03.00 Introduction to Ethics

      Sometimes it is obvious whether something is ethical or not. Stealing something, for instance, is not an ethical thing to do. Failing to keep a promise is unethical, too. But what if there are good arguments for both sides of the story? What if it's hard to tell what the right thing is? This is called an ethical dilemma. 
      Chances are that you've encountered an ethical dilemma before. For instance, you find out that your close friend has cheated on a test. However, you know she needs this course for credit. It might be the right thing to go to your teacher and tell on your friend, but if you do, she will have to suffer severe consequences. What should you do?
      There are many choices to pick from, but perhaps the most ethical would be to talk to your friend, but not turn her in. By explaining what would happen if she was caught cheating, and offering to help her better understand the subject matter, your friend might avoid cheating in the future. In addition, it might be wise to go with your friend to speak with the teacher. If your friend confesses to what she did and promises never to do it again, it is likely the consequences will be less harsh.
      This example embodies what I believe it means to be an ethical person: always try to compromise. Do your best to consider both sides of every story. It is important to remember that the "right" decision isn't always the "easiest" decision.
      In the example used in the lesson, your best friend giving her address to an online stranger, there are many things to consider, your friend's safety and what would happen to your relationship if you told not being the least. If you told her parents, they could take action and prevent your friend being harmed, but then you might lose her friendship. If you don't tell, you might remain her friend, but at a potential cost. Perhaps you could tell another trusted adult or adults, such as your own parents, and they could inform your friend of the risks. If this isn't an option, it is definitely a wise idea to tell someone, even if it puts your friendship at risk - you have your friend's best interests at heart, and if she is truly your friend, she will understand.
      Being a journalist often requires that you make hasty decisions - do you tell the public or don't you? Recently I read an article about a journalist who came upon a grandfather mourning over the death of his granddaughter who he had just accidentally ran over with a car. The room was silent and the grandfather was alone with the body. The reporter had the perfect opportunity to take a photograph of a poignant, emotional moment in the grandfather's life, and it would go perfectly with his story. The photograph could have a huge positive impact on his career. But he considered it unethical to intrude upon the grandfather's moment of grief. He did not take the photograph.
      Companies' codes of ethics often help journalists make decisions, but sometimes you are the only one that can make a choice.

References

Thom, J. A. (2013). A Picture of Grief. Reader's Digest. Volume 182 (No. 1091), pages 149-150. 

Ethics, Institute for Global. (Copyright 2013). Personal Dilemmas. Retrieved August 22, 2013, from: http://www.globalethics.org/personal-dilemmas.php 

02.04 Broadcast - Television

      We have lots of different ways of getting our news, both through print and other types of media. One of these forms is television. TV broadcasting is an integral part of journalism, combining the visual element of newspapers and magazines and the auditory news of radio.
       For this lesson, I opted to watch local news, specifically ABC First News at 5:00 pm. This is a very informative news program that enlightened me to many topics I otherwise wouldn't have known anything about. Part of what made this experience so positive was how professional the journalists were, providing both sides of every story with entirely unbiased reporting. I thought this show offered a wide range of news stories, incorporating reports on everything from local football team updates to a near-fatal beating on a school bus. There wasn't one story that I considered unimportant for the public to know.
       Not everything was perfect, though. Though I think it is important for people to get weather updates, I considered there to be far too many on ABC First News. After nearly every story there was a weather break, six or seven in all. I appreciated the fact that the weather updates were offered, though if I had wanted to get that many, I would have turned to the Weather Channel. Also, I would have liked a little more information on some of the stories. Each account was very brief, just a few minutes long. It would be ideal if a few weather breaks were cut and some of the more important stories were elongated.
       However, minor vices aside, I consider ABC news to be a trustworthy news source.