Ethical Dilemma

Ethical Dilemma

I am a person who wants to affect change in the world, I was raised by my family to be a person who is honest and most of all to do all things for the glory of God. in my for years of taking up mass communications I have encountered situations where in I was faced by the facts that in the industry I am studying for, temptations will creep on you from all directions and at some point I have questioned; do I really want to be a part of this industry?

I want to be a photographer, right now I am earning a living through that. I shoot weddings, debuts, events and other stuff. Right now the only problem I face is to make the photos that I shoot beautiful for my clients. Yes, I do post processing a little edit here and there but I have never done anything that has jeopardized the integrity of the photos that I take. I always try to capture the moment in its essence and stick to its truth.

One of the things ethical dilemmas that I think would be facing when I become a part of the industry is whether “to shoot or not to shoot? Or if I took photos, should I post them or not?” there was this one time when I was driving going up north I came across a traffic accident wherein a person was hit by a bus and the bus did not have the audacity to stop. Instinctively I brought out my camera to take pictures of the event but as I came closer to the accident I realized that the person was mutilated by the accident and was near death. Right then and there I decided not to take photos anymore. I felt that it would be insensitive of me to take photos of a person dying and I am more of an artsy kind of photographer, I wouldn’t want to take photos of such a tragic event. This happened a year ago and I am not yet a part of the media industry. But what if this happens again in the future where I am working for a newspaper for example? As a media practitioner we are tasked to deliver news to people and as a photographer we have to document such events for work. But still it I walk in a very thin line and I don’t know what to do. Good thing now that I somewhat have an idea what to do in this situations. When I asked my professor one time whether to shoot or not to shoot, she said that “if it’s in front of you shoot.” So I will shoot, but whether to publish them or not? I will refer to the Markulla Framework for Ethical decision making.

If I were to use the utilitarian approach wherein I would choose to the option which will produce more good and the least harm, I would publish the photos with the permission of the family of the victim. In this way I would be able to serve the community by the information I have and at the same time not harm the wishes of the family of the victim.

The people have the right to information and the family has the right to their privacy as well. If I was to use the rights approach in the framework, I probably would not post the photos because if I post the photos I would violate the privacy of the family. Plus I don’t think that people would want to view photos of accidents.

If I were to use the Justice approach which treats people equally and proportionately, I would post the photos. I would just set in mind that no matter what I cover is public property. That way I would be fair to all parties involved. Besides, it’s my job.

On the other hand, if I use the Common Good approach, I would post the photos because in the words of Spock in the sci-fi series star trek, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” Thus the needs of information of people are greater.

Among these options my favorite and what I live by is the virtue approach, because this reflects me to be the person that I want to be. As I said earlier am a person who was raised to do what is right. And in my opinion something that sensitive and graphic should not be published. People would understand why I would not want to post the photos. We are a sensitive race who respects privacy of people greatly.

In the end I am all new to this. I have a lot of things to learn along the way. Now that I have this framework to guide me in my ethical decision making, I am now more optimistic for the future. Even though the outcomes of the different approaches are different, I believe that all of them guides us to make the best decisions in regards to the factors involved. It also enables us to postulate the different possibilities that we can explore to create a better ethical solution. But after everything, I will stay true to what I believe. No matter what the future holds for me, I will stick with the values and principles that I have. I will stay true to what is right.

“Truth is the highest thing that a man can keep”, this are the words of Geoffrey Chaucer in his book the Canterbury tales. I agree with him, there is nothing higher but upholding the truth at all times. One of the most powerful entities in this world is the Media. If you were born in the late 80’s here in the Philippines, then you are most probably a person who looks to media for his information about the world. Here in the Philippines; media is a part of our daily lives, our opinions about a certain issue is most of the time of those of the newscasters or analysts that we watch and listen to on tv and radio.

How heavily should media weigh social justice against its subscribers, advertisers and audiences? Before I answer that what is social justice for me? Social justice is treating each member of society equally and without prejudice. So my answer to the question is most definitely, a lot! If social justice is being fair to all parties concerned then I believe that media should put that in priority among the rest. Upholding social justice eliminates all bias amongst us. Truth will flourish.

All should be given equal importance, I don’t mean to sound like a communist but if we treat each commitment with fairness and equality, we wouldn’t have the problems that we are facing now as a country. Men are created equally thus there is no room for improper treatment. All we need to do to make a moral decision is to identify what is the best for everyone. To treat everyone with respect, trust and love for me is true social justice. And as future media practitioners we should break the bonds of social injustice here in the Philippines, give the news for what it is, and let the people know the truth.

Reflection Paper in Media Ethics Class

Every person is given the power to choose and the power to decide, but because we’re living in a mad world, the hardest part of life is that when we make our choices regardless of its consequences.

