ABSTRACT

This media ethics case study will evaluate whether or not the media at large should report the MET gala as news. On September 13, 2021, the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted its 48th annual fundraising gala, and like many years prior, the gala received coverage across many media platforms. The growth of technology has caused the MET gala to become larger than its initial conception. The Potter Box model of ethical decision-making will be applied to examine four characteristics: the facts, values, principles, and loyalties of the case. Aristotle’s Golden Mean will also be used to examine the ethical issues of this case. The case study will conclude with a final analysis about what qualifies as a newsworthy story by answering three questions:

● Why does the media at large cover the MET gala as news?

● How can journalists discern what qualifies as newsworthy?

● How has social media changed what society deems newsworthy