Journalism Ethics Test 2

Front 1

What are the 4 G's that should serve as a warning to journalists that they should proceed with caution when reporting information about these potentially controversial topics?

Back 1

1. God

2. Guns

3. Gays

4. Gynecology

Front 2

What are 4 areas of concern relating to taste?

Back 2

1. Offensive language (vulgar or obscene language and racial slurs)

2. Nudity and sexual details/images

3. Graphic details and images

4. Certain information that might infringe on privacy (such as details related to death,trauma, and grief)

Front 3

What are four general considerations for questions concerning matters of taste?

Back 3

1. Consider context

2. Consider prominence of those involved

3. Consider nature of audience

4. Consider the nature of the media outlet

Front 4

When considering context in matters of taste what should you think about?

Back 4

1. Is the story newsworthy?

2. Is questionable material essential to the story?

3. Is there a compelling reason to use it?

4. Does it add understanding?

5. Is it handled with the utmost dignity?

6. Does the material violate the norms for taste and respect for human decency?

7. Is it used just for shock value?

8. Do positive reasons for using outweigh negative?

Front 5

When considering the prominence of those involved in regard to matters of taste what should you think about?

Back 5

If the matter is of public concern, then the private actions as well as the public actions of officials are newsworthy.

Front 6

When considering the nature of the audience in matters of taste what should you think about?

Back 6

1. Who is the audience?

2. What kinds of readers and listeners use the medium?

3. What are the audience expectations?

Front 7

When considering the nature of the media outlet in regards to matters of taste what should you think about?

Back 7

1. Tone of newspaper, station, of Web site is a consideration.

2. Small town vs. large city

Front 8

What are some considerations for usage of vulgar language or racial slurs?

Back 8

1. Who said it? Public figure or private citizen?

2. What was the circumstance in which the words was used? Is it newsworthy?

3. If using the word you should consider these options. A. Report the word fully B. Delete the word and leave some designation of the deletion such as the first letter or asterisks. C. Use and indirect quote or euphemism to sanitize the remark. D. Provide a warning that it will appear in the article.

Front 9

What are some considerations for reporting nudity and details of sexual encounters?

Back 9

1. The story should first be newsworthy

2. The photos or details add understanding

3. Consider commonly accepted values of taste and respect for human decency.

Front 10

What are some considerations for reporting graphic details

Back 10

1. Consider how much detail is essential to tell story.

2. Consider the consumers tolerance levels

Front 11

What are some considerations for reporting graphic images?

Back 11

1. Consider the sensibilities of family and friends of victims.

2. Consider what the pictures really show?

3. Consider what readers may likely add or read into their interpretation of the photos content.

4. Consider how compelling is the news situation out of which the photos arose.

5. Consider what the photos way teach us about the human experience.

6. Do positive reasons for publishing outweigh negative reaction they will bring?

Front 12

What are considerations for reporting details and images that might infringe on privacy (grief, death, and trauma)?

Back 12

1. Should moment of grief or shock be made public?

2. Will photographing or interviewing send the subject into further trauma?

3. Is the photographer at the least obtrusive distance possible?

4. Is the photographer acting with compassion and sensitivity?

Front 13

What are the types of information provided by DART Center to assist journalists?

Back 13

The DART center advocates ethical and thorough reporting of trauma, educates journalist on how best to report issues of trauma by providing a professional forum and information such as topics concerning aftermath of tragedy, effect on children and youth, disaster coverage, homicides and mass shootings, immigrant and refugee coverage, partner violence, PTSD, self care, sexual violence, suicide, terrorism, veterans, and war and civil conflict.

Front 14

What are the guidelines for reporting on suicide?

Back 14

1. Instead of big or sensationalist headlines, inform without sensationalizing. Avoid using terms such as suicide by shotgun and say dead instead)

2. Instead of including photos or videos regarding location and method of death, use school or family photos and include crisis contact information.

3. Instead of describing suicides as being an epidemic or skyrocketing, carefully investigate the most recent CDC data and use non-sensational words like "rise" or "higher"

4. Instead of describing the suicide as inexplicable or without warning, include the warning signs to look for and what can be done.

