C409 – News Media Ethics

This is a plot diagram for “A Shard of Glass.”

My time in COMM 409 was time well spent. This class covered news media ethics and provided  an open space for discussion. It also incorporated research and teamwork.

Two important ethical lessons I learned in this class was the importance of being accountable and transparent. This is a part of the Society of Professional Journalism’s Code of Ethics and I think it’s an important one to note and incorporate into your work. Journalism is all about being transparent with what you and and you don’t know so your readers and viewers have no questions. It’s also important to be accountable for your work because most of the time it’s not only your name on your work but also the  company that you work for. You must be accountable for the words you choose and aware of the people you are reaching  Acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently as well as explaining corrections and clarifications.

A case study that impressed me the most was the coverage of Stoneman Douglass school shooting. A team presented the way that this story was covered, both locally and nationally and posed the question of whether or not to name a school shooter. This is such an  ethical problem because you want all information to be transparent and available but with the amount of school shootings in the United States, professionals are saying that naming the shooter offers them a sense of validation in a way-they become a household name in the worst way. This case study really stuck with me because I don’t know where I stand with it-to name or not to name them and it would require me doing further research on my part.

This course will help me in my future career because I see myself producing a lot of digital content and it’s important to remain ethical when publishing anything. I learned many principles and was exposed to many real life situation where people failed to be ethical and their careers suffered because of their choices and actions. I know what not to do and what to do to help myself be great in a communications job.

Overall this course was pretty good. Although it was a required course on my academic plan, I learned valuable things that I will carry with me to my next stages in my career. Ethics are important to know and have as a person and having a course that is major specific that teaches exactly what you could encounter is very good. Dr. Z did a great job presenting the materials and I was very fortunate to be in his class this semester. I had to work for my grades for sure but the work was worth my time.

Thanks Dr. Z for a great semester!

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.

One of the first lessons we learned regarding deception in reporting is one of the more important ethical issues we covered. In class, we discussed when it is acceptable for reporters to use deception while gathering information. We discussed that it is only acceptable for a reporter to practice deception while reporting only if it leads to the uncovering of a vital truth. Some of the ways reporters can go about this is by going undercover and pretending to be someone else, giving a source the impression that you know more (or less) than you really do known as “bluffing a source”, and even using hidden cameras, although that is not as popular of a method among journalists. It was also made clear that a journalist can never deceive their audience or their colleagues. Another important ethical issue we covered was respecting peoples’ privacy. During the Invasion of privacy lecture, we learned that there are four categories of privacy that must be respected: Intrusion on solitude, publication of irrelevant, embarrassing private facts, creating a false impression of a person, and appropriating someone’s picture for personal gain. It is important for journalists to respect the privacy of individuals because once the press goes too far, it can become harassment. Princess Diana was killed in a car accident while trying to flee reporters pursuing her car. As important as the free press is, Although this example comes from a foreign media landscape, it should not come at the cost of an innocent human life. 

One of the most memorable case studies we discussed throughout the year was the case fo Brian Williams, lying about being on a helicopter that was struck with an RPG. I was so impressed by this case because I watched Brian Williams frequently on NBC’s nightly news for years. At one point, I even looked up to him as a role model; the epitome of what any young journalist would want to be. When the truth came to light and he ended up losing his job, I was absolutely shocked that he turned out to have very little regard for journalistic ethics. Although I was sad to see him fall from grace, I was also happy to see that NBC, one of the largest networks in the world, held him accountable, and showed that ethics in journalism really is important. Occasionally, I will catch him on The 11th Hour, and I always wondered if he doctored any other stories–perhaps even one I saw before he got demoted–that he altered.

I hope to one day be a lawyer, and ethics in the legal industry is very vital to the system, as it is in journalism. The media, as with the legal system, revolve around people telling the truth. In order to be a successful lawyer who serves his client’s interests to the absolute best of their ability, they must be trustworthy, and have great ethical standards. When journalists violate ethical codes, they can lose their jobs, as in the case of Stephen Glass or Jayson Blair. Lawyers found guilty of ethical violations not only run the risk of losing their jobs,  they could potentially even lose their license to practice, and will be formally banned from the profession. The legal system is built around telling the truth, which goes hand-in-hand with ethics. 

