What is news? + Intro to Ethics

1. What is news?+Intro to Ethics February 21, 2014

2. But first … • What’s going on in the world? • Let’s talk about … • Protests in Thailand • Protest in the Ukraine • The Winter Olympics • ESPN on Campus • 1st legal shop opens in North Boulder • Are these topics important?

3. But first … Interviews. A guide to successful interviews.

4. Interviews Before the Interview… • Research who you’re interviewing and the topic you are covering • Think through your story • What do you need their “expert” or “witness” opinion on? • Pick a day, time and location • Think about noise • “At-the-scene”

5. Interviews, cont. Before the Interview, cont. • Organize your questions • Avoid Yes/No • Leave room for descriptive responses • Dress Appropriately • Equipment • Recorder? And is it charged? • Notepad? • Pens? • Business cards for follow-up

6. Interviews, cont. During the Interview • Start with the basics • Name, Age, Occupation, Title, etc. • Ask your prepared questions • Listen carefully • Ask Organic Questions • These questions are things you think of during the interview • Follow-up questions • Try to remain neutral about the topic

7. Interviews, cont. • After the Interview • Review your notes • Ask if there is anyone else you should talk to • Ask if you can call or email if you have additional questions • Provide a business card and/or email address for them to send you information if they think of something else • Say “Thank you!” • Check back with them after the story runs

8. What is new? Review from lecture hall

9. News Elements • Timeliness • News isn’t news, we often are told, if it is not recent. In today’s 24/7 media landscape, it’s stressed more than ever. It also underscores the tyranny of the deadline. • Impact • Impact describes an issue’s effect on the public. • Currency • Articles with currency describe ongoing issues, using the ongoing nature of the story to maximum advantage.

10. News Elements Cont. • Conflict • Perhaps the most common news value, conflict appears in nearly every imaginable story. • Novelty/Emotions • An unusual aspect to a story often gets coverage. In fact, human interest stories often cause news organizations to disregard the main rules of newsworthiness — they don’t date as quickly, they need not affect a large number of people and it may not matter where in the world the story takes place.

11. News Elements Cont. • Prominence • Prominent individuals, such as politicians, celebrities and athletes often receive coverage by virtue of their position in society • Proximity • News events in areas close to the audience are covered to be more relevant than those further away

12. Local examples • http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_25196436/boulder-crews-responding-multi-car-injury-accident-near • http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_25169756 • http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_25182183/craft-beer-brewers-roll-out-spring-releases-great-divide-odell-breckenridge • http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_25194333/son-sen-mark-udall-charged-trespassing-wont-face

13. Hallin’s spheres

14. Hallin’s spheres: Consensus • Sphere of Consensus • Contains those topics on which there is wide spread agreement, or at least the perception thereof. • Examples: free speech, the abolition of slavery, or human rights. • Journalists do not feel compelled to present an opposing view point or to remain disinterested observers.[2]

15. Hallin’s spheres: Controversy Sphere of Legitimate Controversy • Rational and informed people hold differing views. • These topics are the most important to cover, and also ones upon which journalists are obliged to remain disinterested reporters, rather than advocating for or against a particular view. • Examples?

16. Hallin’s spheres: Deviancy • Sphere of Deviancy • Topics in there sphere are rejected by journalists as being unworthy of general consideration. Such views are perceived as being either unfounded, taboo, or of such minor consequence that they are not news worthy. • For example, a person claiming that aliens are manipulating college basketball scores might have difficulty finding media coverage for such a claim.

17. Ethics An introduction and the start of your group project.

21. Publicizing shootings? • Putting the faces and names of shooters on the front page—good or bad? • Does it encourage more shootings and copycats?

22. For example …

23. Categorical Imperative/Deontology • Certain actions are always wrong, regardless of circumstances of individual situations: lying, cheating, stealing, murder, etc. These are called “categorical imperatives.” • Right and wrong, not consequences. • A higher moral order (conscience) guides imperatives, rather than reason • What are some things that you think are categorically wrong?

24. Categorical Imperative - Examples • For example: One categorical imperative may be that lying is wrong. • Situations • Other examples?

25. Utilitarianism • Ethical choices produce the greatest good for the greatest number. • The ends justify the means. • Majority • Greatest balance of good over evil • Requires an accurate assessment of consequences of an action: mitigate harm

26. The Golden Mean • The ethical choice is found between extremes, avoiding excessive practices. Finding the middle ground. BUT “Extremes” must still be based on an appropriate range of choices. • This is best used when situations are complicated or layered with ambiguity and uncertainty. • Problem: not all issues have an appropriate middle ground or center.

27. The Golden Mean - Examples • A TV station teams up with a hospital and a drug chain to promote a mass community health screening. It can be for cholesterol, colorectal cancer, vision, glucose or even drinking water.

28. The Veil Of IgnoranceSocial Justice/Egalitarianism • “Justice is blind.” • Looking at situations regardless of social or economic status • Put yourself in their shoes. • Fairness is considered a principle of justice • Egalitarianism is paramount • For example: Should you report on a politician who is rumored to be having an affair?

29. Veil of Ignorance - Examples • After a shooting spree at Standard Gravure by one of the printing company's former employees, The Courier-Journal published a front-page photograph of one of the victims. The photograph showed the dead victim lying on his back at the bottom of the stairs, his arms spread out and his body partially resting on a track used to move large rolls of paper. The photograph prompted more than 500 complaints and a lawsuit - won by The Courier-Journal - that went all the way to the Supreme Court.  • Readers quickly let the newspaper know that they disagreed and did not appreciate the vivid reminder of the previous day’s events on the front page of their morning paper.

30. Agape/Judeo Christian/Care-Based •  “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Other-directed care and love. Based on relationships. Personal instead of legal ethics. • For example: Someone practicing Agape ethics might not print a rape victim’s name just because they can. They care more about protecting and caring for the victim than getting a story.

31. Judeo-Christian Example • You’ve known for months that the candidate is gay. And each time you raised the possibility of a story, everyone agreed: the man’s sex life was his business. • But now it’s different. A local newscast led with a story that highlighted the candidate’s activities with the local gay community. Even though the candidate "declined comment on his sexual preference," the story is undoubtedly out.

32. Ethics Project • As a group, you will research an actual news story that was at the center of a journalistic ethical dilemma. You can choose which type of story you’d like to research – such as a sports, photo, political or crime story – as long as there is an ethical dilemma involved. You’ll analyze the situation using the various ethical theories we discuss in class. Then you’ll create a presentation about your dilemma, which you’ll present during lecture. • Turn in: • A PowerPoint presentation that summarizes/analyzes the ethical dilemma. • Each individual group member will write a one-page minimum, two-page double-spaced personal analysis of your group’s dilemma. • The group must turn in a quick run-down of who did what within each group.

33. FOR NEXT WEEK • Think of examples of ethic issues journalists have faced. • Visual (video & photographs) • Information (leaked government info & issues to do with public figures) • Technological issues • Issues of the Internet (Boston Bomber & Reddit) • Drones & Video/Visual technology • Any moment where you think the media behaved unethically. • We will pick groups based on the topics that interest you!