In our Media Ethics class, we were oftentimes given an ethical dilemma which then we will try to discern and solve in a way that we were able to weigh all the factors involved to come up with a better decision, most probably the one which will benefit the most.

In the industry that we’re heading to in months time, Media ethics had been a great help for us. Of course we knew that we’ll be surrounded by powerful people and with that, we need not be blinded with all the luxuries that they have to offer. Since we were given plentiful of real situations on where we relate ourselves into and we were able to give objective and conscientious decisions, I can say that we can now face the challenges of the real world.

As a future media practitioner, I am very positive that all the values and learnings that were inculcated to us especially in our lessons regarding the conflict of interest, plagiarism, bias, staging of the story and fabrication will serve as a warning--- that in order for us to stay long in the industry, we mustn’t engage ourselves in doing such stupid acts.

Ever since high school, I already dreamt of being a successful reporter or if more fortunate, a news anchor, but I’m now having doubts if this will happen. As I finished my 200-hour practicum in GMA 7, I was honestly discouraged of being in news because of hearing some staff talking about how hard the job of those who’re working there and if you’re experiencing stress in your programs in public affairs, you must triple the feeling in the news department.

But since I was trained in one of the programs of public affairs as a junior researcher, I am now considering and welcoming the thought of working as one of the production staff. Of course I still want to work in media even if I already know how hard the job may be. I don’t want to waste the four years I spent in the course that I took and become underemployed. I’m not saying that there’s something wrong in being underemployed but it’s just that I don’t want to become one of them.

Also, I consider being a novelist and a composer someday. Actually, I’m passionate in composing songs and writing short stories and I really learned a lot in our discussion about plagiarism. And the strict implementation of “no plagiarising act” in our reflection papers taught us to be more careful in quoting and mentioning our sources because if we’ll commit any mistakes during our job, there’s no tomorrow waiting for us.

Anyway, I just would like to take this opportunity to thank you, Ms. Candice Reyes, for teaching us the fundamentals of Media Ethics and sharing your knowledge and experiences as well. In a way, you helped us shape the values and characters that we should always bring as we enter the new phase of our lives.

MEDIA ETHICS = ME

The most important matter that I have ever learned in Media Ethics is responsibility. It encompasses everything and all of the elements within the subject. It is a lot heavier than ethics itself. Responsibility is just a simple word with just a simple meaning, but its role in journalism gives life and color to the truth, therefore promoting transparency and justice.
Responsible journalism in media enlightens everyone that comes in contact with the issue. It facilitates a deeper understanding even on unpopular and odd issues in whatever aspect of human activity and endeavor.

Actually, it is very hard to be responsible sometimes, especially when our views and opinions contradict to what should be the outcome of every story that we cover. Not only that, there are many pressing factors from the different elements within the scope of the story - social, cultural, and political interferences are present almost all the time when we gather the data. Responsibility is a matter of choice for a journalist, because the outcome of every story might make or break anything or anybody, therefore very crucial in gaining trust and respect in the broadcast industry.

The most interesting topic for me in media ethics is an issue that involves politics, because a single issue can stir or agitate the minds of many people. It is written in many historical books all over the world that many big political events that had happened in the past started from just a small issue. From this, journalists who happened to be “very responsible” enough have written and reported issues that triggered explosions and helped to shape the history of many nations.

I am targeting to be a broadcast journalist someday that will probably focus on political issues. I think this is very interesting for me because of the sensitivity of these issues to the society that would consistently remind me to be very extra careful, and thus responsible enough to be guided with all the aspects and principles of journalism.

CONSEQUENCE

Brigham Young University basketball player, Brandon Davies has been SUSPENDED for the rest of the season for having PRE-MARITAL SEX with HIS GIRLFRIEND. what can you say about the suspension? what do you think about pre-marital sex? and how do you see the HONOR CODE OF BYU?

when failure takes place

MISTAKE MISTAKE MISTAKE

Fire destroyed BY home?! is that possible?

we learned that we should be the first to get the news and deliver it correctly to the audience.. it is considered as a unpardonable sin in the media industry.