C409.3 has taught me that ethics is a discipline, and a principle. Before taking this class, I believed ethics was simply right and wrong. This course broke down numerous ethical dilemmas in society which helped to understand the big-picture need for ethics. Hypothetically speaking, if not for one’s right to privacy, journalists would be allowed to essentially harass their subjects to get what they want, which essentially turns the press into a weapon. One of the biggest things I took away from that class is that it is clear that the majority of people do not have a great understanding of ethics. Before I took this class, I was one of those people, and now I believe that I fully understand the idea of ethics. 

Throughout Comm 409 I was always so intrigued with the principles of ethical journalism. When I first signed up for the class I decided to take it because I preferred to learn more about ethics instead of journalism than a crisis in communications. One of the biggest factors that led me to enroll in the class was the positive feedback that students had about the professor, Dr. Z. I quickly learned that he cared for his students and kept the class engaged because of how passionate he felt about the subject. This type of quality made the class that much easier to attend.

One important ethical lesson I learned throughout this course was to find the balance of reporting in journalism. What I mean by that is knowing what I think the audience deserves to know while maintaining the integrity of the people I would be reporting on. Another ethical lesson I learned was the importance of having credible information and sources. That lesson has been one of the most impactful by far because a journalist has a duty to report unbiased news to the general public. With this power, comes great responsibility.

This course will definitely benefit me in a potential career I would like to explore. Even though I do not plan on pursuing a career in journalism, I do in fact dream of pursuing a job in public relations and the two work very closely together. This class has taught me what to expect when dealing with the media and how they should act. Aside from a career, this class taught me to dig for my own information if I desire to learn the truth, always remain skeptical because stories are capable of being portrayed in many ways.

As stated before, I truly enjoyed attending this class. I learned a lot throughout the course and that is something that I am very thankful for. Professor Z encouraged students to reach out to him in case any inconvenience occurred and I praise him for that. The pandemic definitely affected the course of this class but I believe that the transition was not as hard as everyone had anticipated. I have one final course to take after this semester and Comm 409 helped me make the transition into my last class. As my last official semester at Penn State, I am glad to have taken this course.

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Two Important ethical lessons

In this class, I have learned plenty of valuable, ethical lessons that I will take along with me in my future career. One of the most important lessons that I have learned is the invasion of privacy. The case study I’ve done with my group discussed the topic of showing the picture of refugees. The ethical issues surrounding the publication of a photo of a dead body involve the family of the deceased. In some cases, there are good came from the publication of their photos. For example, donations to charitable foundations aiding migrants increased, and the general public was made much more aware of the danger immigrants face. However, the dilemma for journalists’ duty as professionals or the moral duties in a human would never end. Another important lesson that I have learned is that words matter. Language and context could perpetuate or alter public bias to an event. In the case that was mentioned in class, the word “sex accuser” puts the victim into the role of aggressor. A simple word could actually show different perspectives or even change the tone of the report. A report should be impartial and neutral in wording.

One case that impressed me

I was so shocked when I saw the video about an Airbnb host leaves the guest stranded because of her race as an Asian. It seems like a cliché when it comes to the topic of diversity in race or gender identity, so many people often aren’t taking it seriously. However, society is not as diverse as we thought. The percentage of the report in minor groups is way lower than the corresponding population and this is an important message to tell us that the diversity in news media is not enough. The media have a moral duty to report accurately, fairly, and sensitively on our diverse, multicultural society.

Impact on Future Career and Reflection

This is the first ethics course I took in college and I envision the lessons I learned in this course to stay with me throughout my life. Even though I’m neither in journalism major nor entering the field in the future, I believe ethical lessons in journalism are still important. With the development of social media, citizen journalism is flourishing at the same time. That is, everyone would have plenty of chances to speak out their opinion and observation. When people have the voices to speak up, ethical knowledge have become to be essential. There are so many situations that we have never met or even think of, so I personally enjoy this class by learning from different case studies. It is a great chance to understand more about the principles and the process of ethical thinking.

Throughout this semester, I have learned much more than I thought I would; in and outside of the classroom. With this global pandemic and our classes moving online, we have been challenged as students and journalists. While I do wish I could have learned the rest of the material in person, I definitely learned the importance of adapting to one’s surroundings. This pandemic has taught me patience and trust in the future. It has taught me that whatever is meant to be will be and to have faith.

