Ethics in Communication - Week 8 Lecture Review

This week's lecture was presented by guest lecturer, Donna Meiklejohn who covered the topic of Ethics in Communication.

Firstly, how do you know what it ethical and what isn't? When answering this question, one must consider their own moral compass and what, to them, is considered right and wrong, good and bad, ethical and unethical. An individual's moral compass is made up of their own values, morals, instincts and of course their parent's influence on their upbringing. In journalism in particular, there is a very fine line between what should and shouldn't be published. 

Journalists aim to use the Ethics Theory when deciding whether or not to publish a story. Ethics theory has many subcategories such as: Deontology, Consequentialism and Virtue Ethics

Deontology 

Deontology is the process of following rules, codes, principles and duties as a professional. All ethic code are deontology

Consequentialism

Consequentialism essentially, is the greatest good for the greatest number or is getting a 'good' or 'right' outcome is the only thing that matters. A journalist must put aside how they got to this story originally as the end product will justify all the means. 

Virtue Ethics

This is when a journalist has to think to themselves - 'is this the type of person I want to be?'

If one has morally good habits or dispositions of character normally they will make the right decision.  

Journalist also have many codes they should follow by before publishing anything. Some of these codes include: Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA). Sometimes these codes fail as they are only as powerful as the sanctions behind it and the willingness of the code keepers to enforce those sanctions

Lil's Gig Guide for the Remainder of 12' and early 13'

So my Gig Guide is looking pretty booked out!

Last weekend I attended the beautiful and serene set of Clare Bowditch at a little old vintage Hall in Bangalow - so beautiful that I've decided I want to get married there, despite my lack of groom (Northern Rivers, NSW).

Her performance was so exquisite and moving that it may have led me to tears (on more than one song!) After that amazing concert it got me thinking of all the other gigs I am yet to visit...


First up is the whimsical Mumford & Sons who will serenading me on WEDNESDAY night at the beautiful River Stage

Second is the legendary Black Keys, who are playing at the convention centre on October 26th (so close, I can hardly bear it!)


After an action packed October, comes a rather quiet November... but December does not fail it disappoint 

On December 1st I am off to the Brisbane Convention Centre to see the wonderful Missy Higgins with special guests Gurrumul and Emma Louise!

After Christmas with the Family at home, we then quickly head off to Woodford Folk Festival! This will be my first Woodford ever, so I'm pretty excited. With the line up yet to be announced I am itching to find out - and fast!

With Woodford coming to a close on the first of January, a mere 6 days later its off to one of my favourite Brissy venues the Tivoli to see some Irish lads that make up Two Door Cinema Club with special guests The Vaccines and The Jungle Giants

If that's not enough to tucker me out, my final gig is The Big Day Out which is on at The Gold Coast Parklands later in January. I am wetting my pants with excitement due to its amazing line up, consisting of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, The Killers, Alabama Shakes and Band of Horses just to name a few.

So that's it - the rest of my year is looking pretty damn good :) 

‘The difference between commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting is the difference between consumers and citizens’ Week 7 Review - Public Media

‘The difference between commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting is the difference between consumers and citizens’ – Nigel Milan (former Managing Director of SBS)

The topic that was discussed this week was public media. In general, public media’s main purpose is ultimately, to serve the public. Public media is an umbrella term which includes all traditional publicly-funded broadcasters and networks as well as public users of new platforms and distribution mechanisms, such as the internet (via podcasts and blogging).  It can turn a profit as long as it’s main purpose is to serve the public and not turn a profit.  Some example of public media include: ABC, SBS, 4ZZZ, etc.

Public media’s role in a democratic society is to provide media that is in support of public and democratic processes. It should have public value, which includes characteristics such as: embedding a ‘public service ethos’, value for license fee money or taxpayer’s money, weighing public value against market impact and public consultation (as according to BBC).

According to Broadcasting Research Unit public media should be: available to the whole population, should cater to all interests, have special provision for minorities, especially for disadvantaged minorities, recognize their special relationship to the sense of the national identity and community, should be distanced from all vested interests and in particular from those of the government of the day (ABC very specific in terms of bias and particular companies, as well as SBS), Competition in good programming rather then competition for numbers and finally have public guidelines for broadcasting should liberate rather than restrict broadcasters

There are many beneficial functions of public media such as nation building, by linking Australia via the interweb, showing national heritage by broadcasting the ANZAC day parade and historical documentaries, emphaising the national identity and national conversations by broadcasting the AFL and other sports.  Public media also has a commercial element with businesses such as the ABC, SBS and BBC shops which generate massive incomes which are put back into the organisations – making them not for profit.

Focusing now on how public media presents News, it is clear that it is very different than commercial media. Public media is less bias than anywhere else and the only source which provides lengthy in depth interviews with politicians and the nations leaders rather than talkback and ‘tabloid’ style stories.  It shows that this news styles pays off as 41% of Australian’s watch ABC news. The News style in particular is presented in a serious manner using a broadsheet style rather than tabloid. The news presented is based of importance rather than interest and is thoroughly considered and checked before being aired. However, this style has been criticized by some, saying that the ABC’s news style is boring, elitist, of limited interest, poorly presented and out of touch.  on the subject of criticism, public media also faces several challenges, hindering their popularity. Many viewers think ABC is liberial due to the majority of their programs leaning that way and public media in general is always under threat of going commercial due to limited funding.

For public media to continue being successful it has to continue to produce quality, despite tight budgets. Public media also need to make themselves relevant by producing programs that mass audiences want to watch. They have to engage with the democratic process and provide programs that give voice and access to the political processes. They have to continue to inform the public and remain independent.

Factual Storytelling - Mum's the Word

Content is Free but Facts are Sacred - Commercial Media Week 6 Review

 This weeks lecture was on Commercial Media in Australia. 

When thinking about the media landscape in Australia a few corporations come to mind. Televisions such as 7, 9, 10 and their affiliates (e.g 7mate, GO!, etc) cable television (Foxtel, Austar) , and companies such as Fairfax media, SBS, abc and the Australian National Radio are all elements that make up the landscape. 

The main and sole purpose commercial media exists is because it provides eyes and ears to advertisers. Advertisers are the real customers of commercial media not readers listeners or viewers.

So, what is commercial media anyway?

Its profit-driven media production that is not government funded or license funded. It only survives or fails depending on its business success. This business success is measured by how much of an audience is generated thus how much profit is made from advertisers.

Some of the major players in commercial media include: 

 ·      News Limited

·      Fairfax Media

·      APN

·      Nine

·      Win

·      Southern Cross

·      Seven West Media

·      Ten

·      Telstra

·      Optus

·      Macquarie 
·      Austar 

There a several challenges that commercial media have to overcome in order for it to continue comfortably. The advertising revenue for broadcast media (radio) is down and is continuing to decrease, a trend that is also occurring in television. Because of this loss of revenue there is a loss of investment therefore less money for quality production.  This is why there is more bought it content (American sitcoms) and reality television.

 So what does this mean when looking at the future of commerical media? one must ask these 4 questions:  

1.   how does Commercial Media contie to make profits if advertising revenue is declining?

2.   How does it continue to serve the advertisers audience and the public good?

3.   What kind of audience are we expected to get?

4.   What cumulative effect does this have on the practice of journalism and public communication? 

Before we see the end to commercial media completely, there are some solutions. The main thing to consider is quality as it is believed people will pay for it. some other ideas include: greater competition, moving existing customers to digital and paywalls on internet (which is no longer and idea but a reality)