Ethically Challenged

So this last class we discussed at length...ethics.  You might think that ethics are something that's cut and dry... black or white... but no, there is definitely a lot of gray!
Here's a tribute to the King of Pop...
"They Print My Message
In The Saturday Sun
I Had To Tell Them
I Ain't Second To None

And I Told About Equality
An It's True
Either You're Wrong
Or You're Right

But, If
You're Thinkin'
About My Baby
It Doesn't Matter If You're
Black Or White"

This song works when we talk about diversity.  Since there is no such thing really as being truly "objective," having many different views in a newsroom is an extremely positive thing.  Objectivity has been brought up numerous amounts of time during class that I think the point of knowing that it's basically impossible to be objective has set in.

SO! I'm going to focus more on the other topic... which is Ethics.  Okay, ethics is super important, but it varies from person to person.  One may think that one thing is okay, while the other would rather die than report on what happened.
FOR EXAMPLE............. The tragic story of 4-year-old Ethan Stacy shocked many in Utah.  The violent couple of days that eventually led to his death were awful.  Here's where the ethics come in.  So I personally feel that ABC4 News always strives to get the best news and first.  They have one of the best if not the best content out of all the news stations.  But here is something that I did not agree with.  The Sloop's Probable Cause statements were released by the police and they were very graphic.  ABC4 decided to post them on their webpage, while another news station (KSL) chose not to.  They instead just described the statements in a tasteful manner. Now to give ABC4 credit, they did as well and then gave the option of looking at the document.  I personally agree with KSL on this one.  I wouldn't post the statements, because how are they news worthy?  What do they provide to the story?  Why does the public need to read them?

Journalist have the responsibility of being a gatekeeper.  It is up to the journalists to decide what exactly is important for the public to know and really to protect them from things they don't.  We wouldn't show dead bodies on T.V. Journalists have to use their conscience and also their common sense.

Professor Campbell gave us a list with questions to make good ethical decisions. The list gives ten questions to ask yourself when facing an ethical situation.  I think this was a great idea!  These questions really do help you to think about all the possible ramifications and what harm you could possibly bring by reporting something.  I will definitely use that list in the future.