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.

"Education is the only Thing given that cannot be taken away."

The nature of school is…complex to say the least. Like many others, I’ve spent a huge part of my life engrossed in academia and kind of enjoyed it for the most part. I understood school is "required" for a “bright future” and important for the chance to succeed. I knew turning in my homework, studying for tests and paying attention were necessary, but I didn’t really remove my mind from the system that programmed it. I would go to class like a zombie, do my homework without really thinking about it, while complaining the whole time.

There [hopefully] comes a time when young adults fully grasp the true nature and purpose of school, maybe when the irrelevant core classes are satisfied and they get to focus on studying their passion, or maybe after they graduate and realize they yearn to keep learning. My time came a little over a year ago. I was 22, past the time of normal graduation (which is interesting in itself because I don't believe one can be mature enough to think like this before graduating "on time"), and had this life-awakening epiphany. I realized what’s taught is essentially how the world functions and how to maneuver in this intricate society. The information given isn’t a secret, it isn’t impossible to know, it’s just handed over to students rather than buried in books and websites for non-students to find. I no longer went to class grudgingly, rather with ears perked eager to know the secrets of the world and information that took lifetimes to find. I wasn’t learning for grades anymore, I was learning for me. This gave me a whole new appreciation for school, and fueled my quizzical thoughts over knowledge in general.

Thinking about the concept of knowledge can spin your brain in every direction. What is it? Where did it come from? How reliable are these sources? What does reliable even mean? I don’t want to diverge totally to the study of epistemology, as interesting as it may be, but it’s important to consider as an implicit foundation. Teachers are notoriously undermined for what they’re providing, for they are probably the most trusted source for young adults and second most trusted for children. With this sense, teachers are expected to transfer the most objective, absolute truths, and we are expected to believe them. Trust is a dangerous thing, but overconfidence in knowledge is even more threatening. As Descartes said,

“And such studies, whether or not carried to excess, have their own inherent dangers. Fables make us imagine many events as possible when they are not. And even the most accurate histories, if they don’t alter or exaggerate things’ importance so as to provide a better ‘read’, are likely to falsify things in a different way: such histories omit most of the meaner and the less striking factors in a situation, so that what they do include appears in a false light, looking grander than it really was. And a result of that is that those who regulate their conduct by examples drawn from these works are liable to fall into the excesses of the knights-errant in our tales of chivalry, and make plans that they haven’t the power to carry out.”

Last semester I took a class over sociological theory. Fascinating and eye opening, but I had issues with the teacher. He was personable, relatable, attractive and sarcastic, and used all of these traits to basically “blind” students. He made it clear he hated UNT (I mean, being from NY clearly makes him more sophisticated) and Dentonites, centered lectures around himself, dismissed Marxism and disregarded feminism. His bias on certain things and subjects was undeniably clear to me, but seemingly unapparent to the oblivious faces around me. They laughed when he laughed and rolled their eyes along with theories he subtly perverted; they offered almost no relevant input or feedback, showing they weren’t actually learning anything. I sat quietly in the back shaking my head at almost every point. This particular classroom of kids will undoubtedly continue life thinking Karl Marx was some irrational, misogynist, unrealistic bigot that failed and nothing more. Feminism has its place, it’s there, but no one will ever know, or care to know, more than that. Whether his conjectures are parallel with yours or the majority, they have no place in the vulnerable classroom.

This semester, I’m already wary of one of my professors. He teaches sociology of correctional systems, which I assumed to be a fascinating objective course studying the system that includes just as many fallacies as justifiable appearances. He reminds me of George W…if that doesn’t say enough already. He injects degrading humor derived from a Midwestern upbringing and sternly demands unwavering attention while he lectures (rambles?) about organizations supporting guns or his resolution to be nicer due to his wife’s bitching…but then again she might be divorced by the end of the year (his words, not mine). When talking about impoverished populations' predominance in jails, he says, “Yano, they don’t just end up in prison, they might grow up with idiot parents, are half-dumb themselves, be those little pukes in the day care, throw rocks through windows, then rape a woman.” Following a complacent confession that he doesn’t know where Puerto Rico is....who's half dumb again?