5. Instead of detailing what a suicide note says, indicate that one was found and is being reviewed by the medical examiner.

6. Instead of reporting on suicides as you would a crime, report on it as a public health issue.

7. Instead of quoting police and first responders about cause of suicide, seek advice from suicide prevention experts.

8. Instead of referring to suicide as successful or a failed attempt, use words such as died by suicide or completed or killed himself.

Front 15

Why do people need privacy?

Back 15

The "need for privacy" was never addressed in teh U.S. Constitution, yet some philosophers such as Louis W. Hodges argue that "without some degree of privacy, civilized life would be impossible". He argues that we need privacy in order to develop a sense of self. Others state that privacy is needed as a shield against the power of the state, surmising that privacy is a necessary component of a democracy.

Front 16

What is the difference b/w privacy and secrecy?

Back 16

1. Secrecy involves keeping info. from public view.

2. Privacy involves individuals ability to control others' access to information

Front 17

What do ethical debates about privacy center around?

Back 17

1. Balancing individuals right to privacy against media's responsibility to readers and to protect the public's right to know.

2. Reporter must weight obligation to report news against dealing compassionately with sources and readers.

3. Must decide if embarrassing someone has enough benefit for society to justify action.

Front 18

What are the two basic principles or ethical guidelines to consider in matters related to the need to intrude on privacy?

Back 18

1. Will society benefit from knowing the private information?

2. Consider decency and fairness. Just because you can legally report on something does not mean you can ethically report on it.

Front 19

What are 4 legal protections against the invasion of privacy?

Back 19

1. Intrusion upon a person's seclusion or solitude, or into private affairs.

2. Public disclosure of embarrassing private facts.

3. Placing the individual in a false light.

4. Misappropriation: using identities for commercial purposes.

Front 20

Why are public figures subjected to different standards than private citizens when determination is being made about whether to publish embarrassing facts?

Back 20

Easy to argue that public figures have power or influence that affects society more broadly. Seemingly private aspect of their lives may reflect character and ability issues that might affect official duty.

Front 21

Discuss Louis D. Hodges Circles of Intimacy

Back 21

Innermost Circle= You

2nd circle= You and one other (spouse, roommate, etc.)

3rd circle=You and close friends (family, friends, confidants)

4th Circle= You and Casual Acquaintances (co-workers, classmates)

Outside of circle=Public

Front 22

Discuss concept of discretion as it relates to necessity for journalist to decide what information to reveal about individuals

Back 22

Discretion is the intuitive ability to discern what is and is not intrusive and injurious and therefore demands moral reasoning. Kant would say that the journalist must treat the indiscreet source as she would herself.

Front 23

Discuss right to know, need to know, and want to know as the bases for treading on an individual's rights to privacy?

Back 23

1. Right to know if a legal not ethical construct.

2. Need to know is based more in philosophy and is when the report must make an ethical decision as to whether the information will make enough impact on the readers and benefit them in a manner that justifies the individuals right to privacy.

3. Want to Know: this is typically around celebrities and can be salacious. Often tabloids and such use it to garner attention and headlines.

Front 24

What is John Rawls' Veil of Ignorance?

Back 24

Rawls a proponent of the social contract theory of goverment says that justice should be equated with fairness. Before a community can make an ethical decision, the community must consider the options behind a veil of ignorance. Behind the veil everyone starts out in an original position. When all those things are laid aside the person can make a decision, because their arguments would be free of bias that comes from points of view thus protecting weaker parties.

Front 25

Why does the media withhold names of victims of rape?

Back 25

1. Rape places a stigma on the victim and victims should be spared the additional trauma.

2. Victims are reluctant to report rape. Withholding names is done with the hop that more victims will be willing to come forward

Front 26

What are the counterarguments for printing names of the victims of rape?

Back 26

1) Secrecy reinforces the social stigma.

2) Accused person is named, though presumed innocent until proven guilty.

3) There is a potential cost for keeping public info from the public.If some things are withheld, does the public suspect other things are withheld?Could an informed public potentially help free someone wrongfully accused?