Journalism and Diversity Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Journalism and Diversity - Term Paper Example This paper tells that the notion of responsible media got recognition through the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press in the United States. The World Association of Press Councils realizes that the freedom of the press must be responsible to the public cause, if not the government. It announces that â€Å"it is implicit and inherent in the institution of a free press that the press exercises its powers and duties in a responsible manner† (The Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong, 2000, p. 2). Clause 12 of the Press Complaints Code deals with discrimination issue regarding reporting of news, guiding journalists not to mention the race, color, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or disability of a person unless these are required actually to complete the story. The purpose behind this clause is to secure people from biased reporting and the news publication does not harm the common public interest. Journalists need to differentiate between the lines, c rossing it only when remarks are made generally about various sections of people on a reporter’s individual capacity to write that is politically correct and a decision cannot be easily made without harming others’ right of freedom of expression (Beales, 2009). The purpose of the Code is to draw a line, remaining within which won’t create any clash between the right of the public to freedom of speech and the rights of a person not to be exposed to biased personal abuse. Regarding the right to freedom of expression, having a different opinion is the right irrespective of the matter whether it is not to others’ liking or others mind it (Beales, 2009). With the increasing trend of media taken to the court over its expression of public opinion, the responsibility of the press has increased to report daily news in a controlled way. Past examples of various news reporting can help in drawing a line between taking the freedom of publishing news, for example, the British media took restraint by not publishing the contentious Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, although they were not bound by the Code not to do so. On the same length, the sarcastic advice of a national newspaper columnist to wire the county streets to decollate cyclists created anger among the audiences but it was not the violation of the Code on the part of the columnist but because the remark was not aimed at any individual and the columnist also published an apology, the matter was amicably settled (Beales, 2009). Nevertheless, pejorative or prejudicial aggression at selected people is against the spirit of the Code. For instance, making fun at the disabled son of Katie Price, the showbiz model from Jordan became a controversial issue; the PCC was flooded with complaints from readers and also from Ms. Price and her husband, Peter Andre. The issue could only be settled when an online and in-print apology was made by the magazine besides making the donation to the char ity (Beales, 2009). The Code comes to the rescue of those individuals who are targeted and victimized but complaints made by the third party do not come under the arc of the Code until the sufferer agrees to support the complaint. Journalists are advised to apply restraint in reporting matters of public interest by the PCC. Even if no claim of discrimination is made by any individual, PCC can take action under other sections of the Code like Accuracy. For instance, the PCC issued the guidance note on asylum seekers indicating that it was wrong to assume asylum seekers as illegal. They are legal so far as they are not denied asylum.

Alcoholics Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Alcoholics - Dissertation Example They might smash a bar stool on your head, for example, which could cause a serious head injury. If you are a student, drinking alcohol can lead to serious academic problems. It is harder to study well when you are a hungover. Your grades are likely to decline and your classmates are likely to lose respect for you. You may even engage in risky sexual behaviour that might have long term consequences for you. The problem for students is that the temptations are everywhere. Campuses are full of bars and there is a real culture of binge drinking. It is important to be true to yourself and avoid situations that call for excessive drinking—for example, a keg stand party. We need to find out why people become alcoholics. If we can find a reason for this we can begin to solve the problem and treat people who have this serious problem. 3. Literature Review There are numerous books on this subject which can be of use. Among these books are Hedblom (2007) which provides a good overview o f the subject and how alcoholics recovery from the problem. Another useful book is O'Farrell (2006) which looks at how couples deal with alcoholism. These books, among others, can help put the issue in perspective and provide some real insight. A number of other useful sources on addictive personality are as follows: Engs, Ruth C. "The Addictive Process and Addictive Behaviors." Addictive Behaviors. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 March 2010 Mason, Stephen, Ph.D. Rev. of The Addictive Personality. Psychology Today. N.p., 14 March 2009. 4. Hypothesis My hypothesis is that alcoholism is a product of an addictive personality. Different types of personalities react differently to stimuli. We need to find out why people become alcoholics. We need to see if there is something about their personality that leads to them becoming alcoholic. This research will enlighten us. An operational definition that will asssist us in this matter is a definition of alcoholic. The definition we will be using is someon e who drinks five or more units of alcohol per day. 5. Research method I will begin with an examination of both primary and secondary research. Statistical information will be compiled by using libraries and the internet. The main source of findings will be participant observation. I will visit with alcoholics and observe their activities to determine if the hypothesis is correct. I will try not to be intrusive as I live side by side with the alcoholics and examine their behaviour and activities. I will also use some surveying and sampling. Sampling will be conducted through the collection of e-mail addresses from a rehabilitation centre and empirical surveys conducted via email. This will be an important tool of data collection. In conducting this research, the e-mail addresses will come from sources that are alcoholic. In addition, e-mail addresses will be obtained through a web page designed to attract people who have addictive personalities. These web addresses will be linked fr om various resources that will allow a link to the address. An ideal sample size of 100 respondents will be expected in order to conduct the research. This type of sampling is know as non-probability sampling. According to Trochim (2006), non-probability sampling describes the unlikely event that will occur when a sample is taken when there is not an equal possibility for all who are concerned to be chosen. Because of