In this class I have learned two valuable ethical lessons. The first one definitely was from the “Shattered Glass” movie. This lesson wasn’t necessarily “don’t plagiarize” because we all know not to do that. I learned from the movie and from studying Stephen Glass the vortex that a writer can get sucked into when they do fabricate their writing. When you fabricate or plagiarize on a story (especially when it’s successful) it can seem so easy to do it again and again. I have never heard stories about “serial plagiarists” before this class and it made me even more cautious about the act. It taught me to never do it even if I am on a deadline or the story is weak. Also, it taught me to lookout for the signs of plagiarism and to keep in mind that if a writer does it, they are exponentially inclined to do it again.

Another ethical lesson I learned from this class was the power of photojournalism. You can tell a lot from a simple photo. Many photos or videos can not be used in journalism because they expose someone or it is not morally wise to show the public. A lot of thought and judgement must go into including a photo in a story. I especially found this evident in the case study story about the patient from the AIDS epidemic. It took a lot for the family to allow the photojournalist to take those pictures of their loved one and release them to the world. But the ultimate impact those pictures had was astronomical. People started to see how scary it was and how the disease at the time was an ultimate death wish and acted with caution and care.

I found this class to be enlightening and I am excited to take another class with this professor. I think a strong ethical mentality is the most important tool a journalist can use and I’m glad I have gained these skills and can rely on them in my future career. I would and already have recommended this class to my underclassmen friends in this major because I feel it is important and powerful.

At the end of all of this, I believe that COMM 409 has been a great course. I have learned many things throughout this semester even with the difficult new learning techniques that Mr. Bong did a wonderful job in perfecting. A few of my other professors have struggled with the Zoom techniques but there is never an issue when I log on for COMM 409. I am very thankful for the easy transition that this had to go all online. Not all my classes have been this easy. I am glad to have such great insight into the rules of journalism. Even though journalism is not my major this class opened my eyes to many new lessons. 

We learned many ethical lessons throughout the class. My favorite lesson we touched on is honesty. A lesson that seems so simple in life and journalism but has a very shady record that haunts many individuals. We learned so many journalists and anchors who attempted to make their lives easier by making shortcuts along the way. Of course, these individuals learned from their mistakes the hard way but that is not the only lesson we learned. The way we started off the class with Shattered Glass was a great example of anyone who can stretch the truth and commit fabrication. Stephen Glass highlights a journalist who could have it all but decides to use lies to buffer his career. He put himself in a situation where being true to himself is the only left he had to do but instead found himself making lies and digging himself into a deeper circle. This is important to me because it taught me a lot about self-worth and sometimes it’s someone you thought you could trust. Many followed in Stephen Glass’ footsteps and had to learn the hard way that honesty is the best route. I believe that those lessons I learned will help me make decisions in the future. I know not to just be truthful to myself but everyone around me.  

The case studies we continued to be educated by my fellow classmates were a very nice addition to the class that I appreciated. I enjoyed learning these backstories of how some professionals took a wrong turn in their career and how they live with those mistakes. Throughout learning more about these people and their past I learned a lot about the journalism values that it takes to become a professional in the workforce. This is slowly preparing me more and more for the real world. 

COMM 409 turned out to be a much more useful course than I had expected. I came in not having a clue what I was getting into, but I left learning a lot of information that will help me in my future. This class might have been needed for my major but I will say that it is one of the best classes I have had in my 2-year tenure at Penn State. Dr. Z is not only a wonderful man but someone who genuinely cares about his students. He is so quick to find out what is the best option for us and always willing to give a helping hand. I wish all of my professors took the time and care that Dr. Z does. Thank you, Dr. Z, for all your help through these tough times.

The lesson that immediately comes to mind when I think about what I’ve learned from this class is the career and mistakes of former New Republic reporter, Stephen Glass. Perhaps this topic sticks out to me the most because it was one of the first lessons of the semester or because we spent over a week talking about Glass and the ethics behind the events. Learning about Glass’ mistakes emphasized how vital the truth is in journalism. It’s important to the individual journalist because whether they report truthfully can either make or break their career. The truth is also important to the journalism industry as a whole — bringing honest, accurate and truthful reporting to audiences is the mission and foundation of good journalism. But because of this lesson I think the truth is most important to audiences. Reporting truthfully builds audiences, and then determines whether they stay or are lost. And if audiences can’t access reliable information through journalists, then what’s the point of the industry and profession?

