MCOM 200 FINAL EXAM STUDY 86 Questions with Answers
The functions of mass media in society. - CORRECT ANSWER Surveillance, Interpretation, Linkage,
... [Show More] Transmission of Values, Entertainment
surveillance - CORRECT ANSWER refers to what we call the news and information role of the media
beware surveillance - CORRECT ANSWER a media function that occurs when the media inform the public of short-term, long-term, or chronic threats
instrumental surveillance - CORRECT ANSWER transmission of information that is useful and helpful in everyday life
interpretation - CORRECT ANSWER they don't just report facts and data they report the ultimate meaning and significance of an event.
Linkage - CORRECT ANSWER The mass media are able to join different elements of society that are not directly connected take for instance a cancer telethon on tv this is an example of a linkage function. The needs of those suffering from the disease are matched with the desire of those who wish to see the problem eliminated, or like a Facebook or go fund me account.
Transmission of Values - CORRECT ANSWER Socialization- refers to the ways and individual comes to adopt the behavior and values of a group
Entertainment - CORRECT ANSWER Used to entertain the audience like sound recording and motion pictures. The comic section of a newspaper could also be considered a form of entertainment.
Mass Audience - CORRECT ANSWER A large and diverse audience
- If communication is motivated by a need to each and attract the largest possible audience, it tends to be lower in cultural and intellectual content
The "dual identity" of the mass media. What are these two identities? What is their relationship to each other? - CORRECT ANSWER 1) has a social responsibility and 2) profit making institution, they want to make money
Law of Large Numbers - CORRECT ANSWER Most media in the US is commercial which is making money of commercial advertising so using that they try to attract the largest number of audience members. (Leads to lower intellectual and artistic values in content)
Law of the Right People - CORRECT ANSWER The relationship between commercial media and advertising. And advertisers try to attract a specific target audience. Targeting mostly younger people and people with higher disposable income
Law of Pleasing the Advertisers - CORRECT ANSWER Media thinks before biting the hand that feeds them. They think how stories or segments will affects the advertisers. But if it effects public safety and regards a large advertiser and the media does not expose it they have failed the public good.
* Concentration and conglomeration in the media; definition and implications. - CORRECT ANSWER -Concentration in media ownership: An ownership pattern in which the majority of media outlets are owned by few owners.
-Conglomeration in media ownership: When many media outlets are owned (partially or completely) by large conglomerates whose primary business is not media related
Current trends in the mass media (demassification, globalization). - CORRECT ANSWER -People are demanding different things, different education
demassification- breaking media into smaller parts such as print and electronic
globalization- using media a form of cross cultural exchange of ideas.
The importance of the invention of the printing press and its social effects. - CORRECT ANSWER -Easier / cheaper means of material. More people had access to knowledge. Democracy increased. Religious reformation.
Authoritarian Theories of Press - CORRECT ANSWER Authoritarian: Media should report on what the elite say. Elites are wise.
-Nature of the government: Good and Wise
-Nature if the Ordinary Human: Ignorant and in need of guidance.
-Nature of the truth: accessible only to the wise governing elites.
-Role of the press: to transmit the wisdom of the authorities to the masses. [Dissent with authority breeds disorder and is against the best interests of the people.
Libertarian Theory of Press - CORRECT ANSWER Libertarian: Power can corrupt the elite.
Nature of the government: prone to corruption. Needs to be watched
-Nature of human beings: able to discover the truth for
themselves. Rational.
-Nature of the truth: stronger than falsehood, emerges as a result of open
debate in a "free market-place of ideas," will survive the clash with falsehood and be recognized by everyone at the end
-Role of the press: to disseminate all ideas freely, and to function as a "watchdog" of the government and other powerful elites.
Benjamin Day - CORRECT ANSWER Founder of the first mass-oriented newspaper. The father of the PENNY PRESS.
