Online Journalism Ethics

Paper Summary:

This paper first discusses Perez Hitlon ruining the lives and careers of Hollywood celebrities through his unethical Internet blogging practices. The paper then discusses different perspectives on proper ethical conduct in journalism, including the Cyberjournalist.net's code, which was based off of the Society of Professional Journalists' (SPM) code for traditional journalists.

From the Paper:

"Perez Hilton was a man who came out of obscurity into the Internet limelight and began ruining many of Hollywood's celebrities lives and injuring their careers. Deemed "Hollywood's Most Hated Blog," the most scandalous habit of Hilton's is his gay "witch hunt," (3). Hilton continually scrawls homosexual slurs across photographs of celebrities he has decided are "in the closet" and creates public pressure on celebrities to "come out." Hilton is cited most often as the cause for the announcements of Lance Bass and Neil Patrick Harris that they are gay. However, Hilton's attacks are not only aimed at gay celebrities, it seems no one in Hollywood who might make any sort of public mistake is. Hilton's blog is in huge violation of every advisable online blog ethical code through manipulation of the facts, biased reporting, stealing copyrighted works and causing harm."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cheong, P., Halavais, A., & Kwon, K. (2008). The Chronicles of Me: Understanding Blogging as a Religious Practice. Journal of Media and Religion, 7(3), 107-131. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
• Chin, B., & Hills, M. (2008). Restricted confessions? Blogging, subcultural celebrity and the management of producer-fan proximity. Social Semiotics, 18(2), 253-272. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
• Grant, J. (2006, December 15). Perez Hilton's gay witch hunt . Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2006/12/15/hilton/index.html.
• Guadagno, R., Okdie, B., & Eno, C. (2008). Who blogs? Personality predictors of blogging. Computers in Human Behavior, 24(5), 12. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
• Gurak, L. (2008). The Psychology of Blogging: You, Me and Everyone in Between. American Behavioral Scientist, 52(1), 60-68. Retrieved November 19, 2008.

More papers on Online Journalism Ethics:

• Research Paper # 40863 : "Online Journalism"
• Case Study # 97469 : "Online Journalism"
• Research Paper # 9231 : "The Wall Street Journal Online"

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