Week 8- Ethics

Funnily enough, the weekend prior to the lecture I had watched Evil Angels, a film about the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain, a nine week old baby, while on a family camping trip at Uluru in 1980. As a film it is fantastic, Meryl Streep and Sam Neill give harrowing performances as the parents Lindy and Michael. For those (surely there aren't any but you can never be sure) who don't know the full story, Lindy and Michael Chamberlain alleged that baby Azaria was taken from their tent by a dingo. The initial inquest agreed and there was no case to answer. However, following the intense media scrutiny a second investigation was opened and Lindy was subsequently found guilty of murder and Michael of accessory after the fact. In 1988 after new evidence came to light they were officially acquitted.

So why am I writing about this? The media focus unprecedented and sensational, to the point where blatant lies were being printed. The fact that the family were Seventh-day Adventists was used against them, including claims that the Church was a cult that killed babies in sacrificial ceremonies. It was reported that the name Azaria meant 'sacrifice in the wilderness'. It actually means 'blessed of God'. I think there is no doubt that the trial of Lindy and Michael Chamberlain was a classic example of 'trial by media'.

The lecture looked in particular at three ethical theories; deontology, consequentialism, and virtue. Deontology is, in a nutshell, about following rules, policies, duties etc. If you are following these guidelines you will be 'right'. Therefore, all ethics codes are deontological. Consequentialism means that the ends justifies the means. No matter how you get there, as long as it's 'right' then everything is 'right'. While virtue says that 'goodness' comes from good habits and disposition.

I left not sure if I was any closer to figuring out what ethics in journalism actually means. Surely ethics can't be measured or chartered? Though of course that is just my opinion. Would it be unethical of me to think everyone else should agree with that?

Would we see an ad like this on television now?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VprIbx4QkPc

This commercial was banned in Australia in 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70pyE505nsk