Media Ethics : Cases and Moral Reasoning

by Christians, Clifford G.; Fackler, Mark; Richardson, Kathy Brittain; Kreshel, Peggy J.; Woods, Robert H.

• ISBN13: 9780205418459
• ISBN10: 0205418457
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Aiming to improve students' ethical awareness,Media Ethicsprovides a solid foundation in the theoretical principles of ethical philosophies. It presents the Potter Box as a framework for uncovering the important steps in moral reasoning for analyzing the cases that follow. Focusing on a wide spectrum of ethical issues facing media practitioners, the cases in the text cover journalism, broadcasting, advertising, public relations and entertainment. The Seventh Edition features new and updated cases and includes more cases focusing on corporations, the World Wide Web and post-September 11 news coverage.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	ix
ABOUT THE AUTHORS	xv
FOREWORD	xvii
INTRODUCTION ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES
The Potter Box Model of Reasoning	3	(6)
Using Ethical Principles	9	(3)
Five Ethical Guidelines	12	(10)
To Whom Is Moral Duty Owed?	22	(2)
Who Ought to Decide?	24	(7)
PART 1 NEWS	31	(90)
CHAPTER l INSTITUTIONAL PRESSURES	35	(19)
1. The New York Times Fires Jayson Blair	36	(3)
2. CNN in Baghdad	39	(2)
3. The Time Warner Colossus	41	(5)
4. NBC and GM's Pickup	46	(3)
5. The Wichita Experiment	49	(5)
CHAPTER 2 TRUTHTELLING	54	(18)
6. Al Jazeera	55	(3)
7. Reporting on Enron	58	(3)
8. The Unabomber's Manifesto	61	(3)
9. Fabrication at the Globe	64	(2)
10. An Enemy of the People	66	(6)
CHAPTER 3 REPORTERS AND SOURCES	72	(15)
11. Covering the Middle East	73	(3)
12. Stolen Voice Mail	76	(2)
13. Embedded Reporters	78	(2)
14. Risky Foods	80	(7)
CHAPTER 4 SOCIAL JUSTICE	87	(19)
15. Affirmative Action in Michigan	88	(3)
16. Distributing the Internet	91	(3)
17. Sexism and World Cup Soccer	94	(4)
18. Ten Weeks at Wounded Knee	98	(8)
CHAPTER 5 INVASION OF PRIVACY	106	(15)
19. The Controversial PATRIOT Act	108	(3)
20. Privacy in Cyberspace	111	(2)
21. A Prostitute on Page 12	113	(3)
22. Dead Body Photo	116	(5)
PART 2 PERSUASION IN ADVERTISING	121	(64)
CHAPTER 6 SPECIAL AUDIENCES	127	(15)
23. The Littlest Consumers	127	(3)
24. Selling Students to Advertisers?	130	(2)
25. Some Say "No" More Often Than Others	132	(3)
26. The Big Sell for a "Purely Regressive Tax"	135	(3)
27. The Vagina Dialogues	138	(4)
CHAPTER 7 WHAT TO ADVERTISE	142	(15)
28. A Magazine and Its Cigarettes	143	(2)
29. Does Alcohol Advertising Get a "Free Ride"?	145	(3)
30. Promoting "Smart Tanning"?	148	(2)
31. Feminine Hygiene in the Living Room	150	(2)
32. Empowering or Manipulating the Health-Care Consumer?	152	(5)
CHAPTER 8 HOW TO SAY IT	157	(14)
33. No Holds Barred-The Rise of Guerrilla Marketing	157	(2)
34. Yo Quiero Stereotype?	159	(2)
35. Making the Same Different: Parity Products	161	(3)
36. Defining Outrageousness Down	164	(2)
37. Anorexic Chic?	166	(5)
CHAPTER 9 MEDIA CONSIDERATIONS	171	(14)
38. Gatekeepers I: Closing the Door	171	(2)
39. Gatekeepers II: Opening the Door	173	(2)
40. Farewell to a "Sanctuary from Advertising"	175	(3)
41. Informercials-"They Need to Make You Rich, Thin, or Beautiful. The Best Do All Three."	178	(3)
42. The Non-Advertising-Free Internet-In Search of a Balance	181	(4)
PART 3 PERSUASION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS	185	(50)
CHAPTER 10 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION	187	(12)
43. Mr. Ethics Sells Out	188	(3)
44. Playing Defense on the Court [room] of Public Opinion	191	(3)
45. A Public Relations Discovery?	194	(1)
46. A Campaign Pioneer?	195	(4)
CHAPTER 11 TELLING THE TRUTH IN ORGANIZATIONAL SETTINGS	199	(12)
47. A Good Thing?	200	(3)
48. A Committed Front?	203	(1)
49. A Sale at the Local Nonprofit?	204	(3)
50. A Web of Caring	207	(4)
CHAPTER 12 CONFLICTING LOYALTIES	211	(11)
51. A New Client?	212	(1)
52. Case I: Friends?	213	(3)
Case II: The Friendly Journalist	214	(2)
53. Politician Pitching Pills?	216	(1)
54. All Too Human?	217	(2)
55. The Long-Distance Client	219	(3)
CHAPTER 13 THE DEMANDS OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY	222	(13)
56. Practicing Good Citizenship	223	(2)
57. Pepsi Challenged by Rumors	225	(1)
58. Smart Giving	226	(3)
59. The Medical Endorsement	229	(2)
60. Caught on Tape	231	(4)
PART 4 ENTERTAINMENT	235	(61)
CHAPTER 14 VIOLENCE	239	(18)
61. Hear It, Feel It, Do It	241	(5)
62. Crunchy Terror in T-Rex Park	246	(2)
63. "The Storyteller"	248	(2)
64. Comic Capers	250	(7)
CHAPTER 15 PROFITS, WEALTH, AND PUBLIC TRUST	257	(15)
65. Crude Script for Tinsel Town	258	(1)
66. Virtual Whitewash	259	(3)
67. Deep Trouble for Harry	262	(2)
68. Super Strip	264	(1)
69. Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye	265	(7)
CHAPTER 16 MEDIA SCOPE AND DEPTH	272	(12)
70. Reel History	273	(3)
71. Bigotry as Entertainment	276	(1)
72. They Call It Paradise	277	(2)
73. Tragedy Lite	279	(2)
74. The League of Literary Makeovers	281	(3)
CHAPTER 17 CENSORSHIP	284	(12)
75. The Voice of America	285	(2)
76. Fencing the Net	287	(1)
77. Frontal Assault	288	(3)
78. Life Stinks	291	(5)
EPILOGUE	296	(3)
RECOMMENDED READINGS	299	(12)
INDEX	311