Note: updated weekly - week of 11.09.09
(Most recent news on top)
|
| Freed
from captivity to live in another form of captivity? |
Jaycee Dugard is rescued after 18 years of
captivity. The subsequent media sensation results in her seclusion.
Has the entertainment media’s desire for full coverage contributed
to her perpetual imprisonment? (See Chapter 5.) |
| Jon
and Kate Plus Eight calls it quits |
The cancelation of the celebrated reality television
show reveals the family’s “perfect” façade.
The issues experienced by the family may have been exacerbated by
their connection with the show. (See Chapter 15.) |
| Should
some classic books ever be off-limits to the movie industry? |
A movie adaptation of the book, “Where
the Wild Things Are,” has hit theaters. Critics debate about
whether some stories should ever be turned into movies. (See Case
73.) |
| Turning
the tables on the paparazzi |
Tabloids have earned a reputation for less
than trustworthy news, but is it right to intentionally feed them
inaccurate news just to prove their lack of fact-checking skills?
(See Case 1.) |
| Obama
on Kanye West: Is the President Ever Off-the-Record? |
When a president speaks, news happens.
Some question whether President Obama should have privacy, while others
suggest that his words are always fair game. (See Chapter 3.) |
| Fight
obesity? Add sales tax to soda tab |
As Americans grow increasingly large, some
suggest alternative ways to fight obesity. Are use taxes an ethical
or efficacious way to fight obesity? (See Case 6.) |
| What
Was Wrong With Carter's Words |
Former President Carter created quite a stir
when he suggested that President Obama’s opponents are racially
motivated. This column examines such a claim. (See Chapter 4.) |
| Cracking
the Spine of Libel |
Scientists consider informing the public of
their findings the essence of what they do. However, a libel case
in Britain is questioning whether scientists break ethical guides
when they denounce certain organizations. (See Chapter 13.) |
| NY
Times: Reporter freed as situation worsened |
Journalists continue to face kidnapping and
death as they try to cover situations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
What risks can newspaper editors expect their journalists to take
while abroad without jeopardizing their safety and the lives of others?
(See Case 12.) |
| AP
Made Right Call in Publishing Photo, Story of Fallen Marine |
Whenever fallen soldiers are photographed,
journalists must balance the need to report events with the wishes
of the soldiers’ families. (See Cases 12 and 22.) |
| You
Think Life Is Mild North of the Border? |
A new crime drama focuses less on displaying
graphic gore of violence and more on developing psychologically terrifying
depictions. Is a different cinematographic approach and ethically
different approach to violence on television? (See Chapter 14.) |
| Appetite
for Destruction: The Rise of Crystal Renn, Curvy Top Model |
“Plus-sized” models are becoming
more common in fashion magazines. Has the fashion industry taken advice
from models such as Crystal Renn, who embrace their curves? (See Case
29.) |
| Facebook
Exodus |
Although immensely popular and still growing,
a number of Facebook users are deleting their accounts because of
privacy issues and a sense that Facebook’s marketing machine
is Big Brother. (See Chapter 5.) |
| Marvel-lous?
What the new Disney/Marvel merger really means? |
As the Disney/Marvel merger awaits approval
from the Feds, fans begin to wonder if the merger will harm beloved
brands through mismatched crossover. (See Case 3.) |
| Obama's
plan to address nation's school children drawing ire from some parents
in Quincy schools |
Some parents are anxious about a presidential
message that airs during the day, which puts school administrators
in a bind: is showing a presidential address to schoolchildren crossing
an ethical line? (See Case 24.) |
| Malcolm
McDowell: 'We’ve Become Immune To Violence' |
The star of the once-shocking A Clockwork Orange
suggests that the entertainment media have become so saturated with
violence that they can no longer be trusted to accurately tell and
retell tales. (See Chapter 14.) |
| Guy
Ritchie to start filming Lobo movie next year |
Despite the excessive violence in the original
comic books, a director seeks to obtain a PG-13 rating for his upcoming
film. (See Case 64.) |
| Apple
and Google: Collusion or Sleeping With the Enemy? |
The FCC is investigating dealings between Apple
and Google, two communications and technology giants. How can companies
whose interests overlap avoid delving into unethical, antitrust areas?