The other class and lesson that I gained the most from was professor John Beale’s guest lecture. As a young photojournalist, I really valued getting to learn about the ethical dilemmas a seasoned photojournalist has encountered. Learning about the ethics behind photography is something that I haven’t learned in much depth yet, as I’ve only taken the intro photojournalism course so far. Because of this, learning about my future career aside from its technical aspects was really intriguing and helpful. 

The case study that impressed me most was the example from the textbook’s chapter four of photographer Russ Dillingham tackling the fleeing fugitive. Dillingham is a photographer, just as I aspire to be. Photographers normally watch as action happens and only photograph it, sometimes even when the events are horrific like with John Tlumaki at the Boston Marathon bombing. Reading the case study made me wonder how I would react if I was asked to take action. The case study brought up a lot of questions about my personal decisions, not just about general ethics concerns. On many assignments, I feel like the camera is just a window through which I watch events unfold, like I’m not really part of them. If I was asked to jump into the middle of action, would I? 

This course has introduced me to how much deeper the job of a journalist is than to simply write or make visuals. There are multiple layers of complex decision making that go into the job everyday because journalism isn’t just for the maker — its for the audience, the consumers. What I’ve learned in this class will help me with understanding the stakes of future jobs and the stories I will cover. This class has emphasized how crucial transparency and integrity is in the industry and what happens to both the reporter and the readers when that transparency and integrity isn’t honored or prioritized. I don’t want to follow in the footsteps of those journalists in the case studies that examine crushing mistakes, I want to be like those journalists we’ve talked about who make journalism look like the honorable and vital profession that I believe it is. But this course has also taught me that the circumstances facing journalists aren’t always easy — more often than not the situations and decisions are the opposite of easy. I’m glad discussion and student presentations were such a large part of the course — I was forced to practice ethical decision making and truly think about how I would respond. I don’t think there would have been any better way to learn the material than to have to engage in the decision making process as we did.

Two Important Ethical Lessons

Throughout the semester, I have learned so many different ethical lessons. If I had to choose two, I would say the most important to take away from this class is invasion of privacy and how important it is to tell the truth. I always knew that telling the truth was important, but after watching the movie Stephan Glass, it stuck with me throughout the semester. It made me want to fact check things more before I put it out there. Watch that film put me in the mindset to always be honest no matter what, it is preparing me to have a career in journalism.

Case Study

One case study that stood out the most to me was the first case study we viewed. Stephen Glass was a great foundation case study and it is a case study the sticks with me the most. It surprised me that he got away with so many fake articles for so long.  Stephen glass was caught up in fabricating stories that too good to be true. It got to the point where his boss found out and it basically cost him his job. This case study is a great example of why ethics are so important in journalism.

Impact on the Future Career and Life

Taking this class has taught me more than I knew before, it has also prepared me to be ready as a journalist. As I graduate and start my career in photojournalism, I have learned some ethical things that is important in any profession. With all of the lessons that were taught throughout this class, I will apply them to not only my career but my everyday life. These lessons will help me progress in life and in my career. I am very grateful for the lessons taught.

General Reflection

As we wrap this semester up, I really enjoyed this class. I learned a lot to be applied to my career. I thought this class was going to be my least favorite class but Dr. Z has made it fun. He tried his best to keep us engaged, was very fair with assignments and also tried to have fun within the classroom. Dr. Z also taught us everything we need to know moving forward, something I really appreciate. If this wasn’t my last semester, I would take another class with Dr. Z, he is very knowledgeable about journalism.

Ethical Lessons 

Two ethical lessons I have learned from this course are invasion of privacy and the importance of truth telling. I believe that learning about invasion of privacy was important because it taught me that minimizing harm while practicing journalism is extremely important. I believe that in being a journalist, it should not cloud one’s judgement and morals. Therefore, one should still treat others the way they would want to be treated. I believe that sensitivity and empathy as a journalist is important especially when covering certain topics. I believe that truth telling is important as we have seen the repercussions in case studies countless times when a journalist is not truthful. I believe that a journalist’s credibility and reputation is significant to be successful and not being truthful and transparent will tarnish both of those components.

