The Media and Its Responsibilities Essay Example

of adding personal opinions to the extent of unfairly criticizing individuals or groups they are against, also known as defamation or slander. In the most recent 2012 election, various television stations appeared to be actively promoting President Obama's campaign. Instead of providing factual information and statistics for people to form their own opinions, it seemed like journalists were instructing the audience on whom to vote for. An impartial approach would have involved giving equal news coverage to each candidate.

The SPJ Code of Ethics includes a statement about unbiased political reporting, emphasizing the brainwashing effect caused by biased reporting. Some media outlets have faced accusations of misinformation and the pursuit of being the first to report, while others have been criticized for deliberately omitting crucial details in order to shape a specific narrative, which can be seen as a form of censorship. For instance, a journalist employed by CNN was dismissed, and The Today Show edited a phone conversation involving George Zimmerman, serving as two examples that illustrate this phenomenon.

Former CNN journalist Amber Lyon was terminated for her refusal to report false stories and censor unfavorable stories about the Obama administration (Obama Hustle, 2012). In the George Zimmerman case, NBC's Today Show edited essential evidence in an unfair attempt to depict Mr. Zimmerman as racist towards Trayvon Martin. Although NBC issued an apology, the harm had already been inflicted. As per the Constitution's 6th Amendment, American citizens possess the right to a fair trial through an impartial jury (Cornell, n.d.).

The consequences of inaccurate reporting can be harmful, affecting individuals or situations and violating citizens' rights. Media organizations have a responsibility

to report factual information, ask challenging questions, safeguard the public's interests, and impartially hold politicians accountable. Failure to adhere to the SPJ Code of Ethics undermines journalists' integrity and disappoints the public. Television programs should also feel morally obligated towards their viewers.

During the 1950s to the 1970s, popular television shows such as "I Love Lucy," "Father Knows Best," "Bewitched," "The Brady Bunch," and "Leave It to Beaver" depicted a conventional family setup. The portrayal involved husbands being portrayed as providers while wives fulfilled household duties and cared for their children. Additionally, the characters on these programs were often seen dressed in attire that is now perceived as overly modest.

In the 1970s, TV shows like "The Partridge Family", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and "One Day at a Time" depicted divorced women who could both work and care for their children. However, from the 1980s to the 1990s, there was a change in how families were portrayed on television. Shows such as "Family Matters", "The Cosby Show", "Cagney & Lacey", "Charlie’s Angels", "Cheers", "CHiPs", "Ellen", and "Sex and the City" emerged during this time.

In the past, only the wife would stay at home, but now both parents work to make ends meet. Some shows, including the last 6 mentioned, showcased single women with careers to demonstrate to young female viewers that not all women had to adhere to traditional roles of marriage and child-rearing. On "Ellen," Ellen DeGeneres made a groundbreaking revelation about her character's sexual orientation by disclosing that she was a lesbian. This momentous event played a crucial role in promoting acceptance of diverse sexual orientations among numerous

Americans.

Television shows such as "Parenthood," "Two and a Half Men," and "iCarly" depict nontraditional family setups. In the show "Two and a Half Men," a man who is divorced brings his son to live with his brother, while their dysfunctional mother visits occasionally. Meanwhile, in "iCarly," the main character is a teenage girl who is under the care of her 29-year-old brother, without any parents present. These examples demonstrate how television influences society's view on what is deemed acceptable or typical.

The television networks should be more mindful of the content of their shows, as it may lead to ethical problems like bad behavior, conspiracy to commit a crime, corruption of minors, and corruption of morals. Movies and video games also have a role to play in influencing society's ethics. For instance, the movie "Easy A" portrays a high school student who lies to her peers, convincing them that she engages in sexual activities for money in order to improve her social status (IMDb, 2010).

The text emphasizes how the media portrays young individuals who choose to stay virgins as old-fashioned and dull. An illustration of this is the film "Gattaca," where individuals can select the genetic characteristics of their unborn children, influencing their future professions and ways of life. The protagonist, Vincent, faces rejection from the space program solely due to his genetic predisposition.

The text revolves around a movie that focuses on a man who goes to great lengths, including killing, in order to guarantee his spot in the space program by posing as someone else. It delves into ethical dilemmas involving genetic manipulation, plotting murder, and deception. Additionally, it

raises awareness about the worry that certain films and video games might desensitize people of all ages to violence.

Movies like "Django Unchained," "Terminator," and "The Expendables" as well as video games such as "Medal of Honor," "Call of Duty," "Fallout: New Vegas," and "Assassin's Creed Brotherhood" prominently feature continuous killing. These forms of media present violence through characters that viewers may perceive as deserving justice, impacting both children and adults. The constant exposure to killing in movies and video games diminishes people's sensitivity towards real-life acts of taking someone else's life.

People do not resort to killing others for justice or revenge; instead, they rely on the criminal justice system. However, movies and video games that promote violence raise ethical concerns, including offensive language, involvement in criminal activities, and murder. A study conducted in Indiana revealed that by the age of 18, an American child would have witnessed a large number of simulated murders and acts of violence. Among the three classical theories of utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, I believe that deontology is most suitable for addressing ethical issues in media. I have chosen deontology because it aligns with the Golden Rule ideology which emphasizes treating others as we wish to be treated. This principle is both logical and fair and should form the foundation of how the media interacts with its sources.

According to Immanuel Kant, the media should not perceive their sources merely as a means or goals. In Chapter 1 of his book, Mosser (2010) discusses this concept. The behavior of the media can also be guided by the Golden Rule; for example, they should avoid lying

or committing murder. It is reasonable to assume that members of the media would prefer not to be lied to or murdered themselves, so they should present their material accordingly. Additionally, relativism presents another ethical challenge for the media since it suggests that what may be acceptable in one society or culture may not be considered acceptable in another.

The media is often tempted to hastily judge or sway public opinion without providing explanations for people's choices. The recent gun debate has received significant media attention. Some oppose gun ownership, seeing it as a threat to society, while others come from families that support guns and strongly believe in their constitutional right to bear arms.

The discussion on this issue should involve citizens or political representatives who are accountable to the people. Currently, journalists express their opinions to influence public opinion, which can be seen as relativism. Personally, I uphold deontology due to my belief in the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is a fundamental principle that we learn in childhood and encourages us to treat others as we want to be treated. We all desire and deserve fair treatment, consideration, respect, and honesty.

The media should uphold its morals and ethics in order to protect and respect the people. However, it has received criticism lately for being untrustworthy, broadcasting excessive violence, using inappropriate language, and lacking moral values. These actions go against the principles of the Golden Rule. When the news media disregards its Code of Ethics, they engage in unethical behavior that harms their credibility and the integrity of their information source.

The media possesses significant influence through its

reporting, capable of bestowing both renown and ruin upon individuals or causes. This brings to mind the renowned quote from Spiderman: "With great power comes great responsibility" (IMDB, 2002). Unethical behavior has no rightful place within the media; instead, it should abide by the Golden Rule of treating others as they themselves would wish to be treated. The media functions as a mirror of our society; consequently, when it lacks moral principles, society likewise reflects this dearth.