Two Important Ethical Lessons:
Protecting your source. I’ve learned that it can be difficult to protect your source in certain situations, but it is important to do so at all time. Unless your source is going to harm themselves or someone else, chances are their identity does not need to be shared. If our sources can’t trust that their identity is safe, then they won’t trust us as journalist and give us the information we need for our stories.
Verifying sources and information. Falsely reporting on a story and not giving readers the truth can harm any journalist’s career. It is important to always verify your sources stories and to verify any other information you are presented with. Journalists need to make sure they fact check their stories.
Impressive Case Study:
One case study we went over in class that really impressed me was the one regarding a young women who had driven off the road and her car began to sink. She called 911 and her last few minutes of life were recorded as the operator tried to find where she was before she drowned. The ethical dilemma was whether or not news outlets should have played the recording. At first, I thought that it shouldn’t be played because it would be very difficult for her family and loved ones to hear her last words. But after hearing the clip, it wasn’t as graphic as I thought it would be, so I understand why some news outlets decided to play it. At the same time, the voice recording was not necessary to report the story and, in my opinion, did not add value to the story. So, if it was me, and the family asked me not to play it, I would have respected their wishes. I think this story impressed me so much because it showed me that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to reporting. Some outlets used the recording and others did not, but who’s to say who is right and who is wrong.
Future Career and Life:
This course has opened my eyes to the ethical dilemmas that I will face in my future career as a journalist. I know now that everything isn’t black and white and that there is no book of rules that can tell me what to do. My job will have a lot of grey areas, and as long as I use my best judgement when it comes to my sources and the facts I am reporting, I will be able to figure out what to do. Plus, I will be working under a staff of people who can help guide me if I am uncertain about something in regards to reporting.
Reflection on Course:
Overall, I think that this course and the professor did a good job at teaching me information that I will remember even after the semester is over. I enjoyed the weeks we spent learning about case studies from other groups in the class, that is what really opened my eyes to the world of ethical dilemmas for journalist and how there is no lack of them. I also enjoyed how Bu Zhong didn’t just stand in front of the class and lecture us, he constantly opened up the discussion to the class and allowed us to share our thoughts and opinions.