James Gordon Bennett - CORRECT ANSWER Founder of the first full-fledged newsroom (Mid-1800's)
Horace Greely - CORRECT ANSWER Pioneered the first editorial page, fought for social justice
Joseph Pulitzer - CORRECT ANSWER Mad the newspaper more readable and visually attractive. Combined serious and enterprising journalism with sensationalized techniques to attract readers.
W.R. Hearst - CORRECT ANSWER Imitated and built on the sensationalized aspects in Pulitzer's approach to journalism. Sparked the "YELLOW JOURNALISM" period (known for bizarre methods used by Pulitzer and Hearst in their competition to attract the largest number of readers)
The Hutchins Commission - CORRECT ANSWER The Hutchins Commission Report (1947). Increasing attention to ethics and professionalism. The emergence of the notion of the social responsibility of the press. Emergence of media self-criticism/self-regulation
What are some of the means of self-regulation (and safeguarding socially responsible media performance from the pressure of profits) that have been tried by the media themselves? - CORRECT ANSWER Colombian journalism review. Instead of allowing other bodies to regulate you, you are careful and regulate yourself.
The response of the magazine industry to the advent of television. - CORRECT ANSWER Magazines found a different way. Became extremely specialized.
The social role of magazines. - CORRECT ANSWER Influential, investigative journalism. Muckrakers.
- A muckraker was any of a group of American writers identified with pre-World War I reform and exposé writing. The muckrakers provided detailed, accurate journalistic accounts of the political and economic corruption and social hardships caused by the power of big business in a rapidly industrializing United States.
The technological basis of radio and the major stages of its historical development from a medium of point-to-point communication to a general audience mass medium to a specialized medium. - CORRECT ANSWER Radio came about as a result as the invention of transmitting sound wirelessly. Point to point maritime communication (Sea) (Distress signals) Frank Conrad- worked for Westinghouse. "It'd be cool to send music over airways" Turn this into something people want we can make money. RCA. kdka first radio station.
The technical and legal bases for regulation of broadcasting. How did broadcasting come to be regulated by the government when there are no comparable regulations for the print media? - CORRECT ANSWER Ships must carry that technology on board. Signals started clashing. Government assigned frequencies. No regulation for print media.
The origins of the Federal Communications Commission and the nature of its role and responsibilities. - CORRECT ANSWER Established in June 1934. Previously the Federal Radio Commission which was established in 1927. Equal time rule- political campaigns must have equal coverage and equal access.
Fairness Doctrine- Controversial public issues need to be covered in a balanced way. Repealed in 1987.
The nature of the network/affiliate relationship in broadcasting. - CORRECT ANSWER Networks pay the affiliates to carry programs. Cable & Internet aren't regulated by FCC
What are the specific features of radio which help make it an economically healthy industry despite the competition from the other media? - CORRECT ANSWER Attracts local audience and boosts local business. later on it became extremely specialized.
The historical development of television and its evolution as a news and entertainment medium. - CORRECT ANSWER Entertainment Medium: TV began as a strong entertainment medium and has remained so. Reflecting the changing times (and increasing competition) the programing has gone from highly conservative to highly risqué.
News Medium: TV began as a public service but gradually developed to become a major TV functions and a "hot item" for both networks and their local affiliates. [The majority of US population turns on television rather than newspapers for news]
Non-commercial radio and television/public service broadcasting; origins of the concept and the manner of its application in the U.K., Japan, and the U.S. - CORRECT ANSWER broadcasting gets money from foundations, memberships, more independent.
UK & Japan- BBC (UK) and NKH (Japan) are funded by receiver fees. They have been popular with audiences and competed effectively with commercial broadcasting in these countries
US- PBS in the US is less popular. It is partially funded by the Congress through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Other funds come from corporations, foundations, and viewers on a voluntary basis.
Cable television and broadcast satellites; how do they work? What are their technological differences with over-the-air (traditional) broadcasting? - CORRECT ANSWER Not regulated by the FCC. Has no membership with the FCC. Very specialized programing.
