Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Born To Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture
Born to Buy by Juliet B. Schor is a powerful and academically airtight indictment of the advertising industry's targeting of children literally from birth while using ever more aggressive tactics. Through her original research, Schor demonstrates the disturbing effects that overexposure to media at young ages can have on children both at the individual and macro levels. Born to Buy is brilliantly researched and gracefully spun and will leave the reader with renewed insight on advertising and its role in media ethics as a whole. Highly recommended.
Contemporary Media Ethics: A Pracitical Guide for Students, Scholars and Professionals
“Contemporary Media Ethics: A Pracitical Guide for Students, Scholars and Professionals” was edited by Mitchell Land and Bill W. Hornaday in 2006. The book looks at media ethics from 5 main perspectives: the foundations of media ethics, ethic issues in print and electronic news, ethical problems when dealing with terrorism and international reporting, ethics in graphics and the internet, and ethical discussions of advertising and public relations. This book is a must-read for students to understand media ethics and help them with making ethical decisions. I would recommend this book for professionals who work in printed and electronic media and marketing fields.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Book Review #2
Ethics for Journalists by Richard Keeble 2001 ****(*****)
Ethics for Journalists is a useful book focusing on the ethical dilemmas journalists face frequently in their daily work. The author uses very insightful interviews with actual journalists instead of only talking about theories.
In this book, most chapters subsection headings are phrased as questions like “Should it be possible for journalists to pay sources?" I think this question and answer approach provides a more direct way to discuss these dilemmas more comprehensively. There also are lots of conflicted topics in the book like the tabloid news, racism, and war reporting.
The problem is that many of the examples used to illustrate the discussion are drawn from British journalism and may be unfamiliar to readers from other countries. But I still would recommend this book to others studying media, communications or journalism. It is also a great book for those already working in these areas who want insight into ethical problems and their solutions.
Ethics for Journalists is a useful book focusing on the ethical dilemmas journalists face frequently in their daily work. The author uses very insightful interviews with actual journalists instead of only talking about theories.
In this book, most chapters subsection headings are phrased as questions like “Should it be possible for journalists to pay sources?" I think this question and answer approach provides a more direct way to discuss these dilemmas more comprehensively. There also are lots of conflicted topics in the book like the tabloid news, racism, and war reporting.
The problem is that many of the examples used to illustrate the discussion are drawn from British journalism and may be unfamiliar to readers from other countries. But I still would recommend this book to others studying media, communications or journalism. It is also a great book for those already working in these areas who want insight into ethical problems and their solutions.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Exploring communication ethics: Interviews with influential scholars in the field.
Title: Exploring communication ethics: Interviews with influential scholars in the field.
Editor: Pat ARNESON
978-0-8204-8824-0
****(*****)
Reviewed by Utku CEBECI
While ethics is a study of morality, it is also a core part of the human communication. Ethics in communication considers what is right or wrong according to a person’s behaviors in a society that affects other persons’ lives. Editor of the book believes that this piece is a influential contribution to research of communication ethics.
There are interviews with nine different scholars talks about their understanding of communication ethics with people. They also mention the experiences that they have in interviews. Additionally, scholars ask questions about communication ethics for further research about the issue.
The book is very well written. For people who concerns about ethics, it is a good way to learn from experiences and ideas from important scholars. On the other hand, it might be hard to read for those who are not use to read interview-style or conference type book. Finally, I recommend Exploring Communication Ethics especially to my colleagues.
Editor: Pat ARNESON
978-0-8204-8824-0
****(*****)
Reviewed by Utku CEBECI
While ethics is a study of morality, it is also a core part of the human communication. Ethics in communication considers what is right or wrong according to a person’s behaviors in a society that affects other persons’ lives. Editor of the book believes that this piece is a influential contribution to research of communication ethics.
There are interviews with nine different scholars talks about their understanding of communication ethics with people. They also mention the experiences that they have in interviews. Additionally, scholars ask questions about communication ethics for further research about the issue.
The book is very well written. For people who concerns about ethics, it is a good way to learn from experiences and ideas from important scholars. On the other hand, it might be hard to read for those who are not use to read interview-style or conference type book. Finally, I recommend Exploring Communication Ethics especially to my colleagues.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Book Review #2
McClary M. (2005). Issues in journalism: A Discussion Guide for News Media Ethics. BookSurge Publishing.
The book I read is called “Issues in Journalism: A Discussion Guide for News Media Ethics”, written by journalism professor Maclyn McClary. This unique book includes lively discussion about news media ethics among journalists, classmates and focus groups. In each chapter, the author provides an interesting topic to stimulate the readers’ thoughts and attitudes toward ethical dilemma in news industry, and I think the dialogue is quite educational and thought-provoking. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in media ethics and look forward to read something “fascinating” about this controversial subject.
