Accomplished journalist to speak on ethics in media

By Jason Koole
Western Herald

The Society of Professional Journalists will be hosting their first event at Western Michigan University, “A Free and Undemocratic Media,” Thursday as part of the Center for the Study of Ethics in Society’s fall series.

The lecture will be given by Stephen Ward, Ph.D., a former reporter, war correspondent and newsroom bureau chief, who is currently the director of the Center of Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin.

Ward will discuss whether a free press is a democratic press and the direction journalism is headed in he 21st century.

He will also raise questions that are important in an age where the expansion of media is at a revolutionary turning point.

Another idea that will be discussed will be whether a liberal theory of free voices promotes a just and flourishing democracy.

Sue Ellen Christian, Ph.D., assistant professor of journalism at WMU, said she encourages students to attend the event.

“People should attend the event because Dr. Ward is going to address journalism ethics in contemporary society,” Christian said. “Even though news is delivered in various forms of media you still have to have the fundamentals of ethical journalism.”

The SPJ is a group that is dedicated to expanding career and internship opportunities for students, teaching journalism ethics, and to making WMU a campus that promotes journalistic freedoms.

Ward’s presentation will take place at 7 p.m. in 2028 Brown Hall.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=10973

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Oct 28 2009. Filed under Campus, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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