Digital Dilemmas: Ethical Issues for Online Media Professionals (Media and Technology) [Paperback]

Robert I. Berkman (Author), Christopher A. Shumway (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813802369 | ISBN-13: 978-0813802367 | Publication Date: April 21, 2003

Journalism and mass communications professionals entering the innovative world of new media technology face a wave of challenging and often unanticipated ethical quandaries. Digital Dilemmas: Ethical Issues for Online Media Professionals is the first title in Blackwell Publishing's Media and Technology series (Alan B. Albarran, series editor). This important new text establishes a framework for discussing, understanding, and ultimately making sound decisions on meeting these ethical challenges. In addition, the book provides guidelines for approaching and making decisions from an ethical standpoint.

Part one of the text gives background and overview information to examine existing professional ethical codes and their applicability in the new media. Part two delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by all online communications professionals—privacy, speech and intellectual property. Part three warns the reader about three specific types of ethical hazards—speed vs. accuracy and quality; validating Internet sources; and blurring editorial with commercial information.

Through the use of historical summaries, discussion of specific problems, case study illustrations, critical thinking exercises, chapter summaries, key points, and recommended readings, each chapter comprehensively explores ethical issues. Aimed at students as well as practicing journalists and media professionals, Digital Dilemmas serves as the essential text and user’s guide to the emerging ethical challenges facing those who work or plan to work in the online media.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Journalism and mass communications professionals entering the innovative world of new media technology face a wave of challenging and often unanticipated ethical quandaries. Digital Dilemmas: Ethical Issues for Online Media Professionals is the first title in Blackwell Publishing's Media and Technology series (Alan B. Albarran, series editor). This important new text establishes a framework for discussing, understanding, and ultimately making sound decisions on meeting these ethical challenges. In addition, the book provides guidelines for approaching and making decisions from an ethical standpoint.

Part one of the text gives background and overview information to examine existing professional ethical codes and their applicability in the new media. Part two delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by all online communications professionals—privacy, speech and intellectual property. Part three warns the reader about three specific types of ethical hazards—speed vs. accuracy and quality; validating Internet sources; and blurring editorial with commercial information.

Through the use of historical summaries, discussion of specific problems, case study illustrations, critical thinking exercises, chapter summaries, key points, and recommended readings, each chapter comprehensively explores ethical issues. Aimed at students as well as practicing journalists and media professionals, Digital Dilemmas serves as the essential text and user’s guide to the emerging ethical challenges facing those who work or plan to work in the online media.

About the Author

Robert I. Berkman is on the faculty of the Media Studies M.A. program at New School University, New York, NY. He teaches the class New Media Ethics via the New School’s Online University division (NSOU) and has also taught Research Methods online. Author of several books on online searching and research, Berkman is founder and editor of The Information Advisor, a monthly journal for professional researchers.

Christopher A. Shumway was a broadcast journalist for 15 years, serving as a photographer, news reporter, anchor and meteorologist at local TV stations in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Ohio. During that time he won more than a half dozen awards for his work, including a regional Emmy nomination. He is currently completing work on a Master’s degree in Media Studies from New School University

Product Details

• Paperback: 386 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (April 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813802369
• ISBN-13: 978-0813802367
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Just a quick note to previous readers of Find it Fast: How to Uncover Expert Information on Any Subject (HarperCollins, 5th ed. 2000).

I am currently working on an ebook revision that will be available no later than June 2012! It will be fully revised and include several new sections, including how to use social media sites, ranging from Twitter to Facebook to LinkedIn and more for quality effective research.

For more information, or to get an early release of the book, just drop me a note at [e-mail]...

Thanks!
Bob