Fall 2011, Vol. 23, No. 1

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Media Ethics is independent. It is editorially eclectic, and the sponsors are not responsible for its content. It strives to provide a forum for opinion and research articles on media ethics, as well as a venue for announcements and reviews of meetings, opportunities, and publications.  Media Ethics welcomes any and all contributions. All submitted manuscripts are subject to editing at the discretion of the editor.

 

Because of our editorial policies of independence and inclusion, neither the sponsors nor the editor or publishers shall be held responsible for any views expressed in Media Ethics by authors or others, or for their own follies.

 

Photographs and other illustrations often are digitally altered. Unless otherwise specified, authors and photographers retain all copyrights to their work, subject only to print and electronic publication by Media Ethics itself.

The Future of Press Regulation in Britain after the News of the World Scandal


By Ryan J. Thomas

Thomas offers a prediction of what press regulation in the U.K. will be like after the News of the World was caught telephone hacking—using unethical means to achieve the most titillating ends.

 

 

Photo: Ben Sutherland

An “Ethicalia” Murdoch Retrospective—a Race to the Bottom


By Manny Paraschos

Paraschos compiles earlier mentions of Rupert Murdoch that have appeared in these pages.


Narrative Exemplars and Lessons Learned from the News of the World's Demise

By William R. Davie

Davie looks at some of the lessons to be learned from the demise of Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World and all who sailed in her.

 

 

Photo: Ben Sutherland

Unethical Fireworks

By James H. Burnett

When CBS-TV aired the July 4th Boston Pops concert and the following fireworks display in 2011, was it news? Entertainment? Both? Real or unreal? The Boston Globe takes this matter seriously.

 

Photo: © Stephen Orsillo

Realistic Ethics: A Brief Look


By John C. Merrill

Return to one of Merrill’s favorite exemplars: Niccolo Machiavelli.  Maybe we should pay more attention to pragmatic—or even selfish—ethical behavior.  It is certainly more in keeping with the standards of most human beings…isn’t it?

 

 

 Photo: Mpclemens  

Should the Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case Change the Ethics of Covering Crime?

By Jack Breslin

Breslin considers if the victim of a crime should lose all vestiges of privacy when the media pack of reportorial and photographic wolves (or dogs?) is turned loose.

 

Photo: Cartoonist 2006

Journalists and the Fear of Islam: How the Political Blogosphere Imposed “Islamophobia” on Mainstream U. S. Media

By Nadia Dala

Dala explores how the ultra-conservative blogosphere set the agenda for mainstream media’s acceptance of "Islamophobia" after 9/11.


Unhappy Valley

By A. David Gordon

Gordon takes an early look at an ongoing story and asks why so few media outlets—local or national—took so long to cover the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.

 

Photo: Terri Ogan

Media Cheating and Sports Ethics—or Vice Versa

By Gary Gumpert and Susan Drucker

Gumpert and Drucker muse on what the roles of television should be when a sport enthrones a form of “cheating” as part of its appeal to spectators.

 

Photo: Keith Allison

Surreality TV in Iowa: Stephen Colbert’s Parallel Universe

By Ormond Smythe

Smythe wonders if Stephen Colbert is "for real." After all, the television satirist has established an actual money-raising Super-Political Action Committee—like the big guys.

 

 

Photo: Yodel Anecdotal

Belligerent Narratives and Famine: Invoking an African Moral and Ethical Theory

By Ali Noor Mohamed

Mohamed examines traditional African moral principles and asks why the media haven’t used them to help mend the shocking starvation disaster in the Horn of Africa.

 

Photo: Edu-Tourist

Media Ethics Defined

By Kenneth Harwood

Harwood is glad to be able to report that the term "media ethics" has finally achieved definitional acceptance in an important new dictionary.

 

Photo: University of Dublin

On Teaching Philosophy of Film

By Monica A. Link

Link argues that institutions of  higher education need to teach the philosophy of film, rather than merely use film to teach philosophy.

 

 

Photo: Pburt207

Correction and Editor's Note


Regarding Edward Wasserman’s "The Dilemma of the Evil but Truthful Source”"published in Spring  2011.

New Website

Media Ethics magazine is now published exclusively online effective with Vol. 23, No. 1 (Fall 2011).   Our last print edition was published in spring 2011. We will continue to publish a new edition each spring and fall at www.mediaethicsmagazine.com.  We still have copies of some back issues available for those who need them, and intend to post all back issues on this Web site eventually.

Most of our patterns of correspondence and publication remain unchanged. Germane articles, notices, events, commentaries, trial balloon queries,  book reviews,  etc.,  may be sent to editor John Michael Kittross at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Inquires about sponsorship may be sent to Tom Cooper at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Input and queries about the Web site itself may be directed to Manny Paraschos at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Requests for hard copies of back  issues may be e-mailed to Terri Ogan  at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  

All contributions, feedback, and submissions continue to be most welcome.
Since we have recently added several new features and articles to this site, we will value hearing from you about the design and content of current issues.  Thank you.

 

Clifford Christians, Executive Publisher

Tom Cooper and Manny Paraschos, Co-publishers

John Michael Kittross, Editor

 
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