Media Ethics

Clifford G. Christians is Research Professor of Communications, Professor of Journalism, and Professor of Media Studies Emeritus at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Mark Fackler is Professor of Communications emeritus at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kathy Brittain Richardson is the president of Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. She is the former provost and a professor of communication at Berry College, Rome, Georgia. Peggy J. Kreshel is Associate professor of Advertising at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass communication and an affiliate faculty member of the Institute for Women's Studies at the University of Georgia. Robert H. Woods, Jr. is Professor of Communication at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan. He is executive director of the Christianity and Communication Studies Network (www.theccsn.com).

Preface





About the Authors





Introduction – Ethical Foundations and Perspectives





Part One – News





Chapter 1: Institutional Pressures


Case 1. Fox News


Case 2. Access to the Internet


Case 3. Bankruptcy at the Philadelphia Inquirer


Case 4. Paid Journalism Worldwide





Chapter 2: Truthtelling


Case 5. Obesity Epidemic


Case 6. Al Jazeera


Case 7. The Unabomber’s Manifesto


Case 8. Muhammad Cartoon Controversy





Chapter 3: Reporters and Sources


Case 9 The Wikileaks Website


Case 10. Stolen Voice Mail


Case 11. Covering the Middle East


Case 12. Korea Bans U.S. Beef: Candlelight Vigil


Case 13. Watergate and Grand Jury Information





Chapter 4: Social Justice


Case 14. Crisis in Darfur


Case 15. A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains


Case 16. Gender Media Monitoring Project


Case 17. Ten Weeks at Wounded Knee


Case 18. Peace Journalism





Chapter 5: Privacy


Case 19. Facebook and Social Media Networks


Case 20. The Controversial PATRIOT Act


Case 21. Bloggers’ Code of Ethics


Case 22. Dead Body Photo





The Heart of the Matter in News Ethics





Part Two – Advertising





Chapter 6: The Commercialization of Everyday Life


Case 23. All is not what it seems: Pondering Guerilla Marketing


Case 24. DTC Advertising: Prescription Drugs as Consumer Products?


Case 25. Cause-Related Marketing: Are you buying it?


Case 26. "Like" as Social Currency: Empowerment or Exploitation?





Chapter 7: Advertising in an Image-Based Media Culture


Case 27. Altering Images: Attaining the Unattainable?


Case 28. Stereotyping Disability


Case 29. Spectacle for Social Change: Celebration or Co-optation?


Case 30. Anti-Obesity Advertising: A Question of Images





Chapter 8: The Media are Commercial


Case 31. Media Gatekeepers


Case 32. Native Advertising: Advertising and Editorial Content


Case 33. Welcome to Madison and Vine


Case 34. Ad-Blocking: A Perfect Storm





Chapter 9: Advertising’s Professional Culture


Case 35. "…perhaps the absence of a code of ethics?"


Case 36. Branding: Making the same different, again


Case 37. Niche Markets—Niche Media


Case 38. Ethical Vision: What does it mean to serve clients well?


Case 39. The Risky Client… Yes? No?





The Heart of the Matter in Advertising Ethics





　


Part Three – Public Relations





Chapter 10 Public Communication


Case 40. Publicity and Justice


Case 41. The Many Friends of the Candidate


Case 42. Corporate Speech and State Laws


Case 43. ‘Better Make Room’ for Government Campaigns





Chapter 11 Telling the Truth in Organization Settings


Case 44. Private Issues and Public Apologies


Case 45. #AskSeaWorld Faces Tides of Protest


Case 46. A Healthy Drink?


Case 47. Reporting Recovery


Case 48. Posting #Truth @Twitter (Updated)





Chapter 12 Conflicting Loyalties


Case 49. Accelerating Recalls


Case 50. Representing Political Power


Case 51. Paying for Play?


Case 52. "Thank You For Smoking"


Case 53. Tragedy at the Mine





Chapter 13 The Demands of Social Responsibility


Case 54. One for One: TOMS


Case 55. Ice Buckets Challenge Fundraising


Case 56. Tackling Domestic Violence


Case 57. Brewing Racial Discourse?


The Heart of the Matter in Public Relations Ethics





Part 4 – Entertainment





Chapter 14　　　 Violence


Case 58.　 Hear It, Feel It, Do It


Case 59.　 Violence-Centered


Case 60. Comics for Big Kids


Case 61.　 Video Gaming Changes the Rules





Chapter 15　　 Profits, Wealth, and Public Trust


Case 62.　 Copyrights and Cultures


Case 63.　 Deep Trouble for Harry


Case 64.　 Super Strip


Case 65.　 Duct Tape for TV


Case 66.　 TLR and Tentpoles


Case 67.　 Faux Doc





Chapter 16　　 Media Scope and Depth


Case 68.　 Reel History


Case 69. They Call It Paradise


Case 70.　 Tragedy Lite


Case 71.　 Training in Virtue





Chapter 17　　　 Censorship


Case 72.　 The Voice of America


Case 73.　 Frontal Assault


Case 74.　 South Park’s 200th


Case 75.　 Rescue Us


Case 76.　 Lyrics Not So Cool





The Heart of the Matter in Entertainment Ethics