(See Case 3.) |
| North
Korea: 2 US journalists pardoned |
Covering news in some places of the world can
be a deadly business, but this story has a happy ending. How can editors
better ensure that journalists are safe when on dangerous assignments?
(See Chapter 3.) |
| R.I.P.
Gatorade (1965-2009): A Senseless Marketing Tragedy |
Branding typically exerts influence to make
an ordinary product extraordinary, but some branding decisions confuse
consumers. (See Case 27.) |
| Pirate
Bay Co-Founder Yawns In Response To MPAA Lawsuit |
When international companies specifically set
out to skirt the laws governing copyright, ethical and legal issues
become difficult to decipher. (See Case 66.) |
| Don't
let 'Orphan' give the wrong idea about foster kids, warn adoption
advocates |
A recent horror movie features a frighteningly
wicked adopted little girl. Are such movies harmless entertainment
that merely play on existing fears, or do such movies promote stereotypes
that can harm the weakest members of society? (See Chapter 16.) |
| The
Web Is Pouncing on Hollywood’s Ratings |
Concerned parents and consumers are seeking
alternative rating systems to the MPAA system that currently provides
guidance about movie suitability for children. Does the MPAA have
an ethical responsibility to hone its rating system, or are these
other systems the result of “constant whining.” (See Chapter
16.) |
Online
radio stations strike big deal on royalties
|
Online radio broadcasters have reached a new
agreement that allows them to continue broadcasting music at a decreased
copyright royalty rate. (See Case 48.) |
| If
Ethics-Charge Costs Caused Sarah Palin to Step Down, Did the Vultures
Win? |
Governor Sarah Palin links her early resignation
to a gamut of ethics charges that detracted from the work she wished
to do as Alaska’s leader. What can states do to ensure ethics
complaints are investigated without making ethics complaints a way
to force a politician’s hand? (See Chapter 10.) |
| Syfy:
Different Name, Pronounced the Same |
When the Sci Fi cable channel changed its names,
science fiction fans assumed it was going to abandon that genre of
television. Instead the company president suggests a more business-like
motivation: wanting a name that can be trade marked. (See Chapter
15.) |
| Making
a case for the legal defence of UAE bloggers |
In countries where the press is regulated,
is a promise of legal defense pending participation in a code of ethics
governing printed press a way of ensuring the freedom of virtual news,
or a way of corralling bloggers into censorship? (See Case 20.) |
| Dowd
Could Learn from the 'Retweet' Ethic, Giving Credit Where it's Due |
Telling the truth in one’s own words
is a central tenet of journalism, but one that is easy to confuse
in today’s world of technology and news media saturation. (See
Cases 1 and 9.) |
| New
Yorker Under Siege: How the magazine found itself in the crosshairs
of a $10-million lawsuit |
Journalists and fact checkers often work with
different sets of guidelines; however, the integrity of the writer
hangs on the fact checker’s ability to do his or her job correctly.
(See Chapter 3.) |
| The
Big Picture: Patrick Goldstein on the collision of entertainment,
media and pop culture |
Movie opening weekends often set the tone for
the entire theater showing. However, industry performance expectations
can sometimes make or break a film. Industry executives often make
false projections to ensure positive press coverage. (See Chapter
15.) |
| Web
Stalker - Sherlock Holmes Isn't So Elementary This Time Around |
Remakes are a common source of the entertainment
industry’s inspiration. How much contemporary license should
writers and directors employ when bringing a beloved classic to life
for a new generation? (See Case 73.) |
| News
Organizations Implement New Social Media Ethics Policies |
As new media technologies come into the journalism
workplace, what ethical guidelines should reporters follow? (See Chapter
3.) |
| Staunton
man dubs Google Streetview "an invasion of privacy" |
What ethical considerations should companies
such as Google consider when they photograph private residences to
place images on the Web? (See Chapter 5.) |
| Viral
Video 'The Story of Stuff' Is Full of Misleading Numbers |
When private organizations promote their products
for classroom use, what ethical decisions must they make? Do they
need to present a “both sides of the story” approach in
the same way that journalists do? (See Chapter 6.) |
| Is
Keanu Reeves as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde one of the worst casting decisions
of all time? |
Is Hollywood out of fresh ideas? Remakes and
re-adaptations are commonly occasions to give pause to “die
hard” fans of original content. (See Case 73.) |
| Amazon
blames book-search glitch on 'cataloging error' |
When Amazon made a mistake in its online catalogue,
angry customers claimed censorship and bigotry. Amazon responded solely
with a carefully worded letter after the news had spread online. How
can companies respond ethically to online speculation? (See Case 59.) |
| Archived
Chat: The Ethics of Posting Mug Shots Online |
Is it ethical to print pictures of arrested
crime suspects in newspapers? Online? (See Case 22.) |
| Herhold:
The story behind the story in the Sandra Cantu case |
This article examines how a small-town reporter
cracked a crime case with national attention. What practices of “shoe
leather” journalism exemplify high ethical standards? (See Chapters
2 and 3.) |
| Time
to Reinvent Advertising, Not Sabotage It |
What are some guidelines journalists and editors
can you to differentiate between news and advertising content in a
changing world? (See Case 36.) |
| Google
CEO Calls for New Web Journalism |
As the days of print newspapers close, online
news leans more heavily on advertising dollars and providing custom
content. (See Cases 5 and 36.) |
| Facebook
request puts fire convictions at risk |
Social networking sites pose problems for the
judicial system when jurors ignore directions in a “virtual”
world. (See Chapter 5.) |
| It
happened on House |
When television shows display violence such
as suicide, what ethical responsibilities do they have to their audience?
