ve a colleague who didn’t want to fall into the “trap” of regaling students with stories ad nauseam (“which, let’s face it, is easier than teaching or grading,” he said). So one semester he kept track. When he toted it all up at the end, he was surprised that he’d used less than an hour - out of 45 – talking about his newspaper experiences. And yet, he admitted, it was his stories that students seemed to remember most.
“Stories teach us how to live,” Daniel Taylor said in his essay, “The Ethical Implications of Storytelling.” What he meant was that stories preserve our experience for contemplation and evaluation. Although not all stories carry a heavy message, there’s an entire category of stories, so-called “exemplary tales,” that are told to convey a moral.
Our war stories are potentially just such tales. They can provide evidence, in ethicist John Barton’s words, of “how real human beings live through various crises and trials and remain human.” My colleague who kept tabs on his storytelling has described his stories as cautionary. Most, he said, deal with “screwups I learned from.”
But sometimes the storyteller and the audience can’t agree on what exactly the moral of a story is.
When Susan was a cub reporter on the Tribune, she interviewed the Beatles, who were on their second tour of the States. She got into their hotel room by dressing up as a waitress in an ugly, mustard-colored uniform and accompanying an actual room service waiter upstairs. Ringo took one look at her little plastic name tag – it read “Donna Brown” – and snorted, “What kind of name is that?” The waiter nudged her in the side. “Tell them what you real name is,” he urged. She did, as well as her reason for being there. Rather than throw her out, the Beatles politely answered her questions. They even let her phone for a photographer. The next day her story ran on the front page, with a photo of John sitting at a table and looking up at her and laughing as she poured coffee in his cup. She still has a glossy print of that photo somewhere.
Many of Susan’s students think she’s nuts for not having the photo hanging up in her office. They also think she’s nuts for saying she’d never participate in the same kind of stunt today. To her celebrity-struck students, disguising herself as a hotel waitress to get an interview with the Beatles seems soooo cool. They lose all sight of the fact that it wasn’t a story of vital public interest that demanded undercover methods.
Susan intends one lesson when she talks about her hard day’s night, but her students, living in a paparazzi-saturated culture, draw another. “It may be a lost cause,” she remarked to me.
Or maybe not. Negotiations over what the point of a story is can be part of the point of the story. In the process of negotiating, we test different interpretations, try out different themes. This is helpful. This is educational. Lawrence Kohlberg, the Harvard psychologist famous for his research on the stages of moral development, contended that “the teaching of virtue is the asking of questions. . . not the giving of answers.” Stories don’t necessarily have to yield clear moral rules to be of value. It’s enough sometimes if they just give us something to think about.
41 comments:
I will be discussing: 'Script Takes Sponsors From Bit Players to a Starring Role'. I will be making a video that concerns itself with the key ethical issues of the case. The article talks about how on a new show certain companies will receive particular attention and camera time. I perceive these issues to be whether or not it’s ethical because it relies on television watchers to decipher if the dominance of these products reflects real life or whether their presence is due to the sponsorship. Similarly, through analysis of the TARES model, an ethical issue that is raised is whether advertising within a show catches audiences in a vulnerable mindframe. Dramatists such as Bertolt Brecht have long criticised the ability of dramatic theatre to tell audiences what to think. By now letting corporations dictate art are we betraying a fidelity to the concept of entertainment that it should be for entertainment not indoctrination? Additionally, I will look at the issue through the perspective of Utilitarianism. I will analyse whether the presence of advertising in television is the direct result of piracy.
For my piece, I will be discussing and ultimately assessing the ethicality of "pinkwashing", the subject of the Forbes Magazine article "Pinkwashing: Corporate Sponsored Cancer". In this article, journalist Meghan Casserly, fumes over and questions the practices of certain corporations, who brand their products in line with the pink ribbon (a universal symbol associated with raising breast cancer awareness and the discovery of a cure), even while their products contain known carcinogens and chemicals. In addition, Casserly investigates the ethical stance of marketing these products in way that specifically targets women (since they are at the highest risk of breast cancer and typically control in between $.70 and $.85 per every household dollar spent). To preside over this ethical dilemma, I will subject this issue to the Potter Box, and subsequently apply the principles of Kant's Categorical Imperative (formulations one and two) and the TARES model to ultimately decide on whether or not these aforementioned tactics are in accordance with sound ethics. Furthermore, I will also take into consideration, among other things, what roles passive and active deception play in this debate, and how, if at all, vulnerable consumers are being targeted, benefitted from, and deceived as a result.
