In the recent election it seems that Americans are connected in every way possible through the media and social networking sites. But when is it too much?
Republican voters living in Michigan have been swindled in buying political junk test messages on their phones. The ones receiving these messages start off with a short message attacking another candidate. The voters then are given a number to text to get more details on the situation. Without even telling the voters, every time one texts the number that they are given, they end up getting charged for each individual text message. At 10 to 25 cents per message it might not seem like a lot, but the messages are too long to send in one message so multiple ones are being sent. Some of these voters have been charged substantial amounts.
In my opinion I think that the government should step in and do something about it. As of now, it is protected under the First Amendment of free speech. However, since the voters are not being notified of the costs of these messages, it is also like deceptive advertising. Who would have thought that after all of the laws the United States and the government run SEC have put into place that government officials would be breaking these advertising laws?
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Social Media Ethics
Here recently, two girls living in Gainesville, Florida, put a racist video on YouTube where they expressed their opinions on different races. Within the day of the posting, the girls were sent multiple death threats and were expelled from school. These girls are just another example of how to be smart on social media sites.
In today's hyper-connected society, one cannot just express their First Amendment rights by putting them on social media sites. It is not the same as just saying something out loud to friends. When someone posts expressions on the internet, the expressions go out to the entire world. It may seem funny to the person doing it and to those who share similar opinions, but one must remember that those who don't share the same opinions see the postings as well.
I think we all need a lesson on what we should and should not be publishing on the internet. You never know who will see what you post and you never know how that posting can affect you.
In today's hyper-connected society, one cannot just express their First Amendment rights by putting them on social media sites. It is not the same as just saying something out loud to friends. When someone posts expressions on the internet, the expressions go out to the entire world. It may seem funny to the person doing it and to those who share similar opinions, but one must remember that those who don't share the same opinions see the postings as well.
I think we all need a lesson on what we should and should not be publishing on the internet. You never know who will see what you post and you never know how that posting can affect you.
2011 NFL Lockout Ended for Greater Good
The NFL lockout of 2011 began on March 21 and stopped on July 25. This lockout was over a collective bargaining agreement between the NFLPA (players' union) and the owners of the 32 teams. Both sides wanted different things with regards to salary caps, insurance, length of season, free agent issues, and minim salaries and contracts. In the end the players got most of what they wanted with regards to the above mentioned issues.
The lockout was did not just involve the players and the coaches, it also involved the fans. The fans are what drive sales for this industry and without them there would be no profit to be made. With knowing that losing the fans would mean losing the profits, it meant that the lockout had to be ended. It was for the greatest good for the greatest number of people (the players and the fans). This refers to the theory of the "utilitarianism" which is defined as the greatest good must be done for the greatest number of people that can be affected. Although the owners were truly the only ones somewhat upset about the new agreement, they at least got a season to make profits.
The lockout was did not just involve the players and the coaches, it also involved the fans. The fans are what drive sales for this industry and without them there would be no profit to be made. With knowing that losing the fans would mean losing the profits, it meant that the lockout had to be ended. It was for the greatest good for the greatest number of people (the players and the fans). This refers to the theory of the "utilitarianism" which is defined as the greatest good must be done for the greatest number of people that can be affected. Although the owners were truly the only ones somewhat upset about the new agreement, they at least got a season to make profits.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Where Are The Crime Fighters
Last week TCU witnessed its biggest drug bust in its history. There were 18 total students arrested including four football players, three fraternities, and one sorority involved. This was part of a six month investigation involving both the Fort Worth and TCU police departments.
Although this seemed to be a huge drug bust on any college campus, all of the drug transactions that took place involved sales of no more than $600. When it comes down to it, it's ridiculous to have made it so news worthy that one would think that the Mexican Drug Cartel was involved. I believe that the police departments were more interested in publicity than actually "stopping crime."
That brings me to the point of my posting today. What has been going on this academic year that both police departments should be more focused on is that of sexual assaults, assaults, robbery and burglary. In a one week span in late August, 2011, two sexual assaults and an attempted assault were reported on and around the campus. Although there are no published articles available to the public, TCU has had four incidents this semester of the stated above problems, three of which happened within a five day period. My question is where are the police that are supposed to be protecting these students? Oh yeah I forgot, most of them are trying to catch people selling the "life threatening" marijuana dealers.
Although this seemed to be a huge drug bust on any college campus, all of the drug transactions that took place involved sales of no more than $600. When it comes down to it, it's ridiculous to have made it so news worthy that one would think that the Mexican Drug Cartel was involved. I believe that the police departments were more interested in publicity than actually "stopping crime."
That brings me to the point of my posting today. What has been going on this academic year that both police departments should be more focused on is that of sexual assaults, assaults, robbery and burglary. In a one week span in late August, 2011, two sexual assaults and an attempted assault were reported on and around the campus. Although there are no published articles available to the public, TCU has had four incidents this semester of the stated above problems, three of which happened within a five day period. My question is where are the police that are supposed to be protecting these students? Oh yeah I forgot, most of them are trying to catch people selling the "life threatening" marijuana dealers.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Nolan Ryan: A Man of Moral Values
On July 7, 2011, Shannon Stone fell to his death from bleachers of the Texas Rangers' ballpark. He was at the game with his six-year-old son, Cooper, when the accident happened. It was a very sad day in baseball.