Head End-Distribution System-House DropContent Providers who send their signals to, broadcast center which take the programming and transmits it to, geosynchronous communications which receive the programs for the broadcast center and sends them back down to, a small satellite receiving dish which picks up the signal and transmits it to, a satellite receiver which transforms the signal so that it can be viewed on conventional TV sets
What were the major regulations in the broadcasting industry? Which ones have been repealed since the early 1980s? Which still remain? What are the primary arguments used by broadcasters in their efforts to urge deregulation of broadcasting? - CORRECT ANSWER Station needs to be registered with FCC. No hate speech.
The Equal time rule still exists but stations are very loose on it but the Fairness doctrine was repealed in 1987.
No Ownership of both print and electronic media in the same market.
Commercial time limitation and educational program requirements for radio.
Broadcasting content must serve public interest, necessity, and convenience. The public can make a case against a station at the time of license renewal. Also, license can be revoked if FCC decides there are blatant abuses. No pre-determined limitations con content except those regarding tobacco and liquor advertising.
The Self-regulating market theory- The market will regulate itself. Those media that serve the public with survive and those that don't will fail.
The new information technologies have undermined the limited spectrum rational behind broadcasting regulation because it is now technically possible to have unlimited numbers of channels
The "new information age" (or the age of "the third communications revolution.") What is revolutionary about the information age? What are some of its potentially positive and negative economic and social implications - CORRECT ANSWER Marriage of satellite and computers. Very fast. Didn't have to handwrite books, faster. Telegram- very fast. No horse and carriage. Computing- satellites.
What is news? Definition of news, news values, and the many forces and factors (e.g., the journalists' values and predispositions, journalistic forms and styles, institutional routines, etc.) that determine what will or will not appear in the news media - CORRECT ANSWER News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different media: word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting, electronic communication, or through the testimony of observers and witnesses to events.
News values are "criteria that influence the selection and presentation of events as published news". These values help explain what makes something "newsworthy".
The Primary attribute of news or news values in the US are: Novelty, Disaster, Drama, and Conflict.
Others include: Prominence, Timeliness, Currency (Hot Topics), Human Interest, Progress, Consequence, and Proximity.
What are the many constraint shaping the news and their implications for the information/surveillance function of the mass media? - CORRECT ANSWER External Forces: Events, Audience Interest, News Sources/interest groups/government, Economic considerations, news hole, news flow, staffing, competition.
The media work under a large number of constraints. Many different forces shape the news. Even the best of the news media can only provide us with a glimpse of reality. They are not a mirror of reality.
"Objectivity" in journalism. What does it mean? How is it practiced? Why is "objectivity" as a form of reporting criticized by media critics? According to the critics, what is wrong with "objectivity" as it is practiced in news reporting today? - CORRECT ANSWER Objectivity in journalism aims to help the audience make up their own mind about a story, providing the facts alone and then letting audiences interpret those on their own.
-Values of editors and journalists always influence the news. Absolute objectivity does not exist. Even if there is not opinion stated the selections of the facts themselves and the manner of their presentation always reflects only one among many competing views of reality.
-Some of these values are shared by all journalists who come from the same culture (ex. Individualism, faith in responsible capitalism)
-But other values such as political affiliation and ideological orientation differ among journalists.
-Although journalists should and do strive for objectivity/balance it is inevitable that these differing predispositions will leave their mark on the selection and reporting of the news.
Two philosophical views on objectivity: - CORRECT ANSWER 1.) Objectivity is fully possible. Just set aside your personal biases and only report the facts.
2.) Objectivity is impossible. We are all influenced by our own predispositions and values. What we select to report as fact is determined by what we consider to be important. This is a largely subjective process.
We should try to be balanced and fair but give up the pretense of objectivity - CORRECT ANSWER 1.) As a state of open mind
2.) As a form of reporting
The journalistic community tends to believe that the objective form of reporting i.e., the hard news style, is reflective of an objective state of mind.
