Ethics in Journalism
Read the following ethical dilemma, and discuss the questions that follow.
Discussion Questions for Students to Consider:
- What is the position of each person in this situation?
- What are the expectations that Luiza’s editors and readers have about her work?
- What public good can result if Luiza writes another article with the information she now has?
- What private hurt can result if Luiza goes ahead with her article?
- Will the public, or the community, be hurt in any way if she simply looks the other way this time?
- Can you distinguish the components of literal, contextual and procedural truth in this situation?
- Can the information about the vandalism be put in front of the community, or any portion of it, without hurting Luiza’s friendship with Sarah?
Discussion Questions for Students to Consider:
- In American politics, how influential is the media?
- Does the media report the news or make the news?
- What problems can you identify with the media that may be considered unethical?
- How can we prevent these problems in our work?
- As a journalist at KIS, What ethical issues and situations might you (or your colleagues) be confronted by?