Case Study

One case study that stood out to me the most and in which I learned the most from was the case of Steven Glass. Throughout the film, Shattered Glass, we were able to learn through Glass’s mistakes of fabrication and lack of truthfulness to his boss and his co-workers. I believe this case was extremely informative of how the long-term consequences of unethical actions will outweigh the short term successes. For some time Steven Glass was extremely successful as he cheated the system with his fabricated stories. However, he eventually got caught, lost his job, and his respect and credibility that he once had. This taught me that you will always eventually get caught and it is crucial to be truthful and truly earn what you work for.

Impact on My Future

I believe this course has impacted my future career in so many important ways. As someone who is confident about taking a career path in journalism, this course has taught me so many ethical lessons that will lead me to practice ethical journalism. This class has not only taught me ethical principles and guidelines, but has also instilled with me the importance of following them. I believe that without this course I would not have the same mentality that I do now.

Reflection

Overall, this course has been nothing but beneficial to me. I believe that every lesson I have learned from this class is a lesson I can take with me into my future as not only a journalist, but also an ethical person. Dr. Z is a wonderful example of this type of individual as he made every effort to show he truly cares for his students. This was motivating to me to ensure that my future career and course of life will correlate to the lessons Dr. Z has taught us throughout Comm 409.

Two important ethical lesson

Throughout the course, we have discussed many important ethical lessons. One topic that taught me an important ethical lesson was our lesson on the invasion of privacy. I also covered this topic. little for my group presentation so I was able to learn about this topic in depth. I learned the importance of the audiences’ right to know vs the victims right to privacy. In many cases, like sexual assault, victims want to remain nameless, due the stigma surrounding sexual assault and the fear of being blamed or looked at differently. On the other hand, many news rooms debate whether the audience has a right to know who these victims are. Many news rooms have a policy to not reveal the names of sexual assault victims, however, high profile cases often challenge this policy. It is essentially up the news organization to make an ethical judgement on whether to reveal or not. Another topic that taught an ethical lesson was our lecture on truth and deception. Unfortunately, in journalism there are people who intentionally deceive and lie to the audience and colleges for personal gain. Society relies on and trusts news organizations to tell the truth, making it so important for journalists to practice ethical journalism. Fabricating information, withholding information, bluffing, etc. are against what journalists stand. It is so important that journalists have these ethical standards in place while reporting

Case study

The case study that by far intrigued me the most this semester was the one on Stephen Glass. The story was absolutely eye opening to me. Before then, I had always trusted news organizations to be truthful and have the audience’s best interest in mind. It did not occur to me that a newsroom employee would stoop so low to deceive an audience and colleges for personal gain. The way Stephen Glass would manipulate notes and fabricate elaborate stories to impress those around him was extremely concerning and shocking. The movie, “Broken Glass”, that we watched in class was a great way to learn about the case. It did such a great job of showcasing his thought process, how he went about deceiving, and how the pressure of impressing those around him allowed him to do what he did. I think watching this movie during the first few class days was such a great way to start off the semester, as it immediately intrigued me and made me look forward to learning more about news media ethics.

Impact  on future 

I certainly think this course will impact both my life and career. In terms of my life, I believe I will think twice about what I read and see on the news, knowing that there are people out there whose intentions are to deceive. I will make more of an effort to get my news from media organizations that I trust have a firm ethical stance on journalism. In terms of my future career, I believe this course set me up to be wise and successful. I am a marketing major minoring in media studies, and I intend on having a career in digital media. This course has given me the ability to pursue that career with the tools to make ethical and wise decisions going forward in digital media.

General Reflection

As a media studies minor, Comm 409 is not a required class for me to take. I choose to take this course simply because it sounded interesting and was an area of study I was not very familiar with. I am extremely happy I decided to take this class. The cases we learned about were all extremely interesting and eye opening. These topics are very different from what I learn in my business classes, so they were refreshing and intriguing to me. I know I will take a lot of these lessons moving forward and incorporate what I’ve learned into my daily life. Dr. Z did a great job of introducing us students to these topics and making the lectures interesting, as well as taking the time to get to know us on a personal level. Overall, I have had a very have a very positive experience taking this course and would certainly recommend to others.

