Question 1

Newspaper editor Charlie Gay refuses to name victims of all crimes, not just sexual-assaults, because he says naming people without permission is an invasion of privacy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Newspaper editor Charlie Gay refuses to name...

Question 2

Some critics of the Shelton, Washington Journal's decision to include the names of victims in news stories about rapes included journalists who withhold the names of rape victims because of the social stigma attached to being raped.

Accepted Answer

Many journalists and media outlets choose not to disclose the names of rape victims in their reporting due to the potential for further victimization and the social stigma associated with being a victim of sexual assault.

Question 3

Objections to the Journal's decision to name the victims in news stories about rapes came from defense attorneys who fear the chance to some publicity will inspire "crazies who like getting their name in the paper" to falsely report being raped.

Accepted Answer

The objections typically come from advocates for victims and privacy rights groups, who argue that naming victims can lead to further trauma and discourage others from reporting sexual assaults due to fear of public exposure and stigma. Defense attorneys' concerns usually focus on the rights and fair trial of the accused.

Question 4

Ethically, the media should feel an obligation to live up to whatever public image they have tried to present of themselves.

Accepted Answer

Ethically, the media should strive to be consistent and honest, living up to the public image they project to maintain trust and credibility with their audience.

Question 5

The audience has ethical expectations of mass media, which complicates attempts to craft a one-size-fits-all ethics code.

Accepted Answer

Different audiences have varying ethical expectations based on cultural, social, and personal values, making it challenging to create a universal ethics code that satisfies everyone.

Question 6

Immanuel Kant devised the Golden Mean for moral decision-making.

Accepted Answer

The Golden Mean is associated with Aristotle, not Immanuel Kant. Aristotle's concept of the Golden Mean refers to the desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency, in aspects of moral behavior. Immanuel Kant is known for his deontological ethics, particularly the Categorical Imperative.

Question 7

The broadcasting Equal Time Rule gives an advantage to concise candidates but not necessarily more qualified candidates.

Accepted Answer

The Equal Time Rule requires broadcasters to provide equal airtime to opposing political candidates upon request, which benefits those who can effectively communicate their message in a limited timeframe, but it does not assess or favor the qualifications of the candidates.

Question 8

The Judeo-Christian principle of "Do unto others" is a problem-free prescription for mass media professionals.

Accepted Answer

The principle of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a valuable ethical guideline, but applying it in mass media involves complexities such as balancing diverse audience sensitivities, freedom of expression, and ethical dilemmas that are not always resolved simply by this principle.

Question 9

The categorical imperative is associated mostly with Aristotle.

Accepted Answer

The categorical imperative is a concept developed by Immanuel Kant, not Aristotle.

Question 10

Immanuel Kant believed in hard thinking, not ethical codes.

Accepted Answer

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who believed that morality is based on reason and that ethical codes are not necessary for moral behavior.

Question 11

The principle of utility most closely parallels the democratic principle of majority rule.

Accepted Answer

The principle of utility, which seeks the greatest good for the greatest number, aligns with the democratic principle of majority rule, where decisions are made based on what most people want.

Question 12

Pragmatic ethics emphasize that moral decisions must be made without consideration of the result.

Accepted Answer

Pragmatic ethics emphasize the importance of considering the consequences and practical outcomes of moral decisions.

Question 13

The veil of ignorance means making decisions with no regard to extraneous factors that could affect the decision.

Accepted Answer

The veil of ignorance is a concept in moral and political philosophy that suggests making decisions without knowledge of one's own personal circumstances to ensure fairness and impartiality.

Question 14

The Hutchins Commission studied television news in the 1970s.

Accepted Answer

The Hutchins Commission, formally known as the Commission on Freedom of the Press, was established in the 1940s to investigate the functioning of the American press and its role in society, not specifically television news in the 1970s.

Question 15

The Hutchins Commission recommended journalists make decisions that serve the society responsibly.

Accepted Answer

The Hutchins Commission, formally known as the Commission on Freedom of the Press, was established in 1947 to explore the proper role of the media in a democratic society. It recommended that journalists should make decisions that serve society responsibly, emphasizing the need for accurate, truthful reporting and suggesting that media should be directly accountable to the public for their actions.

Question 16

Deontological ethics believe that if one identifies moral rules, they provide all the answers for right living.

Accepted Answer

Deontological ethics, founded on the belief that actions are inherently right or wrong, posits that by identifying and following moral rules, one can determine the correct course of action for living rightly.

Question 17

The theory of the divine right of kings is an example of teleological ethics.

Accepted Answer

The theory of the divine right of kings is a political and religious doctrine that asserts a monarch's legitimacy and right to rule comes directly from God, not from any secular or earthly authority. It does not primarily concern itself with ethics or morality in the way teleological ethics does, which focuses on the consequences of actions to determine right from wrong.

Question 18

Pragmatic ethics are a teleological approach.

Accepted Answer

Pragmatic ethics focus on the outcomes or consequences of actions to determine their moral value, aligning with the characteristics of a teleological approach.

Question 19

In reporting that a model citizen had served time for multiple murders many years earlier, editors at the Rocky Mountain News employed situational ethics.

Accepted Answer

Situational ethics involves making ethical decisions based on the context and situation rather than sticking strictly to universal principles. In deciding to report on the past crimes of a person who had since become a model citizen, the editors weighed the public's right to know against the potential harm to the individual's reputation, demonstrating situational ethics.

Question 20

Situational ethics means that all situations can be placed into categories for which strict rules can provide the answer.

Accepted Answer

Situational ethics suggests that the morality of an action depends on the context of the situation, rather than following strict rules applicable to all situations.

Quiz 17: Ethics