Nolan Ryan, the owner of the Texas Rangers, began immediately dealing with the situation and the Stone family. Ryan showed what a true apology takes when something this dramatic takes part inside your organization's place of business. He first off stopped all local news stations from showing the fall and showed how truly sorry he was for the Stone family. Second he, along with his family members attended Shannon Stone's funeral. The third and final thing he did really showed how great of a guy he was. Ryan let Cooper throw out the first pitch in the playoff opener for the Rangers to his favorite player, Josh Hamilton.
Ryan, along with all of the Rangers showed what it really takes for a corporate apology to be successful. He asked for forgiveness and took full responsibility. These are two things that are very important to do with regards to a corporate apology. Organizations around the country could really benefit by acting the way Ryan did. Hopefully this will be a lesson to all.
Nolan Ryan, the owner of the Texas Rangers, began immediately dealing with the situation and the Stone family. Ryan showed what a true apology takes when something this dramatic takes part inside your organization's place of business. He first off stopped all local news stations from showing the fall and showed how truly sorry he was for the Stone family. Second he, along with his family members attended Shannon Stone's funeral. The third and final thing he did really showed how great of a guy he was. Ryan let Cooper throw out the first pitch in the playoff opener for the Rangers to his favorite player, Josh Hamilton.
Ryan, along with all of the Rangers showed what it really takes for a corporate apology to be successful. He asked for forgiveness and took full responsibility. These are two things that are very important to do with regards to a corporate apology. Organizations around the country could really benefit by acting the way Ryan did. Hopefully this will be a lesson to all.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Taking It too Far With Hamiltion?
Last Monday night Ranger superstar, Josh Hamilton, had an alcohol relapse. Sources say that the relapse was over a fight that he had with a relative. If only the relapse was the worst part of the story.
Pictures of Hamilton doing obscene things at the bar with women involving taking shots off of their chests have already been distributed by local news services. Another source, which is anonymous, has stated that he has a seven second video of Hamilton having sex in the men's bathroom of the bar he was drinking at on Monday. The source has offered the tape to several news stations in the DFW area for $41,000. As of now, all of the stations have refused to buy it. The question is, should they?
Some would say yes that it is newsworthy considering who Hamilton is and how he has had alcohol problems before. However, this is not something that should be shown on news stations or anywhere else for that matter. Under the PRSA code of ethics, journalists should protect confidential and private information. Yes, Hamilton is a nationally known celebrity, but this is a private matter that could devastate a man who has tried hard to change his life around. Showing this video (even if it isn't true) could be the end of Hamilton publically and personally.
Pictures of Hamilton doing obscene things at the bar with women involving taking shots off of their chests have already been distributed by local news services. Another source, which is anonymous, has stated that he has a seven second video of Hamilton having sex in the men's bathroom of the bar he was drinking at on Monday. The source has offered the tape to several news stations in the DFW area for $41,000. As of now, all of the stations have refused to buy it. The question is, should they?
Some would say yes that it is newsworthy considering who Hamilton is and how he has had alcohol problems before. However, this is not something that should be shown on news stations or anywhere else for that matter. Under the PRSA code of ethics, journalists should protect confidential and private information. Yes, Hamilton is a nationally known celebrity, but this is a private matter that could devastate a man who has tried hard to change his life around. Showing this video (even if it isn't true) could be the end of Hamilton publically and personally.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Right or Wrong for Greater Good
After reading the five ethical guidelines in the book Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasons 9th Edition, I was really caught on the third guideline involving Mill's Principle of Utility. John Stuart Mill was a 17th Century British philosopher who said, "Humans should seek the greatest happiness for the aggregate whole." This concept is known as utilitarianism and has two different types: act and principle. Act utilitarianism involoves asking the basic question of what the greatest good could be in a specific case. Principle utilitarianism, the one that Mill's follows, focuses more on the greatest general welfare.
In a recent article in the TCU Daily Skiff, a female TCU student made the front page of the newspaper. The reason for making the paper was that she was charged with a DWI after striking a tree on the university's campus. Not only was half of the front page devoted to this story, but her name was released in the article along with a mugshot on the paper's website "TCU 360."
Was the Skiff right in posting this article? Well yes and no. The Skiff was right to report the accident since it did occur on campus but there was no need to release the name of the student who was involved. Journailists always have the duty to report the news to the public but in some cases, just like this one, some journalists take it past the ethical limits. What greater good was served after releasing both the name and the mugshot of this student? I think Mill's would agree that nothing good became of this with regards to the greater good.
In a recent article in the TCU Daily Skiff, a female TCU student made the front page of the newspaper. The reason for making the paper was that she was charged with a DWI after striking a tree on the university's campus. Not only was half of the front page devoted to this story, but her name was released in the article along with a mugshot on the paper's website "TCU 360."
Was the Skiff right in posting this article? Well yes and no. The Skiff was right to report the accident since it did occur on campus but there was no need to release the name of the student who was involved. Journailists always have the duty to report the news to the public but in some cases, just like this one, some journalists take it past the ethical limits. What greater good was served after releasing both the name and the mugshot of this student? I think Mill's would agree that nothing good became of this with regards to the greater good.
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