Journalists are at the front line of traumatic eve Essays - Ethics

Journalists are at the front line of traumatic events when they happen. Journalism has the most restrictive and the highest standard of ethics of any profession that I know about, but that's not the reputation that it has. The first thing that a journalist should do is be honest and pursue the truth. They aren't many professions that involve honesty and truth being two of the most important components. Honesty is important in a personal sense and pursuit of truth is important in a professional sense. Journalists are supposed to practice our profession in the open. This imposes some burdens on us that other professions do not carry. As journalists, we are supposed to act independently. We cannot be totally independent, because we often work for news organizations that have interests. We try to achieve the maximum good and the minimum harm to society as a whole and that is when it gets tough. It is very difficult to determine the maximum good and the minimum harm at times. In general, the maximum good is maximum disclosure of information, but in some instances that has to be modified and negotiated. We have to think about the people involved and the consequences. There are different factors that should be taken into consideration when reporting on tragedies. In some situations it can be difficult to gather sources depending on the severity of the tragedy and the culture of the community that the tragedy occurred. When I was in sixth grade there was a shooting at an Amish school house that was ten minutes down the road from my school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Amish are known for horse and buggies, building furniture and also being some of the most private and modest people in this country. When this tragedy happened they had no interest in speaking to the media and they just wanted to be left alone for the most part. As a journalist situations like this are extremely challenging. You have a duty to the people in the town and local area to let them know what happened and why, so that they feel safe and are aware of what is going on right around them. You also have a duty to be respectful of the culture of the people who were directly affe cted by the tragedy. "Who's whispering in your ear?" The fact that it is a small town also has an influence. The local media were more respectful in terms of privacy than the national media. Sometimes national media can have an idea of a culture and research it, but they may not really know the ins and outs like the local reporters that share the same community. When covering tragedies it is essential that journalists weigh the costs and benefits of key concerns, utility vs. disutility. As the text mentions, all of the decisions we make will are made in a certain amount of uncertainty. In chapter six of the text we discussed values. The values that are important to journalists and the organizations the journalists work for influence the ways in which tragedies are reported. We have to be responsible when we gather and present information in words and pictures. The SPJ Code of Ethics is a great guideline for reporting in a careful, not careless manner. If we are responsible, accountable, transparent and credible this will help us to be able to handle some tough decisions we have to make when reporting tragedies. Thinking about how the decisions we make are going to look helps us to make decisions that can be justified.

Free Online Public Schools for California Students

Free Online Public Schools for California Students California offers resident students the opportunity to take online public school courses for free. Below is a list of no-cost online schools currently serving elementary and high school students in California. In order to qualify for the list, schools must meet the following qualifications: classes must be available completely online, they must offer services to state residents, and they must be funded by the government. Virtual schools listed may be charter schools, state-wide public programs, or private programs that receive government funding. List of California Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools California Virtual AcademiesChoice 2000Insight School of California - Los AngelesPacific View Charter School - Serving San Diego, Riverside, Orange, and Imperial Counties About Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools Many states now offer tuition-free online schools for resident students under a certain age (often 21). Most virtual schools are charter schools; they receive government funding and are run by a private organization. Online charter schools are subject to fewer restrictions than traditional schools. However, they are reviewed regularly and must continue to meet state standards. Some states also offer their own online public schools. These virtual programs generally operate from a state office or a school district. State-wide public school programs vary. Some online public schools offer a limited number of remedial or advanced courses not available in brick-and-mortar public school campuses. Others offer full online diploma programs. A few states choose to fund â€Å"seats† for students in private online schools. The number of available seats may be limited and students are usually asked to apply through their public school guidance counselor. Choosing a California Online Public School When choosing an online public school, look for an established program that is regionally accredited and has a track record of success. Be wary of new schools that are disorganized, are unaccredited, or have been the subject of public scrutiny. For more suggestions on evaluating virtual schools see  how to choose an online high school.

Discuss the role of social medias influence (Twitter, Facebook, and Essay - 2

Discuss the role of social medias influence (Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube) in the lives of children and young teens today - Essay Example The AACAP states that â€Å"60% of 13 to 17 years old have at least one profile on a social networking site† (Aacap 1). Social networking websites have several features and one of the most important features is news and information. Information available on these websites includes academic related information as well as news regarding current events (Strader 98). When children access these features they end up developing insight regarding what is happening in the world around them. This feature even helps them in learning more than what is offered at schools. Social media is even helping children develop and sustain social relationships. Social media such as Facebook allows children to communicate online with other individuals including children from their own schools. OKeeffe states that â€Å"social media allow teens to accomplish various tasks including staying connected with friends† (OKeeffe 1). This helps children in remaining in constant contact with friends at all times. This increase in time spent with friends even leads to increase in the sustaining of relationships with individuals who exist in the virtual as well as the physical world. Social media is even helping children in keeping themselves entertained. Social media such as YouTube allows children to share pictures, videos, music and projects with other social media users (Harlen 122). YouTube helps children in finding their favorite songs and movies and children access these entertaining elements to keep themselves busy and entertained. Children even share their own videos and songs over YouTube to express themselves in front of other social media users. OKeeffe states that social media helps in the â€Å"enhancement of individual and collective creativity through development and sharing of artistic and musical endeavors† (OKeeffe 1). There are