Journalism and Philosophy

OLLI Lifelong Philosophy

 

October 27, 2017

Class session moderated by Bill Bowden

 

Part 1 – Philosophy and Journalism

 

In conveying the news, journalism reflects the application of many philosophical ideas and value judgements.

 

Freedom of speech

 

First amendment: “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”

 

Journalism and the principle of freedom of expression are closely intertwined.

 

Freedom to be offensive in what you say.

The Danish cartoonist who published cartoons making fun of a religion – how to report the reaction. Is it a crime? Obligation of the offended to refrain from threats of violence? Right to speak back, but not to assault?

 

The SNL skit on a naïve young American going off to join ISIS. Funny? Should be disallowed?

 

The Paris publication. Journalists murdered for what they published.

 

Outlaw hate speech? Outlawing the hate, or just the speech? Give it the light of day so we can judge it properly? Racist hatred – your ability to reject it.

 

Are certain ideas so offensive that we should keep anyone from hearing them? Or be able to say them?

 

Armed security forces on campuses to protect speakers from assault. How free is this speech?

 

Not free speech -- Yelling fire in a crowded theater. Using fraud to endanger others. Incite to riot.

 

Censorship

 

Censor: “…an official with the power to remove or prohibit objectionable material…”

 

Government or private individuals.

 

Classified government information. The Pentagon Papers – Daniel Ellsberg. Vietnam war planning – not as specific as actual logistical, tactical plans.

 

Trump to release classified documents on the John F. Kennedy assassination.

 

 

 

Critical thinking – reporting in context

 

Who, what, where, when, why, how

Tell the whole story. 1950s cars in Havana.

 

Starvation in North Korea. The statistics. The why? Totalitarian government that criminalized private farming.

 

The news about women being allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia or Egypt. Living by permission, or by right.

 

Property rights in Fayette County. The CentrePoint court decision. Farm owners and their rights. Planning and Zoning commission. Going with the cultural norm.

 

NFL protests. Racism is a specific issue. The Star Spangled Banner and the flag pertain to founding values seen in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They don’t represent the specific failures to live up to some of those ideals. Not an issue of free speech. Owners just saying you can’t do it on my private dime. How did the press cover this?

 

 

Part 2 – Evaluating the Media

 

Adherence to the facts. To the truth. Obligation to check and doublecheck.

Credibility of journalists and news organizations.

 

Source of the story. Credibility of the reporter and the news organization. Realnewsrightnow.com

 

The further away from established news organizations you get, off in the world of blogs and social media, the harder it is to judge the source.

 

Journalists are trained to judge the news. Trained to check and double check facts, to corroborate.

Woodward and Bernstein. The Spotlight series on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Boston.

 

Check for specialized knowledge. It takes a specialist to report on much scientific news.

 

New York Times – predictably liberal

Wall Street Journal – predictably conservative

A bad thing? Advocacy journalism.

 

Trust vs. fiction. Hoaxes. Pope Francis endorses Donald Trump. Is this likely?

Common sense. Integrate any news story with what you know about the wider world. What are the other media saying about the  story?

 

Propaganda:  “Systematic, widespread dissemination or promotion of particular ideas, doctrines, practices to further one’s own cause or to damage an opposing one.”

Often used disparagingly, accusing of deception or distortion. Definition vs. purpose.