Separation of facts and opinions does not guarantee objectivity. This is because the reporter's opinion has already influenced the selection and emphasis of facts in the report
* The wire services (or news services) and other sources of shared information among the news media (i.e., video news services, supplemental services, and syndicates). What is their function and significance? What are some of the criticisms directed at these services, particularly the international wire services? What was the nature of the international debate generated by this criticism? - CORRECT ANSWER Wire Service- A news agency that supplies syndicated news by wire to newspapers, radio, and television stations. (Associated Press and Rueters)
One big criticism is when wire services make mistakes misinformation spreads and since they provide stories all over the world the issues could happen in any country and all the stories could be wrong.
The historical development of advertising in the U.S. - CORRECT ANSWER Advertising has existed in some form since the birth of the media.
As we know it today, i.e., as a major source of funding for the media, advertising began with the advent of the PENNY PRESS
Pre-requisites for advertising to flourish
-Industrialization/mass production
-Availability of mass distribution networks
-Abundance of goods
-Economic prosperity
The structure and functions of the advertising industry. - CORRECT ANSWER 1.) Full-Service advertising agencies are involved in every stage of the advertising process; from market research and concept development to buying time or space and placing ads in the media
2.) Specialized services focus on only one aspect of the process, e.g., creative boutiques develop ad concepts; media buying firms select the appropriate media and place the ads.
The techniques used in producing ads. - CORRECT ANSWER Brand Name Advertising: Used mostly in products which cannot be sharply differentiated from the competitor's product (e.g., soap, cooking oil, butter, toothpaste, ect.)
Rational reasoning: Provision of factual information about the product and its advantages
Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Emphasizing the product's unique advantage over similar products.
*** In general, advertisers try to create a brand "image" that associates the brand or product with what the people in the target market find desirable (e.g., being happy, having fun, being popular, sexy, classy, successful, ect.)
Trends in market research; psychographics. - CORRECT ANSWER For many years target markets were defined in terms of demographics (age, gender, education, income level)
More recently, markets are being defined in terms of "psychographic," namely groups of people identified on the basis of their values and lifestyle.
Criticism of advertising, both in terms of content and as an economic activity. - CORRECT ANSWER Advertising is criticized on two fronts: in terms of content and as an economic activity
Criticism: Content
- Use of sex in advertising
- Advertising to children
- Focus on selling images of the good life, manipulating people's desires and emotions rather than giving them useful information.
- Portrayals of Minorities in advertising
Criticism: Economic Activity
- Advertisers claim that advertising promotes competition, decreases prices, enhances products, and increases sales and creates jobs.
- Critics argue that big time advertising (as opposed to local/low-cost advertising) in fact,
o Contributes to monopoly. [It therefore works against the interests of consumers and small businesses.]
o Raises prices on products because of the advertising cost
Regulation of advertising. Who regulates advertising and what is the nature of this regulation? - CORRECT ANSWER Early in its history, advertising was replete with misleading, even false, claims. This led to a need for regulation.
Self-Regulation:
- Media self-regulation (e.g., the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval)
- Advertising industry self-regulation: National Advertising Review Council
- Self-regulation as a means of maintain credibility and preempting government regulations
- Government Regulation:
- The Federal Trade Commission was established in 1914 as an agency to protect advertisers from false claims of their competitors. Later, it gradually became a watchdog agency to protect the consumer.
- Depending on the severity of the case, FTC has the power to proceed in a number of ways:
o Ask that the advertising be taken off the air
o Ask for the advertiser to run corrective ads
o Issue fines
Ask for court injunctions to stop an ad
The historical development of public relations. - CORRECT ANSWER 1870's - 1900's: The rise of industrialists who had little respect for the public and its opinions/interest. Increasing business corruption
Early 1900's: The "Muckrakers" exposed business-government collusion and corruption in magazine articles.
