Chapter 9: New Media: Continuing Questions and New Roles

The delivery methods in media today are new: we use outlets like Youtube as another way to view programming. The internet gives people the power to organize as never before. Social media is adept at separating people into groups.

The role of information provider and collector, also known as the first informer role, is done by both citizens and journalists. Citizen journalism lacks verification which is why the second role of verifying information and placing it into context separates journalism in a professional manner. This role values truth, context and equality. The ethical value of truth and accuracy is being employed. If journalists lose their adherence to these values they will be mixed in with the first role and lose credibility.

Digitization is concept that we are not used to. Ethical performance calls for us to cite the source of our information. What do we do when the source is not real or one we created out of thin air? These sources need to credible and accurate. In reference to the Audrey Hepburn Gap commercial, I found the concept of digitization unsettling. I saw that commercial on TV with my dad and I said to him "but how can they do that- she is dead...right?" After reading about it in our book, I think there might be some ethical issues of using her image in such a way without her permission.

Public forums are a place where people meet by chance and can start a dialogue. Our news should have other points of view and stories we may have otherwise overlooked in order for us to grow individually and as a species. We must be open minded and tolerant of other people's views.

 

 There is trust that should be kept between a reporter and the source (sort of like a therapist and their patient). This is why in some instances journalists have gone to jail protecting a source. This reminded me of the movie we watched in class where Sally Field tells the woman who had gotten an abortion that she couldn't leave her name out of the story. We discussed if it was necessary for Sally Field's role as journalist to divulge such detailed information (the abortion) or if she could just state that the women was at a doctor's appointment.

This chapter connects with the concept of Utilitarianism in chapter 1: The greatest good for the greatest number of people has profound democratic implications. The internet is a tool that can be used to better our education and gather more information to make us more well educated in different areas. Journalism will be more focused on putting facts into context-taking it one step further for readers. The concept of "free" press is emphasized in the notion to make news coverage accessible to every American through the internet- this benefits the individual and society at large (key concept)

 "What separates the professionals from the amateurs at core is values and the ability to think ethically within a professional domain. " (237)