Media Ethics And Law Definitions: Chapter 3

Front 1

Authoritarian Theory of the Press

Back 1

Political system that expects people to
obey leaders and minimizes their freedom of speech, assembly, and access to information that would be critical of government or disruptive to the establishment. Media may be independently owned, but are subject to numerous controls, including prior restraint,
licensing, and laws against sedition.

Front 2

Autonomy

Back 2

An idea that refers to the capacity to be one’s own person, to live
one’s life according to reasons and motives that are taken as one’s own and not the
product of manipulative or distorting external forces.

Front 3

Commission on the Freedom of the Press

Back 3

Also known as the Hutchins
Commission; public report released in 1947 that aimed to ***** media organizations
controlled by an oligopoly of companies accused of being concerned only with profits
and wielding power. Theorizes that: (1) whoever enjoys freedom has certain obligations
to society and (2) society’s welfare becomes the most overriding concern.

Front 4

Communist Theory of the Press

Back 4

Political system that in theory does not
differentiate among social classes, abolishes private property, and distributes wealth
equally among citizens. The media are essentially an arm of the government.

Front 5

Cultural Relativism Theory of the Press

Back 5

Belief that each culture is entitled to its own standards and should be assessed on its own terms; principle that an individual human’s beliefs and
activities should be understood in terms of his or her own culture.

Front 6

Democratic Socialist Theory of the Press

Back 6

Combines Marxist ideals and writings of classic libertarians; recognizes the uniqueness of a fully developed media
system that has been given free reign in a lasses faire marketplace but frowns on
increased monopolies and concentration of media ownership.

Front 7

Development Theory of the Press

Back 7

Media theory reflecting modern
nationalist and political independence movements; it draws from socialist thought and development principles. Media personnel are often expected to be ―cheer leaders for the
developing nation-state.

Front 8

John Stuart Mill

Back 8

English libertarian philosopher who viewed liberty
as the right of mature individuals to think and act as they pleased so long as they harmed
no one else in the process. He is credited with developing the most sophisticated theory
of utilitarianism

Front 9

First Amendment

Back 9

U.S. Constitution’s assurance of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, no establishment of religion, and the right of the people to
peacefully assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances

Front 10

John Milton

Back 10

English libertarian poet who wrote the speech Areopagitica, which called for an open marketplace of ideas and the self-righting process

Front 11

Hutchins Commission

Back 11

1947 – the Commission on the Freedom of the Press, a blue-ribbon public conscience, issued its broad-ranging report
•The Commission had been created during WWII in 1942.
•Chairman: University of Chicago Chancellor Robert M. Hutchins
•Funded by Time Magazine’s Henry Luce and EB
•Among its aims was to ***** media organizations controlled by an oligopoly of companies that were accused of being concerned only with profits and wielding power

Front 12

Prior Restraints

Back 12

Censorship or other measures that prevent communications from reaching the public.

Front 13

Laissez-Faire

Back 13

Allows industry to be free of government restriction,
especially restrictions in the form of tariffs and government monopolies. It means "Government should not interfere."

Front 14

Libertarian Theory of the Press

Back 14

Political system in which people are free to
think, behave, and communicate as they want.

Front 15

John Locke

Back 15

English libertarian philosopher who articulated the theory that justified revolution against tyranny and gave the British Parliament supremacy over the
king. A highly influential moral reformer, Locke advocated Christian ethics, social contract theory, and natural rights of life, liberty, and property

Front 16

Niccolo Machiavelli

Back 16

Italian philosopher who advocated strong central
government and said, "The ends justify the means."
may have grazed at the fringes of philosophy, but the impact of his musings has been widespread and lasting. Best Known for The Prince and Discourses on Livy.

Front 17

Revolutionary Theory of the Press

Back 17

Media are instruments of radical change,
bringing about or supporting a political or social revolution.

Front 18

Sedition

Back 18

Criticism of the state; an illegal resistance against authority and tendency to cause disruption or overthrow the government. Behavior that is intended to persuade other people to oppose their government.

Front 19

Social Responsibility Theory of the Press

Back 19

Media operate within a political system that is an extension of libertarianism and grants freedom for specific acts, rather than merely freedom from restraints. It is the basis for modern media ethics.