Moral Reasoning for Journalists: Cases and Commentary

By Steven R. Knowlton

The nature of journalism requires that an ethical decision be made at every stage. While many of these decisions lead to obvious choices, many present thorny problems; some questions may be so subtle... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0275948722
• ISBN13: 9780275948726
• Release Date: June 1997
• Publisher: Praeger
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Useful Primer on Ethical Dilemmas in Journalism

This is an extremely well written collection of essays and case studies outlining the ethical issues behind journalism, which can be useful to both practicing journalists and media watchdogs. The book starts by dividing journalistic ethics into political, philosophical, and economic categories, in addition to issues of objectivity and privacy. This is followed by real-life case studies in which reporters and editors had to make tough ethical decisions regarding everything from crime to suicide, AIDS to car accidents, and political scandals to war reporting. The most refreshing aspect of this book is its insistence that none of these ethical crises have clear cut-and-dried answers, and that the process of examination and decision making in the face of such dilemmas is most important, while much can be learned from the experiences of the real-life journalists profiled here. This book impressively covers these very difficult questions. [~doomsdayer520~]

Nessesary for any Journalist

A terrific and entertaining read for anyone but a nessesity for any and all journalists.

A must for journalists

This is a very good book and any journalist should read it. This is a very thorough book. A good read.

A definite tool needed in a budding journalist's toolbox!

The book was thorough and efficient. The cases are challenging but are given to expand and open a journalist's mind ethically. The commentaries help the reader sort out what they just encountered while it presents all sides of a possible ethical decision. The commentaries doesn't demand that the reader take on a certain ethical decision, but instead produce options that exercises the student's mind. Literally, a reader's brain will hurt after closing this book. However, it's a good thing, the book works to produce ethically thoughtful journalists who will venture out into the field. It is a book I plan on keeping on my shelf, while keeping it's teachings in the back of my mind.