Blog 4 – Reflections on this course by Evan Patrick

Over the course of this semester I have learned a lot of things regarding ethics in media. I would say that the lesson that sticks out the most to me would be the overarching necessity for truthfulness in reporting. This is really the basis for ethics in journalists and during the course it is such a prominent theme that it is hard to forget. Truthful reporting is the basis for credibility for all journalists and really is necessary at all times. The harm that is caused by inaccurate reporting or intentionally falsified stories has a ripple effect throughout the industry and hurts the reputation of the press as a whole, leading to the public questioning the information that it receives. Another important lesson that stuck out to me was in regards to decision making. I think it was important to learn how crucial quick decision making is in this industry and how to effectively make tough decisions. One case study that I was the most impressed by was the Stephen Glass case study. It was such an interesting introspective look at someone who really harmed the reputation of a really established magazine. It really showed all the people that were affected by the lies that Stephen Glass told, yet it also showed how seemingly easy it was for him to get away with falsifying stories for so long. It really made me notice how deadlines and pressure can have a negative influence on ethical decision-making, and how what he did really was not worth it in the end.  I think everything we learned in this course will always be in the back of my mind when reporting on sports in the future. The class as a whole really made me realize how important it is to have a general self-awareness and to always be thinking about things in an ethical framework, especially decision-making. Overall I really enjoyed the course and how each day went in class and online. The mix of discussions and case studies, along with presentations made everything very enjoyable and I found it to be an effective method of learning. The use of real-world examples for the concepts and ideas we learned throughout the course made everything seem that much more applicable to our individual lives and careers moving forward. I feel that I have a better understanding of the history surrounding ethical questions in the world of journalism and understand why things are done the way that they are done.