Communications 300 Lesson 10

The given answer is the correct one because it aligns with the principle stated in the Bivins text. According to the text, the key to moral decision-making is to prioritize the well-being of others and to have a sense of duty to serve rather than focusing on personal gain or victory. This implies that acting with care and a sense of obligation towards others is crucial for making ethical decisions. Therefore, the answer is accurate based on the information provided.

According to Bivins, personal, professional, and societal moral obligations are not interchangeable. Decisions made at one level do not automatically apply to the other levels.

According to Bivins, moral buck passing is not the exception but rather the rule in complex organizations. This means that in complex organizations, it is more common for individuals to avoid taking responsibility for their actions by passing the blame onto others.

The correct answer is that people can be journalists even if they have not received training as journalists. This contributes to journalism's "equivocal status" as a profession because it means that there are no standardized qualifications or requirements for someone to become a journalist. Unlike other professions, such as law or medicine, journalism does not have a professional organization or regulatory body that sets standards for education and training. This lack of formal training and qualifications can lead to varying levels of professionalism and credibility within the field of journalism, hence its equivocal status.

The process of an occupation becoming professionalized includes developing standards of performance and some training in them, the development of professional organizations, and core bodies of knowledge to intellectualize the field. However, it does not include freedom from the need to be licensed, credentialed or certified. This means that even though an occupation may become professionalized, individuals still need to meet certain requirements and obtain the necessary licenses, credentials, or certifications to practice in that profession.

According to Bivins, Newsweek should not be held strictly accountable for the suicide of Admiral Boorda.

The given statement that "Journalists have customers (not clients)" is incorrect according to the Bivins text. The Bivins text suggests that journalists have clients, not customers. This is because journalists work for news organizations or publications and their clients are the readers or viewers who consume their content. Journalists provide a service by gathering and reporting news to their clients, who rely on them for accurate and timely information.

According to Bivins, the media do not always act in the best interest of their audience due to the complex and competitive environment they operate in. They may prioritize other factors such as profitability or attracting viewership, which can sometimes conflict with serving the best interest of their readers, listeners, and viewers.

The correct answer is false because the statement suggests that journalists would welcome licensing to establish their professional credibility. However, Bivins, according to the passage, argues that one barrier to public relations becoming a profession is its lack of enforceable standards. This implies that journalists may not necessarily value licensing as a means to establish their professional credibility.

The Bivins text states that codes are typically organization-specific. This means that codes of conduct or ethics are specific to a particular organization and are not universally applicable. Codes are developed by organizations to provide guidelines for ethical behavior and to ensure that members of the organization adhere to certain standards. Therefore, the statement that codes are typically organization-specific is supported by the Bivins text.

According to Bivins, professions generally provide services that are vital to the organized function of society. This means that professions play an important role in society by offering services that are necessary for its smooth functioning. This statement aligns with the idea that journalists have long wanted their occupation to be classified as a profession, as they believe that their work is crucial for society. On the other hand, PR practitioners have historically rejected the trappings of professionalism, indicating that they may not perceive their services as essential for the organized function of society.

According to Bivins, being a professional does not necessarily mean assuming different ethical norms than societal norms. This statement contradicts Bivins' view that professionals should adhere to the same ethical norms as society.

According to the given answer, it is false to say that according to Bivins, the media do not influence society, they only reflect it. This statement contradicts Bivins' view, as Bivins believes that the media does have an influence on society.

The similarities in moral obligations of the media do not include that they all share the same primary goals and loyalties. While the media may have obligations to moral claimants such as employers, clients, and receivers of their messages, as well as a duty to truth telling and a duty to avoid harming others, their primary goals and loyalties may vary. Different media outlets may have different objectives and priorities, and may be loyal to different stakeholders or agendas. Therefore, it cannot be said that they all share the same primary goals and loyalties.

The given statement is false because Bivins concludes that the fiduciary model is not a good model for professional communicators.

Public journalism does not advocate for objectivity and providing information as the sole role and product of the media. Instead, it emphasizes notions of communitarianism, responsibility to the community, involvement in finding solutions to community problems, and fostering public discussion and debate about relevant issues.

The statement that the Agency Model and Advocacy ideology is shown by Bivins to successfully absolve advertisers and public relations from ethical responsibility for their client-directed actions is false. The correct answer is stating that serious moral concerns can arise from ignoring third parties. This means that the Agency Model and Advocacy ideology does not absolve advertisers and public relations from ethical responsibility, and there can be ethical implications when disregarding the impact on third parties.

Bivins agrees that client loyalty generally supersedes loyalty to third parties for both advertising and public relations.

The correct answer suggests that journalism acts paternalistically, meaning that journalists independently make decisions about what news to cover and what the public needs to know. However, they also take into account the desires of the public by entertaining them with what they want. This implies that while journalists have the responsibility to inform the public, they also consider the audience's preferences and interests in order to engage and entertain them.

According to Bivins, the work of the Advertising Council does not qualify as pro bono work. This means that the Advertising Council, despite its advocacy efforts, does not meet the criteria of providing free services to clients without favoring one side of an issue or the other. Bivins believes that pro bono work involves advocating for clients despite personal beliefs and serving the public interest, which the Advertising Council's work does not align with.