College of
Business
Administration
College of
Business
Administration
1) With regard to Howard Stern example, since there is no established Code of Conduct for the Broadcasting Industry, did Clear Channel Communications, Inc. act ethically considering all those involved?
2) Do you think this company’s motives were to protect its interests as a leader in radio broadcasting and appease advertisers (self-preserving)? Were the company’s motives centered around protecting individuals, such as children, from indecent or offensive material (altruistic)?
3) Do you view this as an impediment on the rights such as Freedom of Speech, or Freedom of the Press?
4) Who should decide where to draw the line of decency? Who can we say has that moral obligation, who carries the legal obligation?
5) In regard to the Janet Jackson case, if this were an accident, should there be any moral or legal responsibility assigned? What if it were intentional?
6) How far would you go in order to allow greater restriction on “indecent” material?
In parallel with the Patriot Act, do you feel there are conditions where impingements
of Freedom of Speech are acceptable?
7) Are these situational or can you imagine consistently enforced circumstances?
8) Are broadcasting codes of conduct necessary to protect the public well-being?
9) Is broadcasting a matter that can be viewed as public or private (i.e. radio is on public airways, while television is a paid service if a cable company is involved)? Should there be different standards for each scenario?
10) Would greater fines deter free speech?
11) Would you view codes of conduct in the broadcasting industry as censorship?
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