Journalism Ethics A Philosophical Approach

by Meyers, Christopher

• ISBN13: 9780195370805
• ISBN10: 0195370805
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-03-17
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Since the introduction of radio and television news, journalism has gone through multiple transformations, but each time it has been sustained by a commitment to basic values and best practices. Journalism Ethics is a reminder, a defense and an elucidation of core journalistic values, with particular emphasis on the interplay of theory, conceptual analysis and practice. The book begins with a sophisticated model for ethical decision-making, one that connects classical theories with the central purposes of journalism. Top scholars from philosophy, journalism and communications offer essays on such topics as objectivity, privacy, confidentiality, conflict of interest, the history of journalism, online journalism, and the definition of a journalist. The result is a guide to ethically sound and socially justified journalism-in whatever form that practice emerges. Journalism Ethics will appeal to students and teachers of journalism ethics, as well as journalists and practical ethicists in general.

Author Biography

Christopher Meyers is Professor of Philosophy at California State University, Bakersfield.

Table of Contents

""Introduction,"" Christopher Meyers

Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations

Ethics Theory and Decision-Making

""An Explanation and a Method for the Ethics of Journalism,""

""Moral Development and Journalism,""

History and Justification

""Journalistic Independence as First Amendment Guarantee and Moral Obligation,""

""The Moral Justification for Journalism,""

""The Search for Global Media Ethics,""

What is Journalism? Who is a Journalist?

""Why Journalism is a Profession,""

""Who is a Journalist?""

""The Practice of Journalism: Digital Journalism,""

Objectivity

""Inventing Objectivity: New Philosophical Foundations,""

""Is Objective News Possible?""

The Practice of Journalism

The Business of Journalism

""Journalism's Tangled Web: Business, Ethics and Professional Practice,""

""The Decline of the News Business,""

""Covering a World that's Falling Apart, When Yours is Too,""

""Journalism's Tangled Web: Business, Ethics and Professional Practice,""

""The Decline of the News Business,""

""Covering a World that's Falling Apart, When Yours is Too,""

Privacy

""The Ethics of Privacy,""

""Understanding and Respecting Privacy,""

Approaching the News--Reporters and Consumers

1.""Conflicting Loyalties and Personal Choices,""

""A Robust Future for Conflict of Interest,""

""Respecting Sources' Confidentiality: Critical but not Absolute,""

""Consumers and the News: The Ethical Responsibilities of News Consumers,""

Getting the Story

1.""The Ethos of 'Getting the Story',""

""Mitigation Watchdogs: The Ethical Foundation for a Journalist's Role,""

Ethics and Images

""Image Ethics in Personal and Public Domains,""

""Ethics and Images: Five Major Concerns,""

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