Two Ethical Lessons 

The first ethical lesson I learned was when too far is too far. Releasing the truth to the public is what I heavily believe in, but I never realized some things are just too far. I will always carry the phrase, “Can I read this while eating my breakfast?” that really made me think more about journalism. My other ethical lesson I learned was conflict of interest. A journalist is someone who serves the truth and does not let any bias opinions get in the way. That topic struck a cord with me too.

Case Study

The case study of Therese Frare had a major impact on me. She was a photojournalist that released the “Face of Aids” photo. I really liked that case study because I personally think Frare did the right thing. I believed she served the public and got the truth out. She had major support and she did follow a lot of ethical guidelines. She made a huge difference in the photojournalism field AND the nation.

Impact

I believe this class had an impact on me. I learned a lot from the readings and the classes. I think my biggest impact was learning about Stephen Glass. Before this class I had no idea who he was. Watching the movie and learning about his life showed me how one person can really interrupt the journalism world. I also learned how factual journalists must be and how they must always retrace their steps. Because if a journalist misses one step, it could cost them their career. I strive not to be like Stephen Glass. Watching that movie impacted me to be a better and more factual journalist.

Reflection

This class made me think. In all honesty, I questioned if I even want to go into journalism. I questioned it because I did not think I could write or broadcast all of these stories and not have a reaction or bias opinion to it. But I realized there are going to be stories that I just cannot simply have a reaction because I want to be an ethical journalist to the nation (or wherever I work). I want to serve the public and tell them the truth of what is going on in the community or the nation or even the world. To me, It is more important to inform people than force my opinion to those people. I believe everyone should have the right to know what is going on in our crazy world.

As a result of taking up this class, I have concluded a number of ethical aspects that remain to be a lesson for journalists. Deception and truth-telling is a universal moral issue that affects professionals in the journalism field. Fraud in journalism involves a process of gathering information or reporting different aspects. Honesty in terms of truth-telling remains an ethical issue as a journalism professional offers individual an opportunity to use undercover reporting and hidden cameras during data collection and information gathering for uncooperative or sensitive topics. I believe that deception is an ethical concern because truth is a common value that cements human relations. In many ancient stories have reinforced on ethical lessons for notable characters as a result of failing to tell the truth or being deceitful. I have also learned that truth-telling entails the use of accuracy in providing fair and balanced.  By understanding the truth, the marginalized communities and less privileged community needs’ are well represented to the public and government for best advocacy to receive maximum support without bribing themselves.

Seeking the greatest happiness for a larger population is an ethical principle that I have observed to be crucial during this course. This principle is influenced by Mills principle of the utility who believes that happiness is indeed achieved through the promotion of pleasure and minimization of pain through journalism practices. Ethically, journalism practices should seek t promote happiness among a given population through a careful emphasize on publics values that are high regard such as outstanding health, inter friendships, and increased knowledge among the masses. In enhancing happiness and pleasure, it is morally right to prioritize al the goals and desires of a community and consider consequences that will improve a more excellent balance of good over evil. I have therefore discovered that in promoting greater good, journalists practices should be guided by the ability to manifest best or positive consequences towards the welfare of human beings.

Withholding information case study manifested by CNN in Baghdad present common issues affecting the media and mass communication. It surprisingly shocks me that a news anchor or reported can have the audacity to withhold information in regards to brutality, mass killing and any other social justices as a way of protecting the states name. In 2003, it was revealed that Eason Jordan, CNN gathering president knowing failure to disclose news on Iraqi brutalities and atrocities that influenced the state of peace and stability for 12 years. Impressively, the news president came out in defense citing that he did so as a way of safeguarding his safety and those of other employees after realizing threats by Iraqi government to kill CNN employees if news of brutality were made public.

Ethical concerns must be followed to work out for the safety of global sustainability. Doing absolutely what is right is considered to be ethical and is a fulfillment of one’s purpose because the consequences inform the quality of life for the public and the world at large. Secondly, ethical considerations in mass and public communications should adopt Corporate communications in increasing awareness among the public without fear of manipulation or bringing panic among masses. Corporate communication focuses on ethical considerations towards peace and stability for the benefit of a journalist career and the states. Social influencing is also a career aspiration that has been developed further through this course with the knowledge gained on truth-telling and deception.