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"It was unethical to show a picture
of the astronaut's helmet in the newspaper," stated one student.
"Unethical? Why is it more unethical to show a helmet lying on
the ground than a picture of the space shuttle breaking up?" said
another.
It was a Monday afternoon, two days after the space shuttle Columbia
disintegrated over the skies of Texas, killing all seven astronauts
onboard. University of Central Oklahoma Journalism Department
Chairman and Professor Terry Clark opened his newly established
course on journalism ethics with a discussion on media coverage
of the tragedy, and he wanted analysis based on the ethical reasoning
his students had recently learned.
UCO's Department of Journalism established the Edith Kinney Gaylord
Endowed Chair of Journalism Ethics with its inaugural seminar
on Jan. 13.
The course is co-taught by Clark and UCO journalism Professor
Mark Hanebutt. Clark said ethics in the media is under constant
scrutiny, making this addition to the UCO journalism curriculum
extremely relevant.
"This is important for anyone considering going into journalism,
to realize our commitment to quality, student-oriented journalism,"
Clark said.
He said it's not a "media-bashing" course.
"There's plenty of that around, which is as it should be."
Clark said he and Hannebut have a love-hate relationship with
the American media. He said they are journalists who love excellence
in journalism, and who get angry and are broken-hearted when the
American media fail to perform as it should.
"We think there is a better future in journalism, and this program
assures students and parents alike that we believe we can help
make that happen."
Each of the 15 students in class that Monday was given the opportunity
to express their perspective on media coverage of the shuttle
disaster.
"I think it was OK to show the helmet. It was symbolic of a body,"
one student said. "I didn't have to see the body."
"Justify that," Clark demanded.
The discussion lasted the entire hour, pre-empting a presentation
on civic journalism one student had prepared for the class, and
the short lecture time Clark had set aside for that day.
Clark said the course takes the practical approach, which means
talking about ethical values and ethical theory in the context
of real problems and issues.
He said a variety of guests have been invited to speak to the
class this semester on ethical issues. To date, they include a
rape victim, a public relations director of an energy corporation,
a newspaper reporter, a metropolitan editor who helped cover the
Oklahoma City bombing, and a local newspaper executive who organized
a credibility roundtable.
"What can we take away from this discussion today?" Clark asked
the class.
"Knowledge has inherent value; good, bad or indifferent," replied
one student.
"All information-all-should be gathered," said another. "But
how journalists present that knowledge or information to the public
needs to be discussed."
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