Ethical Issues

Ethical Issues 

The Leveson Inquiry

News Of The World Newspaper

What is this about?

- Phone hacking conspiracy

- Millie d phone was hacked

- The paper knew about the school girl missing without being told

- Parents and police believed that her voicemails had been listened to

- Codes of voicemails were guessed by guessing the pin

What was the main issue?

- They had been listening to people's voicemails 

- The only evidence that they got was the stolen voicemail messages

Was the law broken?

- Yes - Private voicemails were broken into and stolen

Are these legal or ethical issues?

- Legal because arrests were made

- Ethical - they are tricking the parents and the police

How do you know the difference?

- Legal issues are decided by the law and 

- Ethical issues are if something is moral or not, but could still be legal

Ethics is media is about doing the right/moral thing. Something is the legal thing to do, but is it the right thing?

Considering the ethical impact of a media product is important to ensure the product doesn't cause offence or bother those using/consuming it

Some of the areas that affect ethics in media are:

- Codes of practice

- Privacy rights

- Public interest 

- Levels of violence

- Representation of groups

Burger 

- Took off all of the veg - Promotes unhealthy eating

Philadelphia

- Perpetuates stereotypes that men can't parent their kids

Barclay's

- Cause serious offence to those who suffered anaphylactic shock

THE ADVERTISING STANDING AUTHORITY BANNED THESE ADVERTS

Media Regulatory Bodies

Multi Sector:

ASA - All advertising

Ofcom - TV, Radio and telecommunications

Specific:

BBFC - Film

VSC - Gaming

PRS - Music

IPSO - Newspaper and Magazines

W3C - Internet

RAJA - Radio