My urging point is that pretending like you know something is far more damaging that you can imagine. Besides the point that it’s embarrassing when you get questioned, but also it perpetuates the false pretense that most everything is “common knowledge” and we continue as ignorant as ever in a toxic cycle. You’re not alone when you feel uncertain about anything, people fake intelligence all day everyday and for some reason our culture damns admittance of ignorance, when, ironically yet totally affirming my point, we’re possibly the most ignorant leading nation. Doubt everything, down to the root basics; I don’t care who told you what. You will find proliferating truths behind life, and undeniable satisfaction.

Oh, if you haven't already, check out Saul Williams' music/poetry.

A Eulogy to JOUR4460

Ahh, dear JOUR4460. We’ve had times. Times where I scrambled just to keep up, times where you put me in my place just to open my eyes. Ignorant denial of room for improvement does not suit you well, and my ego suffered constructive blows. You will be missed, and I honor your conclusion with words of the valuable lessons that you gave me.

The importance of press releases is better emphasized now. You taught me how to pitch to journalists that are most likely going to hate me. You made sure I would be prepared before blindly selling my soul.

Epiphanies are rare and appreciated. I remember a time when you blew my mind and challenged my confidence, only to rebuild me with protective instincts. Cold calls have made a fearful reputation throughout your existence that echoes in the ears of unborn students. You knew my hatred for phone conversations and helped the irrationality justifying it. Deaf to excuses, you shoved me out there and taught me I am ridiculous for questioning myself. Ultimately, making the call was a breeze and made me recognize the competence I have for the future. The feedback alone was enough to release any remaining insecurities and introduced a girl that can strut with assurance.

Recreational hobbies became a requirement to the world of public relations and class time. Twitter, Facebook, blogging and other social media is like oxygen to you and now, me as well. You taught me that life isn’t so desolate in the realm of Twitter and getting followers and "friends" is simple. It’s unacceptable to be a wallflower, you must engage and be active with others. I will keep your wise notes over SEO and increasing online traffic as reference through future speed bumps. This could probably qualify as the most valuable lesson given to me. Not only did I learn the need to keep up with trends and progression of social media, but also led to many nights drifting between theoretical ideas and philosophy about our generation.

I owe you gratitude for easing my resentment toward group/partner projects. There is no doubt PR can't avoid team effort. Public relations depends on the ability to cooperate, a fact I used to lament. This opportunity to create a major project that is counter-dependent on someone else was eye opening. My learning experience was monumental, as I realized the project would have been impossible alone. I genuinely appreciate learning communication campaigns that the grown-up world will demand. The final product was impressive and tangible evidence of our efforts.

Thank you, JOUR4460, for your strives to better my craft and form. You influenced my growth to the future-professional I am about to be and my individual self that I am now. Substantial credits are due to the your spokeswoman, Samra Bufkins. Her respect for you is obvious and she forwarded that passion into her students. While at times her approach was intimidating and resembled tyranny, there was always a hue of altruistic sentiment behind her clever wit.

Survived by: the classiest, most dignified gangsters. hayyy.

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.

George Bush Is Not Good At Public Speaking

Perhaps I’m just now mature enough to notice it, but have political figures always been so bewildering and irrational? Jumping from one irrelevant subject to the next to try and cover their incompetency? It feels like a perfect complement to the quality of overall broadcasting all together. Snookie on Jersey Shore is the new G dub.

George junior has stammered back into the public eye, ya know, to impart some insightful criticism or perhaps to offer some sort of explanation of his administration. Correction: There is a book, people. Now en route on the publicity circuit, we’re getting reacquainted with this spectacle of a man.