1908: Modern Public Relations was born when Ivy Lee, known as the father of PR, began to help business change its image through greater attention to public opinion and more open relationship with media and the public
WWI: The US government established the Creel Committee to control war information, sell Liberty Bonds, convince American people of the war's necessity, support the Red Cross, etc.
1923: Edward Barneys wrote Crystalizing Public Opinion the first book on public relations.
1930: Paul Garrett became the first public relations director of the General Motors Corp. Garret pioneered the idea of business helping the community on the basis of "enlightened self-interest."
WWII: The Office of War Information was established by the US government to promote the war effort.
1945-present: Public relations grew rapidly
The structure and functions of the public relations industry. What do PR representatives do? (both in terms of the broad objectives of the job and the specific functions/duties associated with it). - CORRECT ANSWER Public Relations is:
- An Umbrella term that includes publicity, promotion, and press agentry, plus behind-the-scenes promotional work in political campaigning, lobbying, sports, or any other field.
- The attempt, by information, persuasion, and adjustment, to engineer public support for an activity, cause, movement or institution.
- A management tool for leaders in business, government, and other institutions to establish mutually beneficial relationships with other institutions and groups.
- The job of creating and maintaining o favorable image for a person, or institution,
Some Important steps in PR work.
- Identify the relevant publics
- Study the image the publics hold about the client. Conduct public opinion polls
- Study the client's image as it is reflected in the media. Review news clips and videos.
- Advise the management on policy moves that would enhance their public image.
- Design PR campaigns that would publicize these moves and use other techniques to enhance client image.
Differences between advertising and public relations. - CORRECT ANSWER Similarities:
- Both advertising and public relations aim to persuade people about something, to shape attitudes and opinion
- Both need the mass media
Differences:
- Public relations are much broader in scope. Advertising is much narrower in scope.
- Public Relations focuses on "selling" causes and institutions. Advertising focuses on selling products.
- The publicity and promotion that is obtained through publicity through advertising needs to be paid for.
- Advertising is "controlled" mass communication. Public relations is not, although it does try to exercise as much control on the process and content of mass communications as possible.
- Public relations involve participating in management decisions. Advertising does not.
The image of public relations as a profession. What is being done to improve it? - CORRECT ANSWER Education and research
-"Professionalism" through certification and recognition of ethical standards (e.g., efforts by the Public Relations Society of America, PRSA)
-The PSRA code of ethics
Research in mass communication. Applied and theoretical areas of research. What are the major areas of theoretical research in mass communication? - CORRECT ANSWER There are two questions to be asked with regards to media effects:
1.) How powerful are the Media? (media intensity)
2.) What types of effects do they produce?
Theoretical research in mass media effects. How has our understanding of the intensity of media effects (i.e., powerful v.s. limited) evolved since media effects research began in the early 1930s? How does our understanding today differ from that in the 1930s and in the 1950s? - CORRECT ANSWER 1930-1940: The powerful effects model. The "Hypodermic needle" theory held that media effects were powerful, immediate, direct, universal, and uniform.
1940-1970: the limited effects model. Researchers found that audiences are not passive, but actively select media content. (selective exposure, attention, perception, and retention.) The communicator is not all powerful or in full control media effects are "contingent" on other variables.
1970-present: The powerful effects model. Although audiences are selective and media effects are contingent, long-term and repeated exposure to the same media messages can produce powerful effects.
Theoretical research in mass media effects. What are some of the types of media effects discovered and debated by researchers? (e.g., violence viewing and anti-social behavior, agenda-setting, etc.). What is the major hypothesis in each case and to what extent have these been supported by research evidence? - CORRECT ANSWER Anti-social effects:
Violence viewing--> aggressive behavior
Agenda-setting: Media Agenda --> Public agenda
Cultivation of perceptions of social reality: Media portrayals of reality can become the social reality for heavy viewers after repeated/long-term exposure
Socialization Effects: By providing cues regarding "appropriate" and "deviant" behavior, the media help transmit social values from one generation to the next.
