Author Description

Confronted daily with decisions on how to present their stories, what to write and what not to write, journalists and the media are frequently accused of sensationalizing, of choosing only to report the bad news, and of misquoting those they interview. In Morals and the Media, Nick Russell addresses many of the concerns the public has about the media. He focuses on the fundamental moral questions and ethical dilemmas faced by journalists and discusses how the media both reflect and influence society. Displaying a broad understanding of the issues, he examines how values have been developed and applied, suggesting value systems which can be used to judge special situations. The book covers all the major print and electronic media and addresses a wide range of ethical issues with candour and insight gained from the author's long career as a practising journalist. He points out how Canadian media ethics differ from those in the United States and includes many examples drawn from his impressive knowledge of the Canadian journalistic scene. The 'Tough Calls' at the end of each chapter invite readers to test their own ethics in scenarios drawn from real news stories. Morals and the Media is the first book to tackle journalistic decision-making in Canada. It will be essential reading in journalism courses but also an important resource for journalists, as it offers criteria for analyzing complex situations and reaching justifiable decisions. It will also be of interest to the consumers of journalism - the readers, listeners, and watchers who wonder why the media do what they do.