Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byJoy McDonald Modified over 8 years ago
1
DEVELOPING ETHICAL APPROACHES TO REPORTING FOREIGN NEWS
2
Prepared by: Christopher Karadjov Associate Professor Department of Journalism and Mass Communication California State University, Long Beach ©2012
3
A capstone, interdisciplinary, general education class Typical enrollment: 40 students in 2-3 sections per semester Usually, 30-40% are not journalism majors Lecture format with 4,000 words minimum writing requirement over the semester In-class and online (BeachBoard) discussions play a substantial role
4
Current format of JOUR312I is overly U.S. specific Students must be put in situations that challenge their critical thinking in foreign situations Developing multicultural sensitivity is of paramount importance not only for reporters, but for anyone involved in interactions abroad
5
Developing news-based scenarios for students to use in classroom setting Asking students to read all relevant materials prior to the exercise Assigning students randomly to groups of “reporters” and “sources” The rest of the class is observing Conducting reporter-source interactions as appropriate (20-30 min.) Debriefing (20-30 min.)
6
Scenarios should be drafted based on news- driven situations that require students to read up on the current events; currency will ensure the freshness of the exercise The instructor maintains detachment during the interaction between “reporters” and “sources” – students are allowed to make their own decisions throughout Comments and criticism are offered during debriefing after the completion of each scenario
7
Student reporters take notes and make any other appropriate recordings of the interaction “Reporters” will have to explain the rationale for their actions and questions in debriefing “Sources” will be asked to be attentive to their treatment by “reporters” The main objective of the exercise is to maximize the amount of information elicited during interviews, while maintaining ethical treatment of sources
8
Military conflict/action: Issues of embedding, relations with troops, secrecy, safety Terrorist acts: Ethical treatment of victims Disaster: Relating to victims, problem-solving of ethical issues Protests: Navigating a complex ethical terrain, esp. if the protest is against the United States Covering daily life: Maintaining proper distance from sources and showing cultural sensitivity
9
Ethical reporting requires finding the balance between intrusiveness and restraint Must know the background of the location Prepare to expect unexpected situations and requests Prepare to face adversity Maintain professional detachment while exercising empathy as appropriate First do no harm!
10
No story is worth risking someone’s life, health or causing humiliation/community issues Reporters are professionals on a mission to inform and educate their audiences Reporters should state clearly their purpose and impartiality Reporters should offer help in situations that require assistance in saving life or health of sources
11
Special attention during exercise and debriefing should be paid to the use of visuals and other multimedia sources Students must be sensitized to visual ethics (including those concerning U.S. audiences) and to particular cultural sensitivities of the sources in the scenario Students are expected to prepare themselves for maximizing the use of multimedia while solving potential ethical problems
12
Guidelines will help instructors create appropriate settings while leaving room for creativity JOUR312I students will practice ethical decision making under several scenarios Students must be taken out of their comfort zone and confront realistic situations while in the safety of the classroom Reflections during debriefing are crucial to conceptualizing ethical decision making
Similar presentations
© 2024 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.