cliff --
use decision-making model. either potter or TARES. not both.
thanks,
prof g
For my project I will be completing a video based on the article Afghanistan low on News Agenda. The ethical issue presented in this story is the lack of news coverage in a place of which US troops occupy and the US has been at war. Coverage made up only 2% of news. It is a topic that is important and yet was not treated as such in news broadcasts. Many US lives are fighting and have died for our rights but we know nothing that is going on with their fight. Due to little coverage, this also causes a dilemma of little debate and a small range of public opinion on the war. People are not always conscious of it and so do not feel the need to fight for a viewpoint. I will be using the Potter box to examine this case. This model will have the ability to isolate information and then look at it all as a whole for a better understanding. Overall the Potter box will aid to reveal whether the lack of coverage by journalists is ethical and true to their duty as informers of the public.
maddie -
for principles, you might use ethical news values or even the SPJ code, which emphasizes the importance of reporting significant news.
Charlene--
I will be exploring "Pinkwashing: Corporate Sponsored Cancer" in a multimedia format. The article addresses the exploitation of cancer-cure support for marketing purposes. It says that companies are using carcinogenic pink ink and other cancer-causing agents in their daily practices, while simultaneously posing as a supporter for cancer-research. The article compares this to how some companies will "go green" when marketing to consumers, but they will use environmentally harmful products in their daily business acts. I will analyze whether it is ethical for companies to market themselves as a supporter in the search for a cure for cancer, while using cancer-causing agents. I will determine whether this is an exploitation of the public, and whether companies' hypocrisies are unethical.
charlene -
what model will you be using?
I will be analyzing the New York Times article titled "Confusing Sex and Rape." The article discusses the ethical issues that can be presented by using specific terms to report a case regarding non-consenual sex (i.e. "sexual assault" vs. "rape".) I will be producing a video that explores this issue through the lens of the TARES model. I think that by using this model, I will be able to fully assess every aspect of these types of cases in as accurate a way as possible, since it addresses how all parties will be affected by the use of this language.
dloprinzo -
TARES is designed not to be used with news coverage, but, as I said in class and the handout reiterates, specifically designed for assessing ads and pr and marketing campaigns. i'd recommend potter box or bok model for your analysis. TARES is just not appropriate.
For my project I will be analyzing the article called "Backpage.com Confronts New Fight Over Online Sex Ads" through the use of a video. The ethical dilemma presented in this article is that Backpage.com has an area on their website dedicated to adult ads. In this section many people are selling minors for sexual acts. This is a criminal act and an extreme ethical issue. When this happened to Craigslist the ads were forced to be taken down, but unfortunately most of the ads just moved to Backpage. I will be analyzing this issue through the prima facie duties that William David Ross came up with. His theory suggests that there are seven duties and obligations that we do that are right. These duties are fidelity, reparation, gratitude, justice, beneficence, self-improvement, and nonmaleficence. These duties and obligations are not fully taken into consideration by Backpage.com. The website does not seem to be obeying or following their prima facie duties and therefore what they are doing is considered unethical.
For my project, I will be creating a video that will analyze the article "Magazines Begin to Sell the Fashion They Review". The ethical issue presented here is that fashion magazines are advertising certain brands from well-known designers and making it available for purchase through e-commerce websites. This is an issue because magazines are essentially becoming like retailers as well, which makes them competition for stores that already sell similar items. Before, readers would see items they wanted in magazines and go to the store to purchase them, but are now becoming a threat since they're making it easier to purchase items through partnering sites. I will be analyzing this issue using the Potter Box because it will allow me to set out all of the information in an organized way. This will allow me to see whether or not, this trend the magazines are doing is ethical or not.
For my project I will be analyzing “Pinkwashing: Corporate Sponsored Cancer” by Meghan Casserly. The article talks about the practices of certain corporations, who brand their products in line with a universal symbol associated with raising breast cancer awareness and the discovery of a cure (the pink ribbon) targeting women and other possibly vulnerable supporters. They are trying to raise awareness for cancer while their products contain known carcinogens and chemicals that can cause cancer. The corporations market their cancer cure support while hiding behind their toxic practices. I will research, discus, and explain whether if it is ethical for companies to market themselves as a supporter for fighting cancer, while using cancer-causing products. I will use the TARES model that is geared towards advertising and public relations strategies. My paper will contain arguments whether “Pinkwashing” is exploiting lies to the public and if those companies’ actions are ethical or unethical.
