Controversies in Media Ethics

Controversies in Media Ethics offers students, instructors and professionals multiple perspectives on media ethics issues presenting vast "gray areas" and few, if any, easy answers. This third edition includes a wide range of subjects, and demonstrates a willingness to tackle the problems raised by new technologies, new media, new politics and new economics.
The core of the text is formed by 14 chapters, each of which deals with a particular problem or likelihood of ethical dilemma, presented as different points of view on the topic in question, as argued by two or more contributing authors. The 15th chapter is a collection of "mini-chapters," allowing students to discern first-hand how to deal with ethical problems. Contributing authors John A. Armstrong, Peter J. Gade, Julianne H. Newton, Kim Sheehan, and Jane B. Singer provide additional voices and perspectives on various topics under discussion.
This edition has been thoroughly updated to provide:


* discussions of issues reflecting the breadth and depth of the media spectrum
* numerous real-world examples
* broad discussion of confidentiality and other timely topics
A Companion Website (www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415963329) supplies resources for both students and instructors.


Developed for use in media ethics courses, Controversies in Media Ethics provides up-to-date discussions and analysis of ethical situations across a variety of media, including issues dealing with the Internet and new media. It provides a unique consideration of ethical concerns, and serves as provocative reading for all media students.

A. David Gordon retired from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2002, where he taught mass media ethics and law as well as journalism and media/society courses.
John Michael Kittross is editor of Media Ethics magazine. He retired from Emerson College, where he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs. He is managing director of K\E\G Associates, an academic consulting group.
John C. Merrill is professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Missouri.
William A. Babcock is senior ethics professor at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
Michael Dorsher teaches mass media ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Part I: The Basics


Overview: Theoretical Foundations for Media Ethics

Chapter 1: Ethics and Freedom: Mass Media Accountability

Chapter 2: Individual Values, Social Pressures and Conflicting Loyalties

Reflections: Taking Aristotle to Work—Practical and Moral Values

Part II: Roles and Pressures


Chapter 3: Gatekeepers and Manipulators: Truth, Fairness and Accuracy

Chapter 4: The Ethics of "Correctness" and "Inclusiveness"

Chapter 5: Codes of Ethics

Tools for Ethical Decision-Making


Part III: Overarching Problems

Chapter 6: New Technologies and Techniques: New Ethics?

Chapter 7: Digitally Manipulated Content

Chapter 8: Media Ethics and the Economic Marketplace

Chapter 9: Access to Media: Equity in Receiving and Disseminating Information

Part IV: Hot Topics in Media Ethics

Chapter 10: Private Lives, Public Interests in a Digital World

Chapter 11: The Ethics of Persuasive Communication

Chapter 12: The Ethics of New Advertising Technologies and Techniques


Chapter 13: Infotainment, Sensationalism and "Reality"

Chapter 14: Violence and Sexuality

Chapter 15: More Topics in the Ethical Debate

Postscript: Some Questions without Answers and Answers without Questions

Glossary