Journalism Ethics Arguments and Cases

by Hirst, Martin; Patching, Roger

• ISBN13: 9780195550399
• ISBN10: 0195550390
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Journalism Ethics examines journalism ethics in practice. It examines the social context of the newsroom, the economics of the news industry and cultural expectations of what constitutes news. Covering ethical issues in the multimedia journalism environment of the 21st Century, Journalism Ethics updates theory and history through a discussion of contemporary and recent case studies that are aligned with the underlying principles of various codes of ethics and charters of editorial practice. The book provides contextualized case studies and discussion questions for classroom use, covering ethical issues in a logical manner, beginning with broad principles before focusing on specific examples.

Author Biography

Martin Hirst is a journalist, writer and researcher living in Brisbane, Queensland. Roger Patching is a journalism lecturer in the Faculty of Creative Industries, Queensland University of Technology.

Table of Contents

Table of Cases	ix
Acknowledgments	xii
Abbreviations	xiii
Preface	xv
1 The Dialectic in Journalism: Ethics and Philosophy	1	(26)
Objectives	1	(1)
Introduction: Contradictions in journalism	1	(1)
Why we need a philosophy of ethics	2	(2)
A note about the dialectic and emotional attitudes	4	(4)
Theories and origins of ethics	8	(9)
Is moral reasoning an adequate basis for media ethics?	17	(5)
Case studies	22	(5)
2 Journalists and Ideology: Freedom of the Press, Accuracy, Balance, Bias, Fairness, and Objectivity	27	(26)
Objectives	27	(1)
Introduction: Can journalists be trusted?	27	(7)
Core ideas in the ideology of journalism	34	(5)
The curse of objectivity	39	(2)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	41	(1)
Case studies	42	(11)
3 A Political Economy of Journalism Ethics: Ownership, Monopolies, and Freedom of the Press	53	(28)
Objectives	53	(1)
Introduction: A conflict of interests?	53	(3)
Australia's media monopolies	56	(7)
The market place of ideas-myth or reality?	63	(9)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	72	(1)
Case studies	73	(8)
4 On the Fault Line: Regulation, Deregulation, and Self-regulation in the Workplace	81	(23)
Objectives	81	(1)
Introduction: From principle to practice	81	(2)
Codes of Ethics, self-regulation, and mandatory regulation	83	(4)
Why did the MEAA want to change the Code?	87	(10)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	97	(1)
Case studies	97	(7)
5 The Fourth Estate: Marketing, Citizenship, and the Media	104	(35)
Objectives	104	(1)
Introduction: The duality of the news audience	104	(1)
The fourth estate: Can it be revived?	105	(4)
You've got to be up before Sunrise to animate democracy	109	(5)
A critique of the public sphere model	114	(2)
Ethics, quality, and democracy	116	(4)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	120	(1)
Case studies	121	(18)
6 The Media Goes to War	139	(30)
Objectives	139	(1)
Introduction: War-a systemic failure?	139	(6)
The military and the media after 9/11	145	(2)
Bali, October 2002: The terror frame comes home	147	(8)
What about the next war?	155	(1)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	156	(1)
Case studies	157	(12)
7 Privacy and the Public's Right to Know	169	(26)
Objectives	169	(1)
Introduction: Whose privacy?	169	(3)
Privacy laws and public interest	172	(4)
Pursuing a 'feral' Cheryl	176	(2)
The private lives of ordinary people in the news	178	(2)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	180	(1)
Case studies	181	(14)
8 The News Media and the Justice System	195	(20)
Objectives	195	(1)
Introduction: Trial by media	195	(3)
What is 'trial by media'?	198	(4)
'Trial by media' Australian style-the hounding of a Governor-General	202	(1)
The death of David Hookes	203	(1)
Bulldogs accused of pack rape	204	(1)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	204	(1)
Case studies	205	(10)
9 The News Media and the Injustice System	215	(31)
Objectives	215	(1)
Introduction: How far should you go?	215	(2)
Source confidentiality: The life-blood of good journalism?	217	(5)
Do we need 'shield laws' in Australia?	222	(5)
Race, journalism, and (in)justice	227	(7)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	234	(1)
Case studies	235	(11)
10 Issues of Deception: Plagiarism, Chequebook Journalism, Freebies, and Falsehoods	246	(23)
Objectives	246	(1)
Introduction: Sensational stories, too bad they ain't true!	246	(2)
Fair and honest means...	248	(2)
Chequebook journalism	250	(5)
Investigative and undercover reporting	255	(2)
Plagiarism and fabrication	257	(1)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	258	(1)
Case studies	259	(10)
11 Creating the Storyline: Infotainment and Digital Dilemmas	269	(21)
Objectives	269	(1)
Introduction: 'We report, you believe'-CNNNN slogan	269	(1)
Creating the storyline #1: 'Newstainment'	270	(1)
Creating the storyline #2: Spin doctors	271	(1)
Reflections and criticisms of journalism	272	(2)
Digital Dilemmas #1: Image-shifting	274	(2)
Digital Dilemmas #2: Defamation and the Internet	276	(1)
Internet journalism: Get used to it	277	(3)
Ethical dilemmas in practice	280	(1)
Case studies	281	(9)
12 The Last Word? The Future of Journalism Ethics	290	(19)
Objectives	290	(1)
Introduction: Towards an alternative news culture	290	(1)
No last word in journalism ethics	291	(8)
A grab bag of new cracks	299	(1)
The future of reflexive journalism	300	(6)
The future of ethics in journalism	306	(3)
Appendix	309	(20)
Bibliography	329	(25)
Index	354