Media: Science and Virtue

Ethics. Ethics. Ethics. Perhaps this is best word that would describe my last semester here in Centro Escolar University.
Time flies so fast, it was almost four years had passed when I decided to study here in Centro Escolar University, looking me now; I have transformed so much, from being a probinsyano boy from Zambales to Man of Knowledge and Values.
I have no any regrets to say for choosing this university as venue for me to pursue my college life. Aside from the knowledge that this university imparted to my mind, it also inculcated virtue in my heart.
Knowing all the technical aspect of production, rudiments in writing and basic principles in performance, are some of the things that I enjoyed learning from my professors, but having been exposed to the reality of media, being challenge of decision making and critical thinking are the hardest things and important things I experienced during taking this program.
At first, before I enter the second semester for this school year and my last semester of my college life, I thought I already learned all the things I needed in order for me to become a what they called professional. But suddenly, this perception comes to become an illusion, when I am exposed to the reality of the profession.
I know decision making is not my strongest point, but come to reality of the profession, we have, we need and we should. I have realized that the profession that I wanted to enter, is a profession that is full of decision making, it requires a braver and bolder personality, a critically and technically aspect of reality.
Brenna Coleman (2009) once said, “Ethics becomes an increasingly important issue in modern society, where people are exposed to television news, radio broadcasting, newspaper articles, and now digital media as well.”
I agree with this, people should be more responsible nowadays in the information that they are exposed with, but I think people behind these stories should be the one who should be more responsible.
We the future media practitioners are the one, who will be starting public opinion and shaping the perception of the public, will be the one who will help in building this nation brighter, so the responsibility that is given to us becomes bigger.
I am happy because, before we become a media practitioner in future, this university prepared us already technically and morally, I am been exposed to the different public standards that governs the media industry, such as plagiarism, contempt of court, libel and alike.
I become more aware in my actions and words that are coming from my mouth, because a single mistake in a day will ruin your enter life.
I was able also to share things to my colleagues; I will never forget those approaches that really help me in making things not complicated and making decisions easier and comprehensive.
I also become more aware of the things surrounding me, such as those person who are stereotyped by the people, issues that are partially covered and things that are been discriminated.
I was enlightened to the reality of life ahead of me, the profession that I wanted to be part of. People, who are responsible, are those people who learned from personal experience and the mistakes of others. We should learned how to realize things and become sensitive in others feelings.
One of the things I really learned about this course subject maybe is, knowledge and values should intertwine to one another, they should complement to one another and become as one. Knowledge without values are useless; values without knowledge are baseless.
Mr. Eugenio Lopez III once said “values are what drive the business”, strong values foundation of a journalist will really help him to become the person he wanted to become, he will never experience failure and he will never commit mistake, because this is what drive you to become you wanted to be.
Gratitude is due to the person who really exerted effort in making this course subject become interesting and easy. Thank you for those who really share their thoughts and wisdom in making me prepared in the reality ahead of us. Thank you Ma’am!

Cognizant

Cognizant

More personal than
objective, the data I received in this subject, in this physical realm; started
with me being in a quandary about everything and later being cognizant in one
thing. I found out that Media Ethics is like parental advice: you know you
ought to but sometimes you choose not to.
There are various available perspectives in
this mortal plane, such views provide different trains of thought for what
happens to be the same object for discussion. To prevent or at least minimize
the chances of individuals clashing mentally, emotionally or physically; we
have ethical principles to guide us .For better interpersonal relationships
among fellow mouth-breathers, there is a vital need for a schema of sorts to
follow; so we can actually get a grasp of what is right or wrong.
Facts of the matter: we
are all different. A famous person, a cult or a holy book once said that the
only constant thing in life is change; partially true. Another constant thing
in life is the difference of human beings. No two human beings are exactly
alike. In a scientific, religious or some quack concepts; we can’t be
completely similar. Twins are no exception. With this idea in mind, how can we
get along? how do we know what is right and wrong?
This is a world of
standards; a modern age. We simply can’t do as we please like we used to. In
the times of the Caveman, it was all about survival; It still is, but in those
times the rules on basic co-existence were pretty much irrelevant.
We live in a planet of
a growing and further growing populace of differing nationalities. We base
judgment with a combination of personal biases and prejudices. Since it has
been scientifically proven that no man, woman or child can truly live alone and
live to tell about it; I have learned to factor giving importance to my fellow
mouth-breathers as an important aspect of living
In a macro perspective,
a cumulative of humans form a society. More than what is vital to an
individual, There is a necessity for the needs of a society to be accomplished.
If every man really went for himself and covered his/her own back most of the
actual passing time; I can personally foresee chaos becoming a product of such
selfishness. In a way what I really learned in media ethics, is not just the
details of journalism ethics per se; I saw it as a support for my previous
beliefs and personal unpublished theorems proving that life is for living with
others.
The details of my
writing may seem nonsensical to the less keen observer; but this is my truth.
I enjoyed my semester
with the media ethics subject and facilitator, it was short but substantial; I
got to know others and I was in more ways than one; inspired to pursue
something else because of this course. I am not meant for news media, and I will
say such until I am seriously proven otherwise. I can enjoy the life of a
pauper, given that I reside on the expressive platforms of media. It was
enjoyable learn something, after quite a long run of classes that caused my
mind to cease from its usual erring but responsive functions. I only have a few
school class memories to hold with fondness, this should be one of them…I
think.