Ethics in the Media

1. Using the 'Holocaust' metaphor

Summary:
PETA created a campaign that compares the slaughter of animals to the murder of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust. The CEO of PETA argues that this statement is ethical as slaughter records have similar numbers to those of the Holocaust, they believe that their campaign should be protected by freedom of speech. The Jewish community is deeply offended and so is much of the public.



Ethical?: I don't believe that it's ethical to compare the slaughter of animals to the Holocaust. 6 million human lives were confirmed to be executed by Nazis during the Holocaust. Many others were killed who weren't Jews as well. I would say that human lives have more value than those of animals because we can think cognitively and have inalienable rights, such as the right to life. I don't feel as though an animal really understands what's happening and although it's alive I don't feel as though a group of individuals is being impacted. Some animals are food, like plants are, and insects. People need food. I think this is unethical because it is offensive to followers of Judaism especially but also to me.


Aaargh! Pirates! (and the press)

Summary: Many news outlets have trouble deciding whether or not to include links or resources for readers to listen to leaked music because of conflicts of interest. They either want to please the reader or please an artist. They want to generate clicks and encourage readers to listen to the music.



Ethical?: I believe that it is unethical because artists put work into their work, like music. People are basically stealing their work to release it because they never gave permission to release it. I think this is unethical and it is plagiarism. Artists have to be paid for their work as well. They are big news outlets they have the choice not to publish it, they are sharing illegal material.


A Suspect "Confession"

Summary: An academic scholar named Michael Tracey revealed to the public that a man named John Mark Karr was the murderer of JonBenet Ramsey because Karr told him. These statements were untrue but were published anyway.


Ethical?: I would say that this is unethical because you are not informing the public of facts and you are bringing hurt to people related in the case, like Ramsey's family. The article was meant to slander Karr, not inform the public of the real killer.