Ethical lessons
One of the important ethical lessons I have had in this course is about the clash of moral duties. Sometimes journalists need to make decision about whether they should intervention and help victims or they should report the news. This is a tough and complex question sometimes because if journalists choose one of the two, it always has some shortcomings. If journalists report the news, maybe someone die without the first-aid and maybe the situation is becoming more and more serious. If journalists choose to help victims, they couldn’t have the time to do the reporting so that the audience don’t have the opportunities to know what’s going on. Before learning this course, I always have questions about this problem. I watched a Korean drama which is about journalism. The actress who is a journalist reports a big snow one day. She sees someone walks and very likely to fall down because of the slippery floor. The actress wants to stop them but another journalist stops her, saying that journalists need to video this and help more people. However, I heard another view when I was in my sophomore year in China. My teacher said that journalists are human-beings which means if something happens we need to help first. I was confused about this for a long time. After reading the textbook and taking this course, I know it depends. There are some guidelines for journalists when deciding whether to help. We need to know if the danger is imminent and profound. Also, journalists need to think about is there anyone else who can help. If there are other people who can help, it’s journalists’ responsibility to report the news.
Another important ethical lesson is the end-based thinking. I thought that rule-based thinking is right because journalists should tell the audience the truth and the information they know. However, I find that it’s not easy to make decision in different cases. In the class, we watched a video about whether the news organizations should public rapist and victims. There are cases that the rapists were published by news organizations and then found that they are innocent. There are cases that the victims were identified by the public which destroyed their life. However, some organizations state that it declines the authenticity if they don’t name rapists and victims. There is no rule about this. However, the news organizations need to consider the end-based thinking which brings the most good to the most people. Before making decisions, journalists should consider who will be helped and who will be harmed. Sometimes journalists should minimize the harm of the victims.
Case Study
One case study I learned that impressed me the most is about publishing images. There are many violent images released and published in many news organizations and online after the bombing in Boston Marathon. Some said the violent images shouldn’t appear to the public because it harms people and others said pictures can show what the truths are. According to The Ethical Journalist textbook, the key issue is about seeking truth while minimizing the harms. It is important to ensure the integrity and minimize the possible harm to the audience and the victims. Actually, there is no right answer about this and different news organizations have different views. Although some photos may cause damage, graphics can inform people so that make the world better. Although seeking the truth is important, journalists also need to treat all the people with dignity. If there are no reason to publish a violent and harm photo, it’s the second disaster to the victims.
Impact to Future and Life
During this semester, I realize that there are not so many right or wrong in the ethics. Journalists should deal with the situation case by case. In the future and career, I think I won’t make decisions without thinking many different dimensions. There are cases in my mind which will guide me if I will be a reporter in the future. Journalists have big responsibility to the audience and the truth. All in all, I learn a lot from the course. This course gives us the idea not only about what things journalists should or shouldn’t do, this also tells us we should always think twice before making decisions. In China, teachers told me that media is the mouth of the government. The government can decide whether it should be published. Although the news organizations are independent and people have free speech in the United States, there are also problems in the country. Fake news and unjust reporting also happen. I think there is a long way for journalists to go and we all have the responsibility to tell the truth and inform the audience. After learning this course, I feel it’s more difficult to make decisions. However, I still want to try and want to be a good reporter in the future.
Reflection on Couse
I really want to thank Dr. Zhong. Zhong is a very good and responsible teacher. He wants to know everyone and tries to let students talk and express their opinions in the class. Also, he wants to learn every student about other things out of classroom and help them. This is my last semester in Penn State and I’m really lucky to take Zhong’s class. He is one of the best teachers I had in my college life.