I'm not sure if I remember off the top of my head, but I thought the article about the comic strip was very interesting, and I think I'm going to write a paper based on that issue (I forgot the title of the article).
My plan for this paper, is to include the Potter Box, as we've discussed in class using the four steps (facts, values, principles, and loyalties) which are somewhat relative to the article I'm describing about abortions and how the comic strip was placed.
I hope that sums it up. Not sure if I can describe in full detail, I would have to look at the article again.
dominic -
click "older posts" -- it's there.
i need to know what you perceive as the key ethical issue or issues.
thanks.
For my assignment I will discuss "Uncovering the Sadness of Young Deaths." I will use Sisella Bok's model to determine whether it is ethical to publish photos of young deaths, and photos of the grieving families. This case tackles the issue of photojournalism in intense, yet newsworthy situations. I will create a video.
molly -
can you be a little more specific about the issues are? privacy vs public right to know? sensationalism vs truth-telling?
In my paper, I will be discussing 'Confusing Sex and Rape' by Arthur S. Brisbane. This article discusses the possible misuse of language in the Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State. The key ethical issue in this case is the language used underplayed the severity of the sexual assaults in the case. I will use the TARES model and the Potter Box for this case along with other cases dealing with this issue to see whether or not the language choice was actually ethical or was simply used to take some of the heat off of the beloved defensive coordinator of Penn State.
Just read the note to cliff, I will use the Potter Box.
Kasara -
TARES isn't a model designed to used with news coverage. It's better adapted to ads & PR. Please consider using Potter Box or Bok model.
Thanks.
I will be discussing "Afghanistan Low on News Agenda" in a paper. This article discusses the lack of attention this war has received in the news because of factors such as smaller news gathering budgets, safety concerns, and a lack of interest on the part of the American public. I will use the potter box to analyze whether the lack of coverage is ethical and if the factors mentioned above are substantial enough to keep the coverage at just 2 percent of all news coverage in 2011.
I would like to do a video presentation on the “Confusing Sex and Rap” case. This issue questions whether or not journalist are limiting the truth about the case by using a limited amount of terminology that does not fully describe the situation and could confuse readers on whether this is a sex or a rap case. I would like to use the Potter Box to come up with a conclusion as to whether this is ethical or unethical of journalists as well as law enforcers.
mili -
just concentrate on news media; leave law enforcement out of it. different profession, with different purposes and norms.
For my assignment, I will be discussing about the "Sports' Recent Breakout Stars Shine a Light on Those Left Out". In which the article discusses the differences between significant rising athletes from present world and even past and future. The article further discusses how different races, gender and background issues get a different amount of attention towards them. In this article William Rhoden discussed starting Point Guard Jeremy Lin for the New York Knicks and now Quaterback Tim Tebow for the New York Jets are getting a substantial amount of media time because of their skin color they are, religious beliefs, where they are from among many other variables. In my paper I will be discussing the differences of how those types of players make on a team, city, teammates, and fans as compared to non-saturated media well gifted African Americans that do not get the same spotlight. During this assignment I will be focusing on using the Potter Box for these athletes and how it is used for them during their seasons.
jake -
what's the issue? or, to put it another way, what pirnciple does the coverage seem to you to violate or jeopardize?
