Junkyard Journalism

Media Alliance Code of Ethics

Alliance members engaged in journalism commit themselves to: Honesty Fairness Independence Respect for the rights of others

The Categorical Imperative Test (Duty)

 1. Reversibility: Always act according to a moral principle that you would desire to be a universal law.

2. Respect for others: Always treat persons, whether yourself or others, as ends in themselves (never as means to an end).

3. Universilizability:The will of every moral agent can be conceived as a universal legislature.

Reversibility

Would the journalists involved like to be harassed, as was

Thomson?

Respect for OthersDid the bullying affect Thomsons ability to make his own appropriate choices concerning his political career, or did the media make those for him?

UniversilizabilityDid journalists have a responsibility to the public to report on the issue as it was in public interest?

✔

Utilitarian Ethics Test (Consequences)

“The greatest good for the greatest number.”

Focuses on: •Consequences over outcomes•Impartiality•Self-sacrifice

Criteria OneWas bullying Thomson in the best

interest of the public?

✔

Criteria Two

Was Craig Thomson denied legal rights?

✔Commonwealth Privacy Act: Section 7bActs and practices of ‘media organisations’ are exempt from the operation of the Act, provided the acts or practices are undertaken ‘in the course of journalism’ at a time when the organisation is publicly committed to observe standards that deal with privacy. This exemption aims to ensure an appropriate balance between the public interest in freedom of expression and the public interest in adequately safeguarding the handling of personal information.[2]  media organisation means an organisation whose activities consist of or include the collection, preparation for dissemination or dissemination of the following material for the purpose of making it available to the public:(a) material having the character of news, current affairs, information or a documentary;(b) material consisting of commentary or opinion on, or analysis of, news, current affairs, information or a documentary.

Criteria 3

Did the journalists act impartially?

✔

Virtue Ethics Test (Character)

“Threefold activity of seeing an end, thinking about the means to it and

choosing an action.”

“A person’s goodness depends on exercising the spirit and virtue.”

“Threefold activity of seeing an end, thinking about the means to it and

choosing an action.”

Virtue

Self-care: Responsible for ourselves as well as others

✔

ViceBrutality- Unrelentingly harsh and severe

So, were the journalists ethical?

No. They journalists failed two out of the three ethical tests. They could have acted in an ethical manner, protecting their interests and those of the public all while minimising Thomsons pain. They should have taken a non-tabloid approach to the story by informing the public of the situation once.

Junkyard Journalism