Ethics Blog for COMM 150 Fall '09

While it is difficult to pick just one professional who stands out as the most ethical, I have to chose Edward Murrow. To decide, I weeded out those individuals that maybe are not quite what I would qualify as a Comm. professionals, and that eliminated a number of people. From there, I looked at how much the individual did or was willing to sacrifice for their beliefs or ethics. I discovered so much more about Murrow by reading the wiki. He was willing to risk his life to report from the front lines of WWII and did so without the aid of modern technology. Later, during the 50’s, he actually lost his show because he refused to be strong-armed by the network and spoke out against McCArthyism. I think that he demonstrated how much he is willing to sacrifice, just about everything, for what he believed is right.

I think Nelson Mandela is probably the most ethical person on the list because he spent so much of his life behind bars doing what he knew was right for the sake of South Africans, both black and white. He had every right to be angry and even violent but he asked for peace instead. Mandela longed for a free and equal democratic society and was willing to give his life for it. I don’t think there are many people that could go the extremes that he did.

It is very hard to choose who is the most ethical individual because everyone on the list has contributed something equally worth noting. However, if I had to absolutely choose…I would say Daniel Pearl was the most ethical because I admire the fact that he risked his life doing what he loved. His passion for his career extending beyond just liking what he did, it expanded to him going to great lengths to get the reader the true scoop of what was going on in the world. It seemed that Daniel Pearl put the knowledge of  his readers first and for that, I admire him and think he is the most ethical individual.

This one I had trouble with. When it comes to choosing who the most ethical individual is from the line up, the decision becomes a challenging one. Each and everyone of these individuals presents ethics in a different scope. Some report, some investigate, some right and some speak out. From journalists to talk show hosts and news reporters… each one is different and highlights a different sense of ethics and values. Regardless of the political pressures or controversies, these indviduals have proven to firmly hold onto their values, beliefs and the ethics that their mama’s taught them. To narrow it down, however, I believe that some of the top ethical figures that were presented include Ed Murrow, Walter Cronkite, Peter Jennings, John Lennon, Zig Ziglar, Carl Burnstien and Bob Woodward.

Of the bios presented in class I would have to say that Walter Cronkite was the best ethical figure. The way he presented himself stood out more than the others to me. His believability, trustworthiness, accuracy, and impartiality was outstanding. The fact that he was widely known and was seen on tv every day, he was able to touch people like most couldn’t. He didn’t beat around the bush. As the world said, “He was the most trusted man in America.”

Read all 29 bios on the wiki as well as reread your own. Of the 30 people discussed, who is the best exemplar of ethical behavior. Explain why.

Should illegal downloading music be illegal?

I will write on where the “wire gets tripped” in terms of false and misleading advertising through the digital modification of photographs.

I would like to write my paper on the illegal distribution of movies/dvds. This topic seems interesting to me because I know it is illegal, but am aware that people still do it, even people around me. Why do people think this is okay when it is highly illegal? Research on this topic should be interesting.

A lot of people dont know what is going on with ACORN, or the massive publicity that has arisen from two amateur filmmakers posing as a pimp and prostitute getting help from ACORN.  Ill be looking at the methods of the filmmakers, ACORN, and the investigative body in regards to where, how, and why ethics is involved.