Is print media as credible?
With sites like The Onion creating parody news, have journalistic ethics been thrown out the window?
Recently, there was a particular piece of news circling the online world, that caught my eye.
Online news has the upper hand with breaking news, heck; I for one live a life that revolves around the internet.
When the connection is down, one wants to cry. It also drives me nuts not being able to use applications on my smartphone or laptop. Basically, you are rendered handicapped.
Source: www.theonion.com
back to the news mentioned, it was regarding the British Royal Family.
The headline read "Prince William Divorces Kate Middleton after 5weeks"
The article said:
"LONDON—Barely a month after marrying 29-year-old Kate Middleton in a royal wedding ceremony watched by an estimated 2 billion people worldwide, Prince William announced Tuesday that he and Middleton have divorced and that the entire marriage was "a tremendous mistake in every possible regard." "I really don't know what I was thinking—we're a terrible match, I don't love her and never have, and, to be honest, I never really had any interest in being married in the first place," announced the now unattached Prince William to a dead-silent British press corps. "People thought our wedding was some sort of fairy tale, but I assure you it was all just some ghastly ceremonial farce that got out of hand. I'm just relieved it's over, frankly. And I'm glad I'll never have to see that awful woman again." Prince William then told the assembled reporters, "Well, see you all later," smiled, and walked back into Buckingham Palace"
So ladies and gentleman, what do you think about all this sensational head-liners? Do they destroy the ethics and standards that real journalist set? In my opinion, the recent parody news released by the Onion is extremely offensive.
For one, it can be considered as slander, do they really want to be sued?
Two, it is defamation of a public figure, yet another lawsuit.
Three, Fake news can mislead the reader.
Do take into account that because of online news we in Malaysia know exactly what's happening half way across the world in real time.
As stated by Jim Brady, the editor of the Washington Post.com
I think the argument about bloggers vs. journalists has been over for years. We've all co-existed just fine for a while now, and the truth is, the distinction is less relevant every day. There are thousands of journalists who now blog, and there are lots of bloggers who are trained journalists." (Jim Brady, 2008)
Brain McNair believes that online media is an evolution of traditional media. McNair states that journalists, journalism and traditional media will not experience any form of death, because they are needed on so many social, political and cultural levels worldwide. (McNair, 2009)
For your account;
www.thestar.com.my
www.themalaysianreserve.com
317words
- Digital Dilemmas: Ethical Issues for Online Media Professionals (Media and Technology Series) by Robert I. Berkman | LibraryThing. 2011. Digital Dilemmas: Ethical Issues for Online Media Professionals (Media and Technology Series) by Robert I. Berkman | LibraryThing. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.librarything.com/work/789357. [Accessed 07 June 2011].
- Online Media: Legal, Business and Content Issues - Summer Schools in Europe - Directory of summer courses. 2011. Online Media: Legal, Business and Content Issues - Summer Schools in Europe - Directory of summer courses. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.summerschoolsineurope.eu/index.php?action=showcourse&id=400. [Accessed 07 June 2011].
- The Onion - America's Finest News Source. 2011. The Onion - America's Finest News Source. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.theonion.com/. [Accessed 08 June 2011].
- Kress, G & van Leeuwen, T 2006, "Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Communication," 2nd edn, Routeledge, New York
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