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WorksheetsMedia Ethics Mid-term Practice
Total questions: 21
Worksheet time: 16mins
Which of the following best defines media bias?
Reporting only international news
Favoring one perspective over others in news coverage
Using anonymous sources
Publishing corrections
Which organization is commonly associated with setting ethical reporting standards for journalists?
The World Health Organization
The Society of Professional Journalists
The International Olympic Committee
The United Nations
Which early philosopher, who believed that anyone could gain insight into universally accepted moral rule of moral conduct, created the foundation for current ways of thinking?
Socrates
Aristotle
Plato
Taylor Swift
A journalist is given confidential information by a credible source that has proven to be accurate. What is the most ethical action for the journalist to take?
Publish the source's name for transparency
Protect the source's identity unless legally required to reveal it
Ignore the information
Sell the information to another outlet
Which German philosopher believed in deontology, which focused on 'duty-based' moral theory (aka inherent right and wrong)?
J.S. Mill
Immanuel Kant
Bertrand Russell
John Rawls
Which school of thought was "anti-Kant" and focused on moral libertarianism (in other words, you decide what's right for you)?
Utilitarianism
Egalitarianism
Relativism
Virtue ethics
A reporter finds a story online and copies it word-for-word into their own article without credit. What ethical violation has occurred?
Fabrication
Plagiarism
Sensationalism
Defamation
Why is it important for journalists to verify information before publishing?
To increase the length of their articles
To ensure accuracy and maintain public trust
To meet deadlines faster
To avoid using sources
A journalist is covering a protest and receives conflicting accounts from participants. What should the journalist do to uphold ethical reporting standards?
Report only the most dramatic account
Present multiple perspectives and verify facts
Ignore the conflicting information
Choose the account that aligns with their personal beliefs
How can social media contribute to the spread of misinformation in journalism?
By allowing only verified news to be posted
By enabling rapid sharing without fact-checking
By restricting user comments
By increasing print subscriptions
A journalist is offered exclusive information in exchange for not reporting on a politician's scandal. What ethical dilemma does this present?
Plagiarism vs. originality
Conflict of interest vs. public's right to know
Timeliness vs. accuracy
Entertainment vs. education
Evaluate the following scenario: A news outlet consistently uses language that favors one political party. What impact might this have on public perception and trust in the media?
It increases objectivity
It may lead to decreased trust and perceived bias
It ensures balanced reporting
It has no impact
A journalist discovers that a colleague has fabricated quotes in a published article. What is the most ethical course of action?
Ignore the issue to avoid conflict
Report the fabrication to an editor or supervisor
Publicly accuse the colleague on social media
Rewrite the article without telling anyone
Analyze how the use of anonymous sources can both benefit and challenge journalistic integrity.
It always undermines integrity
It can protect sources but may reduce transparency and accountability
It guarantees accuracy
It eliminates bias
Consider a case where a journalist uses a photo from the internet without permission or credit. What ethical and legal issues are involved?
Only ethical, not legal
Both plagiarism and copyright infringement
Only legal, not ethical
No issues involved
A news organization implements a policy requiring all social media posts by journalists to be fact-checked before publication. What is the likely impact of this policy on ethical reporting?
It may slow down news delivery but increases accuracy and credibility
It encourages plagiarism
It reduces transparency
It has no effect
Reflect on the ethical responsibilities of journalists when reporting on sensitive topics such as crime or tragedy. What should guide their reporting?
The need to sensationalize for higher ratings
Respect for privacy, accuracy, and minimizing harm
The desire to be the first to report
Personal opinions
Which of these is NOT a thing journalists should do with every story?
Allow subjects of stories to respond to criticism
Take responsibility
Minimize harm
Let interview subjects edit the story
Which person was named by the media as a "person of interest" in the Atlanta Olympics bombing, even though he ultimately had nothing to do with it?
Lee Harvey Oswald
Richard Jewell
Craig T. Nelson
Yancey Thigpen
Do you believe objectivity is possible in news coverage? Why or why not? Give examples when possible.
Give an example of how representation has changed in film and television in the past 50 years. How may this affect society (good and bad), as well as the group represented on screen? Give examples when possible.
