Number thirty

Jour1111 lecture week 8

I had a strong opinion on this subject before going into the lecture. In my head, ethics and journalism very often clash. Ethics should be constantly at the forefront of a journalist's mind, and yet it seems like very often, digging out the dirt to find a story so bleeding that it can't not lead, is all reporters are concerned about. I hoped that I would be proven wrong in this lecture, and that there were guidelines towards what a journalist can or can't, and should or shouldn't say. 

Ethics- all about colours

How do we know what is:

Good or bad?

Right or wrong?

Ethical or unethical?

Tacky or tasteful? (i.e. socks with sandals, either very very tacky or rather tasteful if done correctly)

Ethical theories:

·         Deontology

·         Consequentialism

·         Virtue

Every ethical paradigm/framework  fits under one of these three classifications

Deontology-

• ·         rules, principles, theories
• ·         you will do the right thing by following the rules
• ·         where do the rules come from? Ten commandments, Gilgamesh, Confucius
• ·         rules embedded in codes of conduct and codes of practice
• ·         ethics is a choice between and absolute right and an absolute wrong
• ·         ethical choices are invariably the choice between the lesser of two bad outcomes

Consequentialism-

• ·         getting a ‘good’ or a ‘right’ outcome
• ·         the outcome is the story, its all about the story
• ·         tyranny of majoritarianism
• ·         what is right is what most people think is right
• ·         the end may justify the means
• ·         the greatest good for the greatest number- majority

Virtue ethics-

• ·         intrinsic values
• ·         the values that inform our professional practice and drive the way we live
• ·         identity as a journalist is not differentiated from our identity as a person
• ·         an ethical person is one of good character- justice, courage, temperance and prudence

COURAGE is the mean between RASHNESS and COWARDICE

JUSTICE is the mean between the IN-JUSTICE of overzealous and excessive law and the INJUSTICE of LAWLESSNESS

Codes of ethics- journalist code- MEAA

Lois Lane is definitely my favourite heroine...

Thank goodness. There are codes of conduct for what people can and can't say. A world without guidelines would be one wrought with constant miscommunication, leading to disagreements and arguments, and effectively in the long run, a whole lot more wars. 

Journalists are a crucial line of communication to vast numbers of people, and have a duty to spell out the truth as it is. With such a powerful voice to society, we can only hope that it remains as ethical as possible.