Is newsroom diversity important?

The journalism profession has long been criticized for not being as diverse as the communities it is entrusted to cover. While critics argue that the lack of diversity causes journalists to focus and define news primarily as it relates to those in power, many issues and events of importance to some communities are ignored. On the other hand, journalists argue that anyone who is trained and skilled as a journalist can and will cover all that is news, regardless of the community on which it focuses. Is newsroom diversity essential? Cite reasons to support the answer.

Lying to get the truth

Zoe Barnes is a character on the show “House of Cards.” She is a reporter who uses many deceptive practices, including lying, in her quest for stories. While Zoe’s practices are exaggerated for dramatic effect, most journalists agree that deception in reporting can be ethical in some circumstances. In terms of outright lying to a source, do you think it ever could be ethically justified? If so, in what type of circumstances?

Proven guilty?

The Tampa Bay Times, the Tribune papers and other publications began publishing unedited mug shot images, mostly as a money maker. While publishing the names of those arrested is not a new practice, publications once felt obligated to also publish the disposition of the arrests at a later date, especially because so many cases are dismissed and in those cases suspects are left with no criminal records. Now, although these photos of people at their worst are a regular feature, there often is no corresponding stories or photos of what happened in these criminal cases. Do you think this is an ethical practice? If so, why and if not, what might publications do instead?

Who is a journalist?

Jonathon Pelto is a former Connecticut state representative who now writes a popular education blog. He is one of many so-called citizen journalists or entrepreneurial journalists. If people such as Pelto are in the business of reporting and writing, should they be held to the same ethical standards as reporters who work for news outlets? Why?

Publish every opinion?

In a quest to be objective, reporters often give equal weight to a variety of opinions on issues. This can be effective in some instances, but in others, it can create what is called false balance, that is, giving equal weight to opinions that have no merit. In the case of the Newtown shootings and the so-called Truthers, does the press have an obligation to publish comments and opinions from these people who deny the tragedy ever occurred?

Ethical campaign coverage

The manner in which the media covers campaigns has been repeatedly criticized as shallow, focusing on polls and the “horse race” aspect of the campaigns instead of the issues. What do you think is a journalist’s ethical responsibility in covering campaigns and would you say they’ve lived up to this responsibility or fallen short during this election season?

When is a journalist’s private life really private?

Sports media giant ESPN suspended one of its reporter – Britt McHenry – after security video in a parking lot caught her saying mean-spirited, nasty comments about a female attendant. McHenry reportedly commented on the woman’s weight, her lack of education and made other nasty comments.

Here is a link to the Huffington Post story about the incident:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/16/britt-mchenry_n_7082796.html

Did ESPN unfairly infringe upon McHenry’s private life with its decision? Or should a reporter always uphold professional standards, whether they are on the job or off?

Should journalists be insiders?

In 1972, a book called “The Boys on the Bus” was published that ridiculed the way reporters covered the presidential campaign of Walter Mondale v. Richard Nixon.

Author Timothy Crouse poked fun at reporters who appeared more interested in getting as much free food and booze as they could, reported whatever candidates said without question and generally jockeyed to be “insiders” with the candidates’ teams instead of thinking of serving the public.

While that was more than 40 years ago, little has changed about the manner in which the media reports elections.

What is the ethical danger of a reporter striving to be an insider rather than a public servant?

How does the press define a public figure?

Journalists give those who choose to be in the public’s eye, such as elected officials, less privacy. But what about their family members who haven’t chosen a public life, yet often find themselves under scrutiny.

Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol was the subject of much media flurry when she was a pregnant and unmarried teen during her mother’s campaign for vice president.

Sasha and Malia Obama were criticized by a Washington Congressional staffer and the story was then picked up by the press after they appeared bored and embarrassed at their father’s presidential turkey pardon.

Does the media go too far in covering family members of public figures? Where is the appropriate line?

A Reporter’s Personal Life

Many news outlets have fairly strict codes about how their reporters should conduct themselves, even in their private lives. For example, reporters are prohibited from being politically active and they are warned about not entering romantic relationships with people who could be their news sources. Some outlets even have a suggested code of conduct for how reporters use their private social media accounts.

All of this is avoid the appearance of their reporters having a conflict of interest.

Do you think such codes go too far? Explain your answer or say what you believe would instead be appropriate and ethical.