TOPICS FOR OUR LAST WEEK OF CLASS

We will do as much as we can with these topics this week. Those of you who expressed an interest in each of these topics, note that I mentioned your names. If you have any kind of show and tell about the topic, please bring it in, or send me the link so we can look at it on-line. This should be fun!

MONDAY, MARCH 5
1. Photojournalism (Grant, Jessica and Trenton)
2. Environmental issues in the media and ethics (Molly)
3. Tabloids (Louise)
4. TV reporting and VNRs (Mike)
5. Discretion in reporting, i.e., respecting the wishes of your sources (Travis)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7
6. The movie "Borat" (Sam)
7. Video games (Emily)
8. Government censorship and propaganda, especially during wartime (Danielle, Joy and Kata)
9. The "O'Reilly Factor" (Tamara)
10. Ethics in sports broadcasting (Bryan)

FRIDAY, MARCH 9
11. Are the media liberal? (Josh)
12. Radio (Heather)
13. Sharing music and movies, e.g., Napster, etc. (Steve-O)
14. Exploiting young teens to become "pop stars" (Steve-O)

WE WILL DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES FOR YOUR FINAL PAPER ON FRIDAY.

READINGS FOR FEB. 26

2/19/07

“New Weapon in Web War Over Piracy,” 2/19/07, C1

“Music Labels Offer Teasers To Download,” 2/19/07, C1

Hollywood Gets Tough on Movie Copying in Canada,” 2/19/07, C3

“While Others Struggle, Norwegian Newspaper Publisher Thrives on the Web,” 2/19/07, C4

“Paper’s Ex-Publisher Now Reports From Afar,” 2/19/07, C4

“Canadian Company Offers Nude Photos via Cellphone,” 2/19/07, C7

“Horror Movie at High Pitch In TV Ad Aimed at Teenagers,” 2/19/07, C7

“Don’t Fall for Hot-Pink Camels,” 2/19/07, A18


2/20/07

“Flame First, Think Later: New clues to E-Mail Misbehavior,” 2/20/07, D5

“For Fox’s Rivals, ‘American Idol” Remains a ‘Schoolyard Bully,’” 2/20/07, B1


2/21/07

“Abuses Dog Paths of Young Magazine ‘Crews,’” A1

“In Closing Pleas, Clashing Views on Libby’s Role,” A1

“Dear JetBlue Customers (ad), A9

“Justices Overturn $79.5 Million Punitive damages Award Against Philip Morris,” A14

“Shielding the Powerful,” A22

“Half a Shield is Better than None,” A23

2/22/07

“All Coffee is Local,” (ad), A11

“From Anna to Britney to Zawahri,” A23

“Abu Ghraib And Its Multiple Failures,’ B1

2/23/07

“Profiteering Colleges,” A22

“Some Hints, Before you Dive Into the Oscar Pool,” B1

“GQ Hopes to Make the ‘G’ Stand for Generosity,” C4

FINAL PAPER GUIDELINES

FINAL PAPER FOR MASC 3100: Media Ethics Spring ‘07
Guidelines

Minimum length: 2000 words
Minimum number of sources: 30
Sources you may use: all issues of the New York Times from this semester, material from the Poynter Institute website, SPJ website, course blog, class discussion, lectures, videos viewed. If you want to use any other sources, please clear it with me beforehand.
Use APA style.

1. Choose a topic related to media ethics
Examples:
News coverage of the war in Iraq (or photography, or op-ed or editorials, etc.)
Full-page ads by interest groups
Advertising of entertainment
Coverage of the Scooter Libby trial
Work of one or more columnists
Front-page photos
Photos of international news
Coverage of environmental issues
Letter to the editor
Entertainment coverage (movies, books, etc.)
Coverage of media technology
Coverage of media business
Reporting of one or more journalists
Work of one or more photographers
Stories of green-light ethics practiced by journalists, entertainers, etc.

2. Think of a question you would like answered related to media ethics:
Examples:
What ethical guidelines seem to dictate which photos end up on the front page?
What media ethics issues are raised by readers in letters to the editor?
How does the work of one specific journalist show ethical behavior?
How does the use of sources reflect ethical or unethical behavior by a reporter?

3. Think of what the answer to your question might be (your hypothesis):
Examples:
The front-page photos reflect sound ethical decision-making
The Scooter Libby trial coverage reveals some serious ethical problems with how journalists relate to their government sources
The Times coverage of environmental issues is unethical because there is not enough of it and the what coverage they do have focuses too much on “he said/she said” journalism



4. Test your hypothesis (be sure to use one or more ethics guides in your test):
Examples:
Examine all front-page photos from February and March for subject matter and importance to determine if they are ethical
Examine all articles about environmental issues to determine if there are enough and how they approach the subject to determine if the Times does so ethically

5. State your thesis (which is your hypothesis after you’ve tested it and think you are able to prove it with evidence and argument):
Examples:
The front-page photos of the Times reflect sound ethical decision-making because a study of 50 issues shows that they eloquently depict thoughtful statements about the major issues of that time period
The advertising on the pages of international news are unethical because a study of their content shows that they are intended to sell goods and services that confirm negative ideas about Americans that are shown to be a problem with our international relations in these stories.
The letters to the editor section indicates that the reading public has a skewed notion of media ethics because they focus mostly on personalities of public figures and very little on public affairs that can be affected by the citizenry.

Due date: May 9

Topic due: end of February
Hypothesis due: end of the first week of March
Thesis statement due: end of March
Bibliography (in APA style) due: April 15

I am available to meet with you about your paper during April. Please e-mail me to set up a time.

A FEW SUGGESTED NY TIMES READINGS

2/7

“Tape recounts US attack that killed British soldier,” A7
“Many voices, but no debate,” A1
“Ousted pastor ‘completely heterosexual,’” A11
“Lawyers might keep Libby away from witness stand,” A14
“Edwards’s bloggers cross the line, critic says,” A15
“It’s the war, senators,” A18
“Yes, we can find the exit,” A19
“What happened to Bill Lawhorn. . .” (ad), A19
“Baghdad day to day: librarian’s journal,” B1
“Public television plans a network for Latinos,” B1
“The unseen and unexplained, inching closer to the truth,” B1
“Hollywood takes its concerns about piracy and taxes to Washington,” C3
“Jobs wants overhaul of music,” C1

2/6

“Trial starts for officer who refused to go to Iraq,” A14
“Jail record near for videographer who resisted grand jury,” A15
“Identity fraud has dropped since 2003, survey shows,” A17
“Libby’s grand jury tapes of 2004 are heard in court,” A17
“Democrats face limits in reshaping Bush budget,” A19
“Mr. Cheney, tear down this wall,” A21
“Wal-Mart and studios in film deal,” C1
“After long dispute, two Apples work it out,” C1
“A new boxx, even newer issues,” C1
“Thanks to the Web, the scorekeeping on the Super Bowl has just begun,” C3
“Politicians are doing Hollywood star turns,” B1

2/5

“Even before its release, world climate report is criticized as too optimistic,” A7
“US set to begin a vast expansion of DNA sampling,” A1
“Internet boom in China is built on virtual fun,” A1
“Auperbowl ads turn violent,” C1
“Skipping merrily along as others take the heat,” C1


2/2

“2 plead not guilty in advertising scare in Boston,” A12
“FBI agent says Libby denied being leak source,” A15
“Judge explains his dismissal of scientist’s suit against Times,” A14
“Missing Molly Ivins,” A19
“’Bye Harry,’ sob booksellers, investors. . .oh, and kids,” B1
“Colts and bears and Kevin Federline,” C1