(See Case 77.) |
| McCain
"Twitterview" not a journalistic high point |
A recent interview using Twitter leads one
columnist to question the feasibility of such technology for journalism.
(See Chapter 3.) |
| The
fall of giants, a fight for us small papers |
As the newspaper industry changes and the paper
portion is increasingly replaced with Internet news, what ethical
obligations do journalists have? (See Case 5.) |
| Teenage
Latinas stitch together a positive body image |
One innovative program aims at refuting idealized
images that media project on young women. (See Cases 29 and 33.) |
| Wanted’
Commercial Banned in UK For Glamorizing Violence |
How can R-rated movie producers develop ethical
television ads? This article examines one movie ad that was banned
in Great Britain. (See Chapter 14.) |
| 'Watchmen'
challenges ratings' value |
Not all R-rated movies are created equally.
Is the movie rating system really the most ethical approach to dealing
with sexuality, violence, and rape? (See Chapter 14.) |
| Dr.
Sanjay Gupta Covers Obama's Health Care Policies with Competing Loyalties |
Journalists claim that they are objective reporters.
Is this always the case? How can journalists ethically manage their
biases and conflicts of interest. (See Chapter 1 and Case 36). |
| America
cheers as satirist delivers knockout blow to TV finance gurus |
Comedian Jon Stewart is known for making fun
at the expense of television personalities. Is he keeping watchdog
of the watchdogs? (See Chapter 2.) |
| Food
Allergy Labeling Not Always Accurate |
The report on food allergies warns consumers
with food allergies to avoid certain smaller brands. What ethical
responsibilities do food manufacturers have to their customers? (See
Case 59.) |
| Under
Weight of Its Mistakes, Newspaper Industry Staggers |
As the economy and the state of the news media
shifts, newspapers struggle to stay afloat. Will the absence of local
papers decrease the self-proclaimed “watchdog” function
of the press? (See Chapter 3.) |
| Media
Ask New Questions as Infant's Death Plays Out On Parents' MySpace
Pages |
Poynter ethics columnist gives advice for covering
criminal cases where much finger-pointing is occurring on public social
networking sites. (See Chapter 1.) |
| Ads
show racial unity: The way we want to be |
As advertisers depict a utopian diverse America,
are issues of diversity in advertising improving, or is it a false
front? (See Case 33.) |
| Video
game violence warnings make kids more likely to want to play, study
says |
Research suggests what parents have long concerned
themselves with: making video games forbidden fruit adds to their
allure. (See Case 65.) |
| TV:
'24' finally crossed the ethical line for me |
Television shows depict violence and brutality,
even with ratings, that can trouble some viewers. (See case 77.) |
| Rapelay
virtual rape game banned by Amazon |
Gun and knife violence are not the only problems
in video games. One game made in Japan has players participate in
virtual rape. (See case 65). |
| Advertising
on the rise in schools |
Despite objections, the amount of ads children
see in school is on the rise. (See case 24.) |
| George
Clooney to Obama: Seize the ‘opportunity’ for Darfur peace |
A Hollywood celebrity brings the Darfur crisis
to the president’s attention. (See case 11.) |
| Murdoch
sorry for NY Post cartoon seen as racist |
A cartoon that likened the president to a dangerous
chimpanzee caused offense among the Black community and others. (See
case 10.) |
| Obama
Reviewing Media Prohibition to Capture Photos of Soldiers' Coffin |
The president might revoke a ban on photographs
of fallen soldiers’ coffins. (See case 22.) |
| 'Manorexia'
a genuine - and dangerous - eating disorder |
Eating disorders plague both sexes. How can
advertising affect men’s opinions of themselves? (See case 29.) |
