One ethical lesson that I have learned from this course is that journalist must act independently. They should never accept any gifts, free trips or other things that might influence their reporting. The second ethical lesson that I learned is that a journalist must be truthful and honest. As we have seen in previous cases if a journalist is not honest then the audience will not trust them.
The cast study that I found very interesting was the one the about the firing of two young journalist Jackie Fernandez and Somara Theodore. I found this case interesting because these women lost their jobs for posting a picture on Facebook. Both of them were standing in line waiting for tickets to a Jay-Z concert benefiting Hillary Clinton. I thought at the most they would be suspended. I think the director made the right decision in this case by firing the young women. This is a lesson that young aspiring journalist like myself can learn from so we do not make the same mistake. We have to be careful about what we post online. In this case we saw how one careless post could cost you your job.
This Media ethics class opened my eyes to some of the challenges that journalist face on and off the job. One of my career goals is to become a news anchor for Good Morning America. I believe that this class has prepared me for some of the challenges that I might face as a journalist. The communications industry is extremely competitive. Some are willing to do whatever it takes to make it to the top which sometimes includes cheating. We saw in the movie Shattered Glass the severe consequences for those that fabricate their stories. Not only does this make the journalist look bad but it makes the journalism industry look bad too. Which is why it’s our duty as the next generation of journalist to be truthful and accurate in our reporting. If we are struggling with a specific story, then we need reach out to the editor for assistance. At the end of the day what matters is a story is truthful and accurate.
Dr. Zhong made this most enjoyable 8 a.m. class that I have ever had during my time here at Penn State. Dr. Zhong is passionate about media ethics and cares deeply about his students. He also gives great career advice for those that are interested in pursuing a career in journalism. I would strongly encourage everyone no matter what you major is to take this Ethics class. The guidelines that we have discussed throughout the semester can be applied to everyday situations. I learned a lot in the class and I am glad that I was able to take it with Dr. Zhong.