1. Media history includes many interesting scandals, and similar ones reappear from time to time. Search the Web for terms associated with the type of ethical lapses covered in the history portion of this chapter—terms such as "hoaxes," "conflict of interest," "sensationalism," and "blacklisting." Find the most current example of one of them that you can, and compare it to its historical precedents.
PowerWeb Articles
2. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 15. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click PowerWeb Articles. On the next screen, under the topic of Advertising, read the article, "Ethically Challenged." How do the recent episodes of ethical misdeeds in the press compare to the ethics of being a student? What are the differences and similarities?
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
Industry
Web Excursion
3. How do your own ethical standards compare with those of other people? Search the Web for ethical standards polls, or go directly to www.pbs.org/mediamatters * and move to their "Tough Calls" Ethical News Judgment Poll. See if your ethical standards are the same as those who have taken this online poll. The public, for example, prefers to have a reporter behave ethically even if it means missing a story about an illegal business practice. Write a brief reaction to the survey.
PowerWeb Articles
4. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 15. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click PowerWeb Articles. On the next screen, under the topic of Ethics, read the article, "Ethical Challenges in Online News." How do traditional news guidelines translate to online news? Use information from this article and Chapter 15 to support your ideas.
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
Controversies
Web Excursion
5. How much does political point of view affect one’s perceptions of ethical problems? Search the Web for liberal and conservative viewpoints about bias. You might want to go directly to AIM at www.aim.org and FAIR at www.fair.org. Find similar complaints from two different viewpoints and compare them.
Media World CD-ROM Excursion
6. View track 18, Pentagon Planning to Plant Misinformation in Foreign News Sources (from NBC News Archive). This NBC news clip looks at the effects of the government planting false news stories abroad. Is it ever justifiable to fabricate news stories? Even in the case of National Security? As a journalist, how would you handle suspect news leaks?
Weekly Update Archives
7. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 15. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click Weekly Update Archives. On the next screen, under the topic of Ethical Issues, read 03-15-04, "Bush v. Kerry Air Wars: The Case of 9/11." Looking back on the election of 2004 and using information from this article, analyze the ethics of each candidate’s television campaign. In spite of the outcome of the election, whom do you believe won the ethical battle?
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