| National
Survey Dispels the Myth of the Digital Divide and Finds Today's Hip-hop
Generation Embraces Technology and New Media |
Study shows that technology has not left urban
youth behind. (See case 16.) |
| Chris
Brown, Rihanna and the image problem |
Popular singers might risk losing millions
in endorsements as they retreat from the public eye. When private
conflict becomes public, how can celebrities respond ethically? (See
case 44.) |
| "How
Not to be an Online Influencer," by David Henderson |
A story about a PR specialist (James Andrews)
who flew to Memphis to talk with FedEx corporate communication executives
about how to use social media--a growing trend among businesses. When
Andrews landed, he posted unflattering remarks about Memphis on Twitter
that FedEx discovered (see Part III, Persuasion and Public Relations.) |
| Defining
Media: A Question Of Credibility |
Bloggers influence many through widespread
access to the Web. Do they have a responsibility to ethics just as
journalists do? (See Case 20.) |
| Roanoke,
Poynter Develop Ethics Guidelines for Journalists Using Facebook,
MySpace and Twitter |
New social networking Webs sites pose ethical
dilemmas for journalists. The Poynter Institute suggests some ethical
guidelines for reconciling professional ethics to a changing technological
culture. (See Chapter 2.) |
Robert
Niles
Journalism ethics 2.0: As the Internet changes the market, some conventions
must change as well
|
The Internet has changed the ethical rules
for truthful reporting. (See Chapter 2.) |
| NBC
Sells Out Super Bowl for Record $206 Million in Advertising |
Despite an ailing economy that has affected
the ad industry, the Superbowl continues to be a cash cow. (See Chapter
10.) |
| Chicago
Tribune Decision Raises Questions about Tipping Law Enforcement's
Hand |
How long should journalists wait before reporting
about police investigations? This column provides some suggestions
for deciding whether and how long to delay publishing. (See Chapter
3.) |
| Corporate
America sells Obama, message of change |
Corporate America is jumping on the bandwagon
for the new president’s inauguration. What ethical questions
come into play when mixing politics and marketing? (See Chapter 7.) |
| Game,
Not Gore, Keeps Video Players Playing |
A recent study suggests that gamers are interested
in the challenge of video games, not the violence. If this is the
case, what ethical responsibility do game producers have toward making
games more challenging and less violent? (See Case 65.) |
| Britain
moves to curb rise in knife violence |
A spokesperson for a British anti-violence
group suggests violent movies and video games may contribute to that
nation’s increase in stabbings (See Chapter 14.) |
| Poll
Results: Americans believe media making economy worse |
How much influence do news media really have
over the economy? What’s a responsible journalist to do? (See
Chapters 2 and 4.) |
| How
subliminal advertising works |
This author identifies several deceptive but
legal ways companies advertise. What do advertisers owe their consumers?
(See Chapter 8.) |
| China
Goes After Baidu, Google in Web Porn Crackdown |
Issues of free speech and obscenity commonly
cause controversy—especially when crossing international borders.
(See Cases 16, 67, and 75.) |
| Is
Facebook Censoring Information on Israel and Palestine? |
Facebook faces charges of censoring content
of those dialoguing about the Israel-Hamas conflict. (See Chapter
17.) |
| Nursing
moms protest Facebook censorship |
Facebook faces charges of censoring content
of breastfeeding mothers (See chapter 17.) |
| Facebook
Aims to Extend Its Reach Across the Web |
Issues of privacy, accessibility, and advertising
collide on the Internet. Advertising funds media, and social networking
sites have been identified as poor places to spend advertising dollars.
