Ethics in the Media

A Media-Savvy Killer

This article was about how the BTK killer murdered at least 10 people in the Wichita state and has sent letters and poems to the Wichita Eagle about those murders. The Wichita Eagle ended up getting subpoenaed to court to discuss the letters and poems the BTK killer has sent. Some of the workers for the Wichita Eagle were also investigated by the courts and had to take DNA samples from them. Some of the BTK killer's letters and poems got confused with normal letters and poems and put on the people side of the newspaper to be read.

To answer the question, I think it was ethically wrong to put the letters and poems on the newspaper because they could've been very graphic and not suitable for young audiences or any audiences. I do get that they were trying to reel in and coerce the BTK killer out by enticing him with publishing his work, but I don't think that that was the best solution for the letters and poems. They could have tried something different because everybody has access to the newspaper including children and other delicate minded people who should not be seeing and reading the details and photos of who and how the BTK killed those people.

Publishing Drunk Drivers' Photos

This article was about how The Anderson News' publisher and editor Don White published the name and photos of people who were convicted on DUIs, drinking under the influence. The newspapers goal was to help keep drunk drivers off their roads by publishing their photos, names, addresses, age, the time they were arrested, and what they were arrested for. While that did help a little, many believe that they should post other peoples information that have more severe convictions like rape or robbery. They did stop publishing the photos and information after Don White retired.

To answer the question, I do think that it is ethically acceptable because the photos are to make the people stop drunk driving. It is just a warning to help you stop yourself from getting embarrassed and getting published on the newspaper. The announcement of your DUI should not be a thing that you should be proud of. Drunk drivers are a problem, not just in the US, and need to be dealt with. Even with a little photo being published can help a substantial amount to reduce drunk driving for the fear of having your photo published for everyone to see.

Using the 'Holocaust' Metaphor

This article was about how PETA had a campaign that compared animal slaughter to the Holocaust. This created a lot of controversy between the people and PETA. The situation was so bad that Germany had to ban the campaign in their country and the US was trying to do the same. The campaign hurt a lot of the Holocaust' victims family members and PETA didn't apologize for it. Instead, they kept pushing for it to be seen and fought for it to not be taken down. 

To answer the question, I think that it is ethically wrong because the campaign was comparing the slaughter of animals to the literal genocide of millions of people. The campaign upset and hurt most of the Jewish and German community and just upset others by comparing the two. You can't really compare animals to humans in any way. I get that animals have a mind and feelings of their own. but they were created for consumption. I do think that the methods on how the animals should be killed should be more humane and pain free, but that should not even be compared to the Holocaust.