Ivory Jones
MC 301 Contributor
There comes a point in everyone’s life when they are faced with making an ethical decision.
As the 2014 graduating class approaches their last days at Jackson State University, they will have to make these decisions sooner rather then later.
Mass communications students from all over Jackson, Miss. were in attendance at Belhaven University’s Media Ethics Conference this year to help them determine how to make ethical decisions they can stand by.
On Thursday, in a cozy room with stadium seating, located on the second floor of Belhaven’s student center, local media professionals discussed ethical dilemmas they have faced over the years.
Wilson Stribling, news director for WLBT Channel 3, here in Jackson, Miss. recalled a story which ironically broke during last year’s media ethics conference. As he was leaving, the general manager of the station, Dan Modisett, informed him their weatherman, Eric Law was being arrested for having sexual contact with a minor. He recalled the many questions going through his mind heading back to the station. After all, this was a colleague and friend. Corporately, it was decided to get in front of the story. They decided to go about it with a business as usual standpoint and not try to hide anything from their audiences.
Jason Stevens, news director at WJTV TV 12 says the most important thing to remember when making ethical decisions as to what stories to report is to make sure you are accurate and factual.
“I’d rather be last and get it right, than first and get it wrong,” Stevens said.
Sheila Skipper, Director of Communications for the Mississippi Manufactures Association spoke about the consequences and ethics involved when one is the “face” or spokesperson for a large organization. She advised students to think before they post, especially on personal pages.
“Even on your personal time, you are still the spokesperson of that company.”
Chanel Williams, a senior mass communications major from Gurner,Ill. said she agrees with Skipper.
“I learned how the ethics of social media can help me but also how it can hurt me,” Williams said.
Another panelist, Kevin Lightfoot, executive producer at WAPT TV Channel 16 Jackson, Miss., spoke on a more recent ethical debate concerning allegations made by Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes regarding late mayor Chokwe Lumumba’s death. Stokes claimed someone killed the late mayor of Jackson with several microphones and cameras pointed at him.
Lightfoot had concerns about Lumumba’s family. Ethically, he wondered how the family would handle this allegation airing. Again, a corporate decision was made to run the story. After reaching out to Lumumba’s family with no success, the story aired. Lightfoot revealed there were two reasons for airing the story.
“Other news stations were there when he made the allegations, we figured they were going to air it,” and secondly, “it came out of an elected official’s mouth.”
Simone Young, a senior mass communications major from Madison, Ala. said, “The presentations were entertaining and informative and taught me that I must have an ethical code.”
Students in other majors may also be faced with making ethical decisions in their future career endeavors.
Shawn Rossi, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Mississippi Hospital Association suggest you be sure “your personal values align with the company’s values.”
She said this would make any decision you make as a professional an ethically sound one for your organization.
