Eighth Lecture - Ethics

In this lecture we had a guest lecturer who taught us about ethics.
He taught us that there are three ethical theories in Journalism; deontology, consequentialism and virtue.

Deontology
Deontology involves three things; rules, principles and duties. In Journalism you will do the right thing by following these rules. All ethics codes are deontological.

Consequentialism
Consequentialism is about getting a 'good' or 'right' outcome. It doesn't matter how we get there, the end justifies the means, the greatest good for the greatest number.

Virtue Ethics
Within virtue ethics it's the 'goodness' (aka happiness) that comes from good habits of character.
These habits are 'virtues' such as courage, justice, temperance and prudence.
These habits of character are the 'golden mean' of behaviour.

The Mean
Courage is the mean between Rashness and Cowardice.
Justice is the mean between the injustice of overzealous and excessive law and the injustice of lawlessness.

Code of Ethics
That is deontological ethics, because that's the way things are done in Journalism practice and professional communication.