The Best and the Worst of Journalism?

Using your work/ responses to media law and ethics, write an essay on the worst and the best kind of journalism the world could have in relation to the rules that govern it and the ethical considerations define it.  Ultimately, explain what kind of journalist you would be and why? 

Ethics

In the light of such ideas as absolute truth in journalism and Aristotle’s “Golden Mean”, what are the ‘positives’ associated with each? What are the ‘negatives’?  Is the obligation of the journalist to present brutal truth for truth’s sake or achieve humanity for the greater good?  What are the down sides for each of the previously stated options?  Be thorough in your reponses and anticipate the counter arguments for your claims.

Answer these four questions thoroughly, in complete sentences with precise language and support for claims.  Your responses should be typed into a word file and sent to my e mail as an attachment. 

This assignment factors into your quarterly grade as a classwork grade but this work will also assist you in your success on a future essay.

Media Law and Ethics

After examining the laws and ethical concerns that govern a journalist’s actions, apply a question explored earlier in the course: what is the obligation of the journalist?

A.      Media Law

What do the legal definitions of slander and the “Actual Malice Test” insure (provide).  How do these rules limit and also protect the journalist?  What kind of rules of conduct do these aspects of media law create?  What other rules in media law define the conduct of journalists?  Overall, what if these rules were not present and enforced?

Answer these four questions thoroughly, in complete sentences with precise language and support for claims.  Your responses should be typed into a word file and sent to my e mail as an attachment. 

This assignment factors into your quarterly grade as a classwork grade but this work will also assist you in your success on a future essay.

Writing Obituaries

A. Obituaries- notes

News Obituaries- Obituaries of people who are well known

Standard obits- handled by the advertising department, paid notices- require a large amount of space.  Usually these are written by the family, sometimes written by reporters at the request of the family.  Either way, they cost money, varying from paper to paper.

The lead-

Time and Place of Funeral Services

Time of Burial

Visitation Time

Survivors

Date and Place of Birth

Achievements

Occupation

Memberships

                        Confirm spellings

                        Check addresses

                        Check birth date against age

                        Verify obituaries with mortuary or family

Check newspaper library for other stories about the person-be sure that you have the right person

The story is one of life, not just death- celebrate the deceased’s life- give them character and grace

Do not write:  “loved ones”  “passed away”  “the departed”  “remains”- euphemisms and clichés

            “as a result of an operation”

            “suddenly”

            “an apparent heart attack” or

injuries “received”

            Religious terms- Catholics “celebrate

                                                Reform Jews worship in “temples”

                                                Orthodox worship in “synagogues

                                                Episcopal priest- rector not pastor

                                               

            Men are survived by their wife, not widow

Proper phrasing- “following an operation”

            “died unexpectedly”

            apparently of a heart attack

            injuries “suffered”

Sources- mortuary forms, other newspapers, newspaper libray, interviewing family and friends.

Policies- rephrase certain types of causes of death and delete embarrassing information

B.  Go to the TimesUnion.com internet location.  Find and read a few different Death Notices.  See if they have made any mistakes according to the information above and find these three different elements in a death notice from the TimesUnion: the name, occupation and birth date.  After you have found these things, write them into an e mail to send to me.  No one should have the same information- that will result in a zero.