What are some of the long-term influences of the media on culture and society as a whole? - CORRECT ANSWER Social reality
Authoritarian Press Model - CORRECT ANSWER Authoritarian Theory
-Oldest theory of the press
-role of the press is to be a servant of the government
-control of the press is carried out by:
-giving permits to only certain printers
-prosecuting anyone who violates standards
-totalitarian governments
communist press model - CORRECT ANSWER Communist Theory
-Press is run by the government to serve the government's own needs
-Only one valid political and social philosophy
-Proposes the following principles:
-The media are an instrument of the government and the Communist
Party
-The media should be closely tied to other sources of government
power
-The media's main purpose is to act as a tool for government
Propaganda
Libertarian Press Model - CORRECT ANSWER Libertarian Theory
- Press belongs to the people and serves as an independent observer of the government.
- It follows the basic ideals of the First Amendment to the US Constitution
- It is based on the following principles:
o People want to know the truth and be guided by it
o The only way to arrive at the truth is for ideals to be freely opened and discussed.
o Different people will have different opinions, and everyone must be allowed to develop their own.
o The most rational ideas will be the most accepted
- The functions of the press are to inform, entertain, and advertise
Social Responsibility Press Model - CORRECT ANSWER Social Responsibility Theory
- While the press may be free form interference by the government, it can still be controlled by the corporate interests.
- Press obligated to serve several social functions:
o Provide the news and information needed to make the political system work
o Give the public the information needed for self-governance
o Serve as an overseer of the government
o Serve the economic function of bringing together buyers and sellers through advertising
o Provide entertainment
o Be profitable to avoid outside pressures
What are the origins of press freedom in the United States? Which legal measures helped establish press freedom? - CORRECT ANSWER - Emergence of Libertarian ideas in the 17th and 18th centuries
- The Zenger Trial of 1735
- The American Revolution
- The Bill of Rights, the First Amendment
- Sustained support for press freedom by the founding fathers e.g., Thomas Jefferson
Areas of exception to absolute freedom. - CORRECT ANSWER National security, libel, fair trial, obscenity/porn, privacy
National Security - CORRECT ANSWER - The government can restrain publication of certain information if it can be shown that it endangers national security. However, legal precedence has established that there has to be a "clear and present danger" to national security before censorship can occur. In war time, government can censor the press by restricting access to information on security grounds.
Libel - CORRECT ANSWER - The media are prohibited by law from publishing false information that defames a person and injures his/her ability to earn a living. However, there is a distinction between a "private person" and a "public figure" in the ability to sue for libel. A private person needs to prove that the defamatory information was false. A public official need to prove the above plus one of the following. 1.) Malice 2.) Known falsehood 3.) Reckless disregard of the truth.
Fair Trial - CORRECT ANSWER - This is a right guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. If publicity is deemed by a judge to conflict with this right, he/she can issue orders to keep certain information form being published. This can only be done under "extraordinary circumstances,"
o Often judges try to deal with this issue by
o 1.) Change of venue
o 2.) Sequestering the jury
o 3.) Forbidding the jury to speak to reporters.
- Presently, the decision to avoid publishing prejudicial information is primarily an ethical one and rest with the media themselves.
Obscenity/porn - CORRECT ANSWER - Although laws against obscene materials exist, it has been difficult to resist the production of such materials. Can it be argued that any given material is completely "devoid of serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value?"
o Local standards are to be used when deciding what is or is not obscene.
Privacy - CORRECT ANSWER - The right to privacy is a well-established concept in American Law. Violations of privacy, however, need to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the court depending on the circumstances. Invasion of privacy falls under four categories: Intrusion, Appropriation, embarrassing private facts, false light.
Specific Laws and restrictions that apply to the media: - CORRECT ANSWER - First Amendment "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of ...the press."
- The first amendment prohibition, "Shall make no law," also extends to individual state governments. This was clarified by the Supreme Court in 1925 in the Gitlow case.
