Are Ethics Necessary in Media?

Media’s influence on society is immeasurable. While there are legions of studies, theories and plenty of evidence showing that there is certainly a relationship, it’s impossible to precisely gauge the leverage media has on society, behavior, individual thought process, world communication, opinions and so forth. Personally, I think the impact is even more significant than we think. We get our facts and opinions from several agents in our life such as primary groups (parents), secondary groups (friends, teachers), opinion leaders (preachers, intellectuals) and media. The fact our minds are so vulnerable and accessible to these communication channels is a profound thought.

News can manipulate and be manipulated. To avoid this, most businesses and media adhere to stringent ethical guidelines. Where laws can’t protect from the public from malevolent or negligence, ethics are implied to. Unfortunately, humans’ altruistic intentions aren’t the most reliable for such a power and written guidelines are in place for things you can’t necessarily outlaw.

A new documentary called Hot Coffee was shown at Sundance about how corporations can spend money to influence the media and the significantly persuade the public in another direction. The story of Stella Liebeck and the infamous burns from McDonald’s coffee was incredibly distorted and made Stella a national mockery instead of exposing what really happened and the drastic negligence from McDonald’s.

Committing to business and humanitarian ethics is the socially responsible thing to do; and it’s smart business. When companies and people are trustworthy, they’re listened to. It’s just becomes the chicken and the egg when one decides what to do after they’re listened to-- a successful cycle for good behavior, and usually damaging to the unethical.

Constructing Images, Constructing the World.

Nearing the close of my college career has drawn circles of thought for me. I wonder about the path I’m headed, the convictions I hold, and the deeper meaning. Let’s see, the basics…I’m studying journalism, focusing on public relations-- a field of image, perception and global networking, implemented by writing, meeting people, and persuasion. On paper, this couldn’t sound better tailored for me. While there is expected skepticism about my choices circulating my head, I am ultimately thrilled with the path I took.

I’m starting to realize image is a powerful thing, a thing that no PowerPoint or lecture could adequately emphasize. Throughout history, publics get their knowledge essentially from “images.” We see what someone has given us, what someone wants us to see, and it’s very rare to see “absolute truths” in their objective, operating form. The person behind molding these images is the gatekeeper to international comprehension and basic grasp of the world. Thinking basically, our image of a man is one of a guardian, hunter, competitive, assertive, insensitive and so on. Where we got this image is the never-ending question of “nature vs. nurture,” a term so overused that it’s become a definition, a term with no second thought. A woman is the anti-selfish, the loving, the caretaker, the vain, the incompetent, a passenger to the captain (man) of our life ship. While nature vs. nurture is a sound theory to this global image, it’s boring and I choose to raise the question of excellent PR strategies.

In the 1950’s C. Wright Mills released The Power Elite, analyzing and explaining the true propeller, the true force, behind the system of America. He showed three components to the power, wealth, and control of America: Politicians, military, and business owners (white men). This obviously goes without saying today, but it was only brought to our attention in the 50’s. This type of influence has been going on since the foundation of our country. With the mission of profit and power in mind, this “triangle of influence” realized that image is everything. They also realize, and I think formed with the help of PR, that the current differentiation that we accept today between men and women images is exactly what makes them the most money and circulates their lineage.

In respect to attention span, I will only focus on how this applies to current standards. For example, the image of a woman is shoved in our faces relentlessly with product advertisements and PR: your facial lines are now in your control, you can now do the dishes and iron at the same time, pretty girls wear bows and scarves and heels, etc. Today we have ads and characters formed that exemplify this role of women. This form of advertisement and PR is working with the goal of keeping women in the pursuit of the feminine image, and further perpetuate it. Keeping women interested in “women things” distracts them from challenging real world issues, issues that men are expected to handle while we play with makeup or dolls, as well as profit the client that pays them. This image ensures easy money for clients and publicists, but also benefits the original gangsters by keeping their lineage consistent. Could it be that the basic understanding of women and men was generated by great PR, and could I provoke you to think that it's possible there were never any differences like the ones we associate with today? It’s interesting to see how relatively easy it is to form universally accepted imaged, or “facts,” and how much of an impact they have. While I realize now this was a controversial? example to use, it was the most universally understood one I could think up on the spot.

I see this concept/theory of images in so many more elements of society today. The wikileaks are a fun and trendy topic of discussion. America has run impressively successful on the image of altruism, superior benevolence, and patriotic loyalty; but this image is drudging through the biggest and most public walk-of-shame now. It doesn’t shock some people that have seen through these “evangelistic wars” like a Rose McGowan dress, but the information is quite appalling, and quite a shift from American heroism. The government is so flustered with hysteria, like they got to McDonalds at 10:32. They know the damages image can do. It's not like the behavior in the leaks is shocking news to anybody, it's just this news is now public, and persistent, and the face of America. Our face is much more important than our actions.

Ultimately, image building and positioning echoes textbook terms that serenades me to sleep at night. But really thinking about it, forming an image for something is forming its essence, its meaning and how it’s communicated. It can be as powerful as to eventually evolve into a common fact, or as detrimental as world wars. And that’s just one aspect of public relations. Brittany Stone--future emperor of your mind. :D

Oh! And if you get a chance, watch the videos embedded in this post. Trust me.

The Jurisdiction of Reality Repulsion

“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”—Andy Warhol

“In the future, everyone will be anonymous for 15 minutes.”--Banksy

We have entered ourselves in a nuclear holocaust. In a perfect world, I would never know the names Situation, Snooki, Lauren Conrad, or Danielle Staub...but this is what the current famous-for-nothing modern era has brought us. Reality stars. Why are they lurking in every dark corner of life with nauseating tenacity? Situational Mike is making 5 million this year. If that doesn't evoke the bile in your throat, then I envy your stomach. Why are these seemingly good-for-nothing-nobodies so popular in our culture? Owe it up to PR.

Now, this is not the type of industry I ever plan to engage in. I do have standards after all. Although, I will say reality stars' publicists are very impressive. Injecting meaning and value into a sub-par product.

While reality TV is much more prevalent than it has ever been, the credit to these asininity advocates belongs to the publicists tackle on smart business. If you plug “reality stars becoming stars” into Google, you’ll unearth plenty of sites teaching you how to constructively treat you’re newfound, undeserved stardom! It’s interesting how easily you can fudge up fame. Be careful not to “burn out your controversy,” or “be yourself, because real people are boring.” Hmmrmph…

When Jersey Shore aired an episode depicting a male character slapping another female, basically nothing happened. What did happen was a "suspended" Twitter account for illegitimate behavior. Fascinating. Don’t be quick discount the possibility this is a brilliant publicity stunt. This makes people have to figure out why! Behavior on the show has no cause and effect relationship with a Twitter account, so this character must be super enticing. Scandal and juicy controversy are sexy to society. We have to know more, even if our mind is tingling with numbness.

This epidemic conjunction with PR and reality TV has started to bleed out of the aorta and out of control. Now, public relations itself has become a target of the perverted humiliation thanks to the reality hooker herself, Kim Kardashian. Her newest reality show called “Spin Crowd” depicts the realm of entertainment PR in an exaggerated, morose way. At least she nailed the desired verisimilitude from the get go by graciously calling it the "Spin Crowd"....thanks Kimmy! Genuine publicists loooove the term "spin."

Whether reality television and their stars agree with us or not, they’re there, and successfully so. Publicity is an amazing tool that empowers the otherwise mundane, into an omnipotent, megalomaniac entity.