Midterm Flashcards
what is the ROLE of the press?
spread of knowledge
main ethics of journalism?
- being objective
- being factual
- being as complete as possible
- concealment only when necessary
what IS journalism?
objective recreation of reality within context
show trial
false trial
fourth estate
acts as a check on branches of government
how does media become LESS objective? and factors that cause it
a higher frequency of publication causes less objectivity
Factors:
1. filter function (how many ppl see it
2. time
on record
officially measured/noted
off record
not an official statement
how do you check sources?
-call
-internet search
-go with another person (partner)
Law of Identity
real is real. what is not is not. reality exists dependent of own perception
sensationalism
use of exciting/shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy, in order to provoke public interest
fundamentality of journalism
the lede which is the “essence” of the story
what does a lede include
essential facts
5 w’s (who, what, where, when, why)
epistemology
theory/study of limits of knowledge
aesthetics
what can be communicated from from person to another
metaphysics
accepting what is reality
-subset of law of identity
immediate ID
public figure
how do you reference immediate ID
by name
delayed ID
not a public figure (private)
how do you reference delayed ID
usually by occupation
lede
intro to news story that is supposed to entice readers to click
how to write a lede
who: immediate vs delayed ID
what: summary vs multiple elements
how many words is a lede
30
context
adds significance, builds on lede
one sentence
details
1 idea per paragraph: quotes, sources, data etc.
inverted pyramid
placing the most fundamental information in the lead paragraph of the story, and then arranging the remaining details, from most important to least important
first amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
3 Revolutions in Communications
- Transition to scribal history
- Printing Press
- Morse Code
Who started scribal history
Plato, he wanted a linear way of thinking
Who created to printing press
Johannes Gutenberg
Who said “kill the poets”
Plato
Impact of printing press
Gave normal people the upper hand over gonvernment
What period in history did the printing press push forward?
Renaissance
Who created morse code?
Samuel Morse
What period in history did Samuel Morse push forward
Electronic Age
Who said “the medium is the message?
Marshall McLuhan
“The medium is the message” meaning
The medium influences how the message is received
1st published newspaper?
Publick Occurrences
Significance of Publick Occurrences
1st victim of censorship
Who published Publick Occurrences?
Benjamin Harris
What was the first true newspaper
The New England Courant
Who took over The New England Courant
Ben Franklin
Who were the Franklin Boys?
Ben Franklin sent the to write stories
Who was John Peter Zenger
Put on trial for seditious libel but he just printed the paper
outcomes of zenger trial
- truth established as legal defense for libel
- jury took it upon itself to interpret the law for the first time
What was John Peter Zenger put on trial for
Seditious libel
What is seditious libel
criminal defense when one rebels against the government
What did Thomas Jefferson say?
“Were it up to me to have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate to choose the latter”
Significance of Jefferson’s Government Newspaper speech
He basically said that newspaper act as a check on governments which helps them do better
what is it called between on and off record?
not for atribution
what does journalism reflect
values of society
what is libel
defamation of character (slander)
what is defamation of character
false statement of fact that causes the victim some type of harm.
defenses against libel
1.truth
2.qualified privilege
3.fair comment defense
4.public vs private distinctions
what is qualified privilege?
the act of being objective and reporting fairly. being impartial
what is fair comment defense
opining is considered protected speech (movie, book critics etc.) as long as it’s wo malice
Result of Milkovich vs Loraine Journal case?
even states of opinion might constitute libel if sufficiently or factually proved to be true or false
result of Time vs Sullivan
paper has to print false/malicious material deliberately to constitute libel
AP vs Walker
court extends Actual Malice test to public figures
What did the Saturday Evening Post do
Say that the frequency of publication affects libel
Gross Negligence Test
(NY)must act in gross manner for libel
Significance of Gertz vs Welch
created difference between public vs private distinctions
public vs private distinctions
A person who does not thrust themselves into the spotlight by promo etc is considered a private individual
Why did Richard Jewell not win case against libel
Promotion and circumstance. he did interviews and was in the spotlight so he was considered a public figure
difference between burglary and larceny
burglary: unlawful breaking in with intent to commit crime
larceny: actually stealing something