- Near vs. Minnesota (1931) reinforced this interpretation. It also established the concept of "no prior restraint." This means that it is generally not permissible to censor speech or other expression before it occurs (except under extreme circumstances)
What are some of the indirect means used by the government to manipulate and/or control the media? - CORRECT ANSWER - Reporter's Privilege- Journalists often promise anonymity to sources in order to obtain information. The press has argued that journalists should have the right to keep their sources confidential.
o The Supreme Court ruled against this privilege in 1972
o State "Shield Laws" protect reporter's privilege, but the can be over-ruled based on the Supreme Court precedence.
- Sunshine laws- In principle, all states require all public policy-making bodies to publish the dates of their meetings and open their meetings to the press.
- The Two Theoretical models of ethical decision making? - CORRECT ANSWER Deontological Ethics & Teleological Ethics,
- Laws tell us what we can and cannot do. Ethics address what we should and should not do. Ethical decisions are those we believe to be morally true.
Deontological Ethics - CORRECT ANSWER Puts the emphasis on PRINCIPLES in making decisions. Uses the "Categorical Imperative" concept. For example, we should be fair, no matter what the circumstance.
Teleological Ethics - CORRECT ANSWER o Puts the emphasis on RESULTS in making decisions. Pragmatic and Utilitarian concepts fall under this category. [Critique: But can one always predict what the result of a decision will be.]
- Hallmarks of Journalism - CORRECT ANSWER o Accuracy
o Fairness
o Objectivity
o Journalists face ethical dilemmas daily. Do you name a rape accuser? Do you let a source buy you lunch? Do you go "undercover" for a story?
o How do you gain the public's trust and do your job responsibly and with sensitivity?
o No. 1: Do not plagiarize - CORRECT ANSWER § To plagiarize is to present someone else's words as your own without giving the original source proper credit. It is NEVER OK!
o No. 2: Do not fabricate - CORRECT ANSWER § Fabrication is making up information, sources, quotes or scenes. This is what got Jayson Blair of the New York Times and Stephan Glass of the New Republic fired. Fabrication is NEVER OK!
o No. 3: Avoid conflicts of interest - CORRECT ANSWER § A conflict of interest is a real or perceived bias that prevents a journalist from being able to approach a story objectively.
§ Categories of Conflicts of Interest
• Friendship
• Freebies
• Memberships/Involvement
• Pay
o No. 4: Avoid Deception - CORRECT ANSWER § Many news organizations have a policy of NEVER using deception (going undercover or using hidden microphones or cameras). Some will use it occasionally, but in general ONLY when the story is of utmost importance to the public, and there is no other way to get the story.
o No. 5: Avoid Anonymous Sources - CORRECT ANSWER § Many news organizations use unnamed sources or first name only sources ONLY when the source is critical to the story, there is no other way to get the information, and the public has a driving need to know the information.
o Why are ethics so important to journalism? - CORRECT ANSWER § Public trust in news media is at what some believe to be an all-time low.
§ Credibility is critical to the profession
§ Ethical decision making is crucial to living a good life
o No. 6: Never Burn a source - CORRECT ANSWER § In the event a journalist does promise a source anonymity, the journalist cannot go back on that promise.
o No. 7: Don't lose objectivity - CORRECT ANSWER § Journalists do not write stories to present their own opinions but rather to present the various sides of an issue. Ethical journalists do NOT write stories because they have an ax to grind and should NOT let their own biases affect their reporting or writing.
- Society of Professional Journalism code
o Principle No. 1 - CORRECT ANSWER Seek truth and report it
- Society of Professional Journalism code
o Principle No. 2 - CORRECT ANSWER Act independently
- Society of Professional Journalism code
o Principle No. 3 - CORRECT ANSWER Minimize harm
- Society of Professional Journalism code
o Principle No. 4 - CORRECT ANSWER Be accountable [Show Less]