The book I read is called “Issues in Journalism: A Discussion Guide for News Media Ethics”, written by journalism professor Maclyn McClary. This unique book includes lively discussion about news media ethics among journalists, classmates and focus groups. In each chapter, the author provides an interesting topic to stimulate the readers’ thoughts and attitudes toward ethical dilemma in news industry, and I think the dialogue is quite educational and thought-provoking. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in media ethics and look forward to read something “fascinating” about this controversial subject.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Kennedy Book Report
Michelle Kennedy
BECA 702
April 22, 2008
2nd Book Report
Bailey, C. (1984). Conflicts of interest: A matter of journalistic ethics. Archives of The National News Council.
This book, Conflicts of interest: A matter of journalistic ethics, is actually a paper that was written back in 1983. It was published and made into a book, after it was written for the National News Council. The author, Charles Bailey, sent out questionnaires to reporters and all sorts of news executives and says, “Their responses were the single most important element in the research for this study” (p.2).
The paper dissects the relationship that columnist George Will had with then President Ronald Reagan, and the fact that he apparently coached Reagan for a debate with President Carter in 1980. Will did not tell his audience about the coaching, so the Council had the writer Charles Bailey look at conflicts of interest in journalism, as they relate to this particular situation. Bailey also went into how conflicts of interest like this one, affect the “public’s perception of the news media” (p.1).
Bailey points out early on that there are no real ethical codes established for journalists. There are more or less rules established at individual news organizations. He also points out that at the time he wrote this paper, which was more than 2 decades ago, the public’s perception of the media was changing, “and not for the better” (p.45).
Bailey ends his paper by making suggestions for journalists, based on his research. He essentially says it is up to the journalists themselves to act in a respectable and ethical way. He also suggests that news stations publish their ethical standards and be open to scrutiny from the public (p.46).
I think Bailey had some good ideas and I thought what he wrote was relevant, even 24 years later. I would recommend this book. I thought it was well written, and intriguing.
BECA 702
April 22, 2008
2nd Book Report
Bailey, C. (1984). Conflicts of interest: A matter of journalistic ethics. Archives of The National News Council.
This book, Conflicts of interest: A matter of journalistic ethics, is actually a paper that was written back in 1983. It was published and made into a book, after it was written for the National News Council. The author, Charles Bailey, sent out questionnaires to reporters and all sorts of news executives and says, “Their responses were the single most important element in the research for this study” (p.2).
The paper dissects the relationship that columnist George Will had with then President Ronald Reagan, and the fact that he apparently coached Reagan for a debate with President Carter in 1980. Will did not tell his audience about the coaching, so the Council had the writer Charles Bailey look at conflicts of interest in journalism, as they relate to this particular situation. Bailey also went into how conflicts of interest like this one, affect the “public’s perception of the news media” (p.1).
Bailey points out early on that there are no real ethical codes established for journalists. There are more or less rules established at individual news organizations. He also points out that at the time he wrote this paper, which was more than 2 decades ago, the public’s perception of the media was changing, “and not for the better” (p.45).
Bailey ends his paper by making suggestions for journalists, based on his research. He essentially says it is up to the journalists themselves to act in a respectable and ethical way. He also suggests that news stations publish their ethical standards and be open to scrutiny from the public (p.46).
I think Bailey had some good ideas and I thought what he wrote was relevant, even 24 years later. I would recommend this book. I thought it was well written, and intriguing.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Guidelines
Your job is to inform and advise--all in 75 to 100 words. Readers will want to know what book you read, who wrote it and what the book was about. They will also want to know if they should take the time to read the book.
Start your review with up to 5 ⧈'s (or whatever electronic media-ish symbol you can find) and a "Required Reading" "Recommended but not Required" or "Don't Bother" (so a Don't Bother book would have one symbol, a recommended book would have 2 or 3 symbols and a "required reading" would have 4 or 5 symbols.
Finally, don't forget the label. The label is the "subject area" of the book--advertising ethics, digital divide, journalism ethics, and so forth.
Thanks for your efforts in furthering the cause of media ethics!
Start your review with up to 5 ⧈'s (or whatever electronic media-ish symbol you can find) and a "Required Reading" "Recommended but not Required" or "Don't Bother" (so a Don't Bother book would have one symbol, a recommended book would have 2 or 3 symbols and a "required reading" would have 4 or 5 symbols.
Finally, don't forget the label. The label is the "subject area" of the book--advertising ethics, digital divide, journalism ethics, and so forth.
Thanks for your efforts in furthering the cause of media ethics!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)