I was anticipating the interview with Matt Lauer because I noticed his public image was starting to catch favorable empathy as a direct result. There’s even a billboard on 35 shouting, “Miss me yet?” with his face conspicuously plastered. I was thinking, what could this guy possibly have said during this interview to make people forget? Nothing… actually, less than nothing.

Wouldn’t incumbents of the White House be able to afford decent publicity reps? Isn’t there someone that could manage this mess? Let’s start with not giving verbatim speeches and answers to every location. He’s had this chronic tendency throughout his public presence resulting in tumultuous reactions. How does someone ignore past consequences and continue to fail? He talks about his family, Laura, his mother and the fetus, and his dog. Bush makes sure to emphasize that even the former president picks up dog poop.

Bush’s apparent strategy is to babble about pointless things, draw unnecessary emotion during irrelevant topics, and project responsibility to anyone else possible. He never took blame unless it was worldly impossible otherwise, like the picture of him looking at New Orleans outside of his plane. He took blame for that, because Rumsfeld luckily wasn’t in the plane to take responsibility. He blamed the intelligence team, he blamed the local governments, and he blamed the media. This tactic might work for a one-time deal, but to relentlessly persist is insulting to viewers. Other things that would cause him to fail speech class:

- His body language is too strong, like he's above those he's speaking to

- He laughs at his own jokes

- Overuse of keywords, and talking in circles. ("The American people do not want terrorism. If they don't want terrorism, they have to give other things up so that they can have what they want. If not, they wouldn't want what they want.")

- He appears angry when asked questions ("Don't you want to get rid of terrorism?!")

He closed the interview assuring the public he doesn’t lose sleep over his popularity, or lack thereof. He doesn’t care if his decisions are unfavorable; he is here for America, not you. Someone should have told him not to go this route, to avoid those words. He was the representation of our opinion, of our agenda, yet someone who has no regard toward that aspect. He didn’t hide his intentions for money when he came to campus and spoke, and asked who would be surprised by that? People clapped and clamored and yelled “USA!” I suppose the average citizen wouldn’t be out of line to proceed with the incentive of money, but his entire legacy is built around his stride for monetary wealth, even if it means going to war. Professing this motive at this single time is a small window to his entire MO. I have hope that most of America hasn’t forgotten his corruption. Maybe it’s just my immediate surroundings that are reflective of optimistic hopes for Bush, and if that’s the case, I’m moving…ASAP.

Sumptuous Spam for the Swanky Show-Boaters

Crisis struck Carnival. The well-known cruise line had a mishap when the engine room fell victim to a fire, damaging the switchboard that generates electricity throughout the ship, including the propulsion motors. The massive ship carrying more than 4,000 people was left wafting helplessly in the middle of the Pacific. I bet the heads of the PR team were spinning.

Besides relentless and original puns (the poor ship had to be named Splendor), the media has flooded with reports of irate passengers. While they have every right to grind their gears, the complaining is getting a little ridiculous. There were even pictures of people with t-shirts that read “Next Stop, Daily Show.” Obnoxious. I understand the passengers were expecting a splendid vacation (see. I’m one of them now) and wound up in mayhem: No electricity, limited toilets, and a mass of people that probably smell, but couldn’t there be worse situations to be stranded? You’re on a cruise, with the people you love, on an ocean, with a…questionable…food supply, but a food supply nonetheless! Not to mention a casino open for the taking, and the cruise line is offering full refunds and reimbursements of travel costs (including free hotel and flights), plus a free cruise in the future.

The PR for Carnival is doing impressively well, contacting the media in a timely manner, not projecting any of the blame to anyone else, staying hip with Facebook and Twitter as a “push” medium. Any “pull” information Carnival receives at this point in time will be formerly established grievances.

The cause of the fire is still unreported, leaving everyone wondering if it was negligence or freak accident. These things happen, and you must be prepared. The fault obviously lies on the design engineers, as every operational detail should not rest on a single electrical board. Seeing as we’re beyond that, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it now, we must focus on the PR. I congratulate their efforts and calming manner. Some criticize for not showing enough empathy, rather too many facts, and I couldn’t disagree more; offering too much empathy risks vulnerability to mass slander. In fact, they’re executing the route publicists should be taking so we can finally steer away from a negative connotation. We don’t spin, we present facts and Carnival has honored that.

