Ethical Issues In Journalism

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Summarize key points This article displays various case studies revolving around the important ethical issues that journalists are subjected to. The different stances to each of the issues in the cases are provided along with each sides reasoning. Discussion questions designed to get readers’ brains thinking are provided at the end of the cases. The first case discusses undercover journalists entering schools to report about school safety. Supporters argue that there is no other efficient way to acquire this information, while opponents view it as unnecessarily scaring schools and students. The second case discusses how Sam, a video and television editor was in a situation where he needed to complete a project by a specific deadline. Sam…show more content…
This interested me as I am a communications major. It caused me to envision what I would do in this scenario if I were to encounter it in the future. I was surprised that the producer would advise Sam to get the job done, even if it meant stealing photographs. I would think that someone in the media and advertising industries would be aware of the potential consequences of such acts. In addition, it shows how much integrity some professionals lack as they are so concerned with their work and money. I was also interested in the case about Laura Cole, the journalist from Santa Clara University. This case interested me because like myself, she is a journalism major. This case made me think about how many other news sources today have shifted over the years from being outlets that truly followed the code of ethics to ones that produce content with the goal of profit. I found these cases to be interesting as they examined the issues journalists face. I am a studying journalism, so being able to read about these scenarios help me to think about how I would handle a similar situation in the future. I was interested by me how the actual journalists (workers) discussed in the cases were the ones who wanted to remain ethical, while the bosses were the ones often discouraging…show more content…
I do not understand why in society, sports are so essential, to the point where public institutions, such as schools, are willing to enact measures that could cause widespread damage. I do not understand how much underhanded action can possibly ensue within journalism. Don’t people want to be journalists because they want to tell the truth and serve the public? It is crazy to me how some superiors can be so money oriented, that they are willing to eschew the principles of their
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