Mass Comm Bachelor of Communication Bachelor of Communication: Ethical Principles and Professionalism 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A reporter discovers their close friend is involved in a major corporate scandal. What is the most ethical course of action?
- Report the story objectively and disclose the personal connection to an editor (Correct answer)
- Ignore the story to protect the friendship
- Report the story without disclosing the personal connection
- Pass the story to another outlet anonymously
Correct answer: Report the story objectively and disclose the personal connection to an editor
Transparency about conflicts of interest while still serving the public interest is the ethical standard in journalism.
Question 2: Which ethical principle holds that communicators should avoid causing unnecessary harm to individuals while informing the public?
- Utilitarian calculus
- The principle of minimizing harm (Correct answer)
- Deontological duty
- Virtue ethics
Correct answer: The principle of minimizing harm
The principle of minimizing harm directs communicators to weigh the public benefit of information against potential injury to individuals.
Question 3: A PR professional is asked to write a press release that omits damaging product safety information. This is an example of:
- Strategic framing
- Selective emphasis
- Deception by omission (Correct answer)
- Spin doctoring
Correct answer: Deception by omission
Deliberately leaving out material information that would change a reader's understanding constitutes deception by omission.
Question 4: Under the FTC's guidelines, when must social media influencers disclose paid partnerships?
- Only when the payment exceeds $500
- Only in the video description, not verbally
- Clearly and conspicuously whenever a material connection exists (Correct answer)
- Only for pharmaceutical products
Correct answer: Clearly and conspicuously whenever a material connection exists
The FTC requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of any material connection, including payment, gifts, or free products, regardless of dollar amount.
Question 5: Which concept describes the ethical responsibility of media organizations to be accountable to the public they serve?
- Editorial independence
- Fiduciary duty
- Media accountability (Correct answer)
- Fourth Estate doctrine
Correct answer: Media accountability
Media accountability refers to the obligation of news organizations to answer for their reporting decisions and correct errors transparently.
Question 6: A photojournalist digitally removes a bystander from a news photo for aesthetic reasons. This violates which principle?
- Copyright law
- Photographic authenticity and truthfulness (Correct answer)
- Privacy rights
- Fair use doctrine
Correct answer: Photographic authenticity and truthfulness
Altering news photographs to misrepresent reality violates the core journalistic principle of truthfulness and accurate representation.
Question 7: The ethical concept of 'gatekeeping' in mass communication refers to:
- Restricting public access to government buildings
- The process by which editors and producers decide what content reaches audiences (Correct answer)
- Copyright enforcement by platforms
- Paywall systems on news websites
Correct answer: The process by which editors and producers decide what content reaches audiences
Gatekeeping is the process through which media professionals select, filter, and prioritize which information is published or broadcast.
Mass Comm Bachelor of Communication Bachelor of Communication: Ethical Principles and Professionalism 2
A reporter discovers their close friend is involved in a major corporate scandal.
What is the most ethical course of action?