Nostaligia for the Physical World

As an impressionable student preparing to thrust myself into the scary world of professionalism, I find the timing of my transformation somewhat interesting. Publicists are raving about the perks and benefits this progressive technological era has bestowed upon us, and undoubtedly there is a silver lining to be seen. Twitter, blogs, other social media and online newsrooms are more prominent and accessible than ever, allowing us to be lazier—as pejorative as that may seem—and more expansive. The American Dream right? It’s simple cost-benefit analysis.

Sadly, I cannot ignore my compulsion to seek out the underlying cynicism in things; there seems to be a hesitant suspicion rising in the pith of my optimism. We are standing on the frontier of this amazing technology advancement, at an inconvenient age. We’re not growing up with these innovations embedded in our green field of knowledge, like the astounding elementary virtuosos replacing cursive writing with iPods; and we don’t really have time to learn the basic fundamentals that perfected the art of publicity in ancient times of yore. There’s no time for prodigal lectures over the form of networking and personal relationships, or the other grinds of former (respectable) ways of the field. Social media is the future, and we’re riding that wave hard. While that’s cute and interesting, there has to be subsequent effects to our society and their interpersonal relationships. The information age has drawn an ironic social paradox: We’re clearly more globally connected, but undeniably becoming more isolated.

Shamelessly, I have no problem admitting the vision-blurring fear I have of talking in front of people, or on the phone. While this is confusing for some, it’s beyond confounding for me that this is even an issue. I used to have no problem approaching anyone, anytime, and making an instant connection. I could stand in front of a crowd with ease and speak fluidly about whatever need be. Phone conversations were of second nature, at 14 I figured out how to get incoming calls at red-eye hours without waking up my parents (MovieFone for hours + call waiting= no ringing). Suddenly, about three years ago, I’m unrecognizable to me. Public speaking has caused me to black out, I avoid phone calls like gas station bathrooms, and my confidence is partially subsiding. Concurrently, my texting skills are superior, I feel like Twitter is my new pet, and I put the art of e-mailing into submission. I get it…it’s ironic that I’m in PR and have these weird phobias. But trust me, this is a newfound thing. Are the rippling tides of modern media swelling into a wave gone rogue?

If it only took about three years for a stubborn, haughty, secure woman (ehh, or girl) to lose her bearings, what are these children going to grow up like? What is the future of PR? Will commentary be through text? Will interviews be conducted through Facebook chat? Are bosses going to promote and terminate people over Twitter? Our interpersonal relationships have been beaten against the wall. There are definitely studies showing increased in engagement through new classroom lessons over social media, but who’s surprised? This is a tool we use(d) recreationally, outside of the classroom. It’s as though we’re teaching the theory of Family Guy, or "strategic party demeanor"…ooh man, did I strike gold?

Fumbling with a glass of wine and words on the tip of my tongue, I found myself conversing with a stranger at a jazz bar. She is a communications major, something that always raised my ears; perhaps because I have no idea what lies in the future of a communications major, as painfully obvious as it may sound. She plans to pursue PR. Whaaat? Hey, no, that’s mine and you can’t just come around here pirating that from me! I picked her brain about what she studies. Apparently, it’s the other pole end of my profession. She learns how to speak to authority, how to finagle her words into getting what she wants, how to speak to media and large crowds…I stood there mouth gaping. I was so jealous! Maybe it would have been more conducive to study communications rather than PR…...no…. I renounce that! I love writing, and I undyingly appreciate the things I’ve learned in the journalism department. My inner snob is on her knees in desperate hopes that this department retains its distinguished identity, and doesn’t fall victim to the oppressive social media…producing a line of muted, oblivious, isolated texting prodigies.