I will be writing a paper on the New York Times article, "For $2 a Star, a Retailer Gets 5 Star Product Reviews." The key ethical issue in this case is that the consumers are relying on false ratings when deciding on a product to buy. Essentially this process of paying for good reviews is false advertising. If a consumer is shopping online and decides to buy one product over another because it received better reviews, the consumer has been manipulated into doing something they may have otherwise not done if they had the full information. Ratings are supposed to be candid and done by real consumers, not off of bribes. I am thinking of using the TARES or Potter Box models in my discussion
For my piece I will dicuss, "Uncovering the Sadness of Young Deaths," by Rob Nordland. The article discusses the grim reality in Kabul where the young are dying of the cold and the camp in which this this is happening is being neglected or under-reported. The artcile can be discussed in light of the public's right to know. Once people found out about Kabul many of them wanted extend their help to the camps, however the Kabul government itself does nothing to help the camp. This article highlights the idea of photojournalism being a way of exposing the unjust to the public and forcing action to be taken. It says, “In the end, I thought that as individual journalists the best thing we can do is to cover the story in the best way possible,” Ms. Bruce said. And having made that decision, “it was hard not to keep coming back to do that.” Questions that could be asked are, Is it the public's right to know what's going on in Kabul? Is it right to expose the very bleak, private and depressing scenes in Kabul that are very intimate to the families? Does it make things better or worse for the camp when such injustices are depicted in the news? (Is it safe for them). I will be doing a video and using the potter box model to answer the questions and work my way through the ethical dilemmas of the case.
natasha --
right to know is a legal concept. i think need to know is more along the lines of what you mean. in fact, you should use the right to know/need to know/want to know triptych. that, or the spj code.
For my assignment I will be looking at the case of the low news coverage in Afghanistan. I think the overall ethical issue is actually lack of coverage this extremely important issue has received, while issues regarding celebrities are seen as more important. Due to this lack of coverage regarding this issue, I will use the Potter Box to isolate each issue and decide if the journalists way of handling and portraying this issue to the public was ethical or not. I will be doing this through a video.
I am also extremely sorry this is late
It is my intention to do a video project for the "Confusing Sex and Rape" article. The key ethical issue is the use of specific words in reporting of cases of rape that often seem to downplay or diminish the graphic nature and severity of the crime. I will be using the TARES model
nicole -
the tares model is inappropriate for news coverage. it was designed to be applied to ads and pr and marketing campaigns. i advise uing another model.
thanks for your consideration.
I'm going to do my paper on the NYT article "Confusing Sex and Rape." The article criticizes the use of "sexual assault" in Mark Viera's orginial November 5, 2011 article about the Sandusky Scandal. One of the major issues is that "rape" and "sexual assault" are not interchangeable, especially legally, when there is a child involved. Children are not able to give consent thus it would be rape, not sexual assault. The use of "sexual assault" subverts the seriousness through syntax. I plan on viewing this ethical issue through the Potter Box. There are many terms that need to be defined which are essential to understanding the seriousness of the NYT choice to say "sexual assault." The Potter Box would allow me to address Wendy Murphy's claim that the NYT shied away from the word "rape" because it had to do with children. Her quote about people reading the explicit details of a rape while eating cornflakes may just be the crux of the ethical dilemma. If a journalists job is to seek the truth and report it while also minimizing harm, how can they report truthfully if the information they present has the ability to harm not only the subject, but readers as well? I think that looking at all four facets of the Potter Box will allow me to fully flesh out and understand if the NYT acted ethically or not.
I will be writing a paper for the article, "Confusing Sex and Rape." The key ethical issue is the choice of words that the media uses when reporting about rape. The media diminished the seriousness and severity of the crime that Jerry Sandusky committed. I will be analyzing my point with the Potter Box to determine whether it was ethical or not.
danielle -
language or word choice is more like the plot of the case. what's the ethical issue that the plot raises? please specify.
Oh jeez, sorry. I'll use the Potter Box.
In Afghan refugee camps, small children dying from the cold without proper living conditions. The government was denying that the deaths were occurring, therefore camp leaders summoned a photographer to document the next young death. This case does address the issue of privacy vs public right to know. Obviously death in a family is a private issue, and in this situation the deaths are also very premature. On the other hand, the issue is something that is going unnoticed and it is also important to shed light on it by bringing it into the public eye, and publicize the fact that these deaths are occurring despite the government's denial. I don't think sensationalism vs truth-telling is as much of an issue that is addressed because I wouldn't call the photos sensational—they are not blowing the situation out of proportion, they are just exposing the truth.
I will be discussing the dying and deceased children in Afghanistan. I will be using the Potter box to analyze the story. I think writing it would be the best choice.
I will be discussing the dying and deceased children in Afghanistan. I will be using the Potter box to analyze the story. I think writing it would be the best choice.
I will be doing my piece on "The Sports Breakout Stars". It will be written as a paper. I believe the major issue is the fact that guys like Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin are getting all the press because of their faith and color of the skin, rather than there performance in the sport. I will be using the Potter Box to help assess the situation.
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