Comm455/History of Journalism

Corporations like Verizon and Pepsi Co. are creating their own news sites to promote their agendas and are using trendy site names like SugarString and GreenLabel to make the outlets seem like alternative online news sources. Both companies have contracted popular magazine called Complex Media to create and run the sites for them. The sites […]

“Asking who is a journalist is the wrong question, because journalism can be produced by anyone” –The American Press Institute This quote epitomizes the changing role of a journalist over the course of history. Today, a journalist is anyone who commits an act of journalism. This is quite different than the definition of a journalist  in […]

  Sensationalism has existed as long as sex and conflict. Today, we see the media sensationalizing all kinds of stories, from Anthony Weiner’s scandal to Kim Kardashian’s wedding photos. Unfortunately, it seems sensationalism in the media has gotten to a point of nausea. While there is a plethora of exaggeration and silliness, sensationalism does serve […]

Ethics are a factor that develop overtime. Ethics change with new technologies, advancements, ideas — and are often subjective to one’s personal opinions. ethics [eth-icks] noun, plural : a system of moral principles Ethics are separate from formal laws. Therefore, to answer the question “what is ethical” is often simply impossible because of the multitude of interpretations. […]

The ethical aspects of journalism are always strained around the time of a US presidential election and the 2012 race was not exempt of the abuse of social media outlets.  Because everyone can be a publisher now, most felt entitled in posting their bias through Facebook, Twitter, and other public forums.  Lacking professional training in […]

The Society of Professional Journalists adopted the very first code of ethics and made journalism more credible than ever. The SPJ was founded in 1909 at DePauw University in Greenville, Indiana.  At that time it was the Sigma Delta Chi fraternity.  The society is now a professional organization for print, online and broadcast journalists, students, educators and […]

When thinking about ethics or ethical standards, we sometimes over look these standards that good journalists and reporters follow every day when pursuing or writing a story.  The reason I think we forget about these ethical standards is because we often let our  own beliefs and political biases cloud our opinions about journalists and reporters, especially if we do not like how […]