How can social networks survive and maintain ethical practices? (See
cases 16 and chapters 5 and 6.) |
| Dial
M For MySpace mobile advertising |
MySpace is now looking at ways to extend advertising
onto its Blackberry mobile service. (See chapter 6.) |
| Of
course we'll have newspapers. But will there be any news in them? |
A former editor of the LA Times examines whether
newspapers should put audience first. (See case 5.) |
| Race
and Ethnicity: When to Include in Stories? |
Deciding how to report issues of race and ethnicity
in news stories can be difficult. This column provides some help.
(See chapter 4.) |
| Watchdog
group cites video games for violence, sex |
The National Institute on Media and the Family
released its ratings for video games, just in time for Christmas.
(See case 65.) |
| Video
Games Hone Triage Skills |
The other side of video games: training and
education? (See case 65.) |
| Book
review: 'Remix' calls for a truce in the copyright wars |
Is the copyright war necessary to ensure that
entertainment companies turn a profit? (See case 66.) |
| Online
suicide reminds us of our occasional inhumanity |
Many people watched the online suicide of a
youth without calling the authorities to help the young man. How has
the Internet reshaped the way we understand our real humanity in light
of the Web’s offer of cyberlife? (See chapter 14.) |
| Q&A:
How the Drug Business May Lose the Right to Advertise |
A change in the U.S. Presidential administration
might mean a change to laws governing DTC advertising. (See case 25) |
| Colorado
voters reject affirmative action ban |
Voters take the issue of Affirmative Action
to task in Nebraska. (See case 15) |
| Marketing
to Hispanic Moms in the United States 2008 |
This report provides statistics about the growing
market demographic of Hispanic mothers. (See case 33) |
| Election
Reflection #5: Did Sexism Prevail in 2008? |
Another op-ed writer takes a look at the issue
of sexism in the media and how it affects politics. (See cases 17
and 41) |
| Heidi
Klum Dances Around in Underwear for Computer Game Ad, the Video |
Sex still sells: Klum re-enacts the infamous
Risky Business movie scene. (See case 39) |
| How
Different Media Have Covered the General Election |
Journalism.org examines how the cable network
news outlets stack up when it comes to truthtelling. (See Chapter
2) |
| A
Legacy of 2008: Facts, Lies and Videotape |
Did the 2008 election prompt journalists to
take sides or check the facts? (See chapter 2) |
| Is
the LA Times Protecting a Source or Practicing Partisan Journalism? |
Poynter Institute ethics commentator examines
issues of source confidentiality and journalistic transparency regarding
the case of the LA Times video. (See chapter 3) |
| Guerilla
ads put buzz in marketing |
This journalist examines a strange marketing
tactic and questions whether politicians now use guerilla marketing
tactics in their campaigns. (See case 23) |
| Lesson
of the 2008 Election Is That Sexism Is Still More Pervasive Than Racism |
Issues of sex and race played a role in the
2008 election, but columnist Bonnie Erbe argues that sexism is still
accepted by the public—and the media. (See case 17) |
| Parenting.com
and ESRB Partner to Educate Parents About Video Games and the Rating
System in Time for the Holidays |
Rather than solely rely on a rating system,
the ESRB is partnering with Parenting.com to help parents understand
video game content in time for the holidays. (See case 65) |
| On
reality TV, losing your dignity has never been easier |
The reality TV genre doesn’t seem to
be getting any kinder to its participants. (See case 71) |
| Bloomberg
Is Assailed for Seeking Nonprofits’ Support |
Where do ethical lines fall when wealthy politicians
use their affluence to influence? (See case 45.) |
| The
Internet is no 21st-century boob tube |
This pro-Internet article explains how Internet
access can improve families’ communication. (See case 16) |
| Ruby
Tuesday Viral Ad Campaign Could Backfire |
Using the Internet for advertising isn’t
always a smooth move. (see Case 49.) |
| Men
Will Be Mad for Another Season |
Mad Men, a show that hypes the bygone
days of a sexist advertising industry, is back for another season.
(See case 41.) |
| LittleBigPlanet
delayed due to Muslim sensitivities |
A Play Station game goes back to the programming
board to remove material offensive to Muslims. (See case 10.) |
| FCC
Paves Way For Free Wi-Fi |
A new Federal Communication Commission regulation
will allow for a company to offer free wireless Internet services
nationwide. The plan, which will be funded entirely by advertising
dollars, has drawn criticism. (See case 16.) |
