Communications/Internet Ethics

We think our a2ethics.org talk with Nicole Ellison is a bit unique. Ellison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media at Michigan State.  Fortunately for Bart and Jeanine, our discussion did not just go over the same ethics ground usually covered whenever social media are mentioned: privacy and predators, and predators and privacy. To be sure, we considered privacy and tried to pin its elusiveness down. But for the most part, we ranged far and wide on the social media map.

By BARTON BUND

At one point, it is possible that Linda Yohn of WEMU 89.1 FM told me to put a dog leash on her. We were discussing the WEMU dog leash you could receive for your donation of $100, and somehow we stumbled into some territory. It didn't even occur to me at the time, but friends asked me about it later.

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Is it worth giving up a little bit of privacy if it means our culture can have a free and more open exchange of information online?

It is commonly assumed by many in the digital age that privacy is one of several moral ideas that has become impossible to sustain, because of the transparent and porous characteristics of our communications technologies. As a result, perhaps, many have come to believe that privacy  is no longer a necessary part of our individual or collective well-being. 

The A2 News owner's decision to "close" and move the 174 year old newspaper to an online "outsourced" contractor was both expected and surprising. We have been out and about talking to our friends and other city and area residents. The News' news is very much on their minds. And they have posed a recycling bin's worth of questions with ethics connections.

Here are two of the questions:
1. What are the implications for civil society?
2. How ethical is internet media?

Please tell us your views on the ethics of this decision and its impact.

You are it now. The newspapers collapse day by day, and no one wants to sit in this no-man’s land without their news. You are a blogger, and you are responsible for disseminating information to the public. You are the primary source. So you may need to consider the responsibility.

Old news institutions regulated their reporters’ ethics. You have no such restrictions. You are online. A blog has no set length, no one standard style. But it is not legitimate. It is not credible. You will need training for that.

Originally submitted by: The Administrator

Originally submitted by: Sandy Bottoms on Culture

Originally submitted by: jadelay

Originally submitted by: barcode 2x