1. I think the most important media function is to inform. This is the whole reason for the media's existance. To educate and to entertain are communication functions, but are not quite as relevant.
"Respect for truth and the public's right to information are fundamental principes of journalism" (Conley & Lamble, 2006, p. 30). This highlights that 'to inform' is of paramount importance. "74% of journalists belive the role of getting information to the public quickly to be important ... 71% to provide analysis and interpretation ... 28% to provide entertainment and relaxation" (Conley & Lamble, 2006, p. 31).
Journalists may be the only bridge in which society can become aware of certain issues or events going on in the community or in the world.
However, this can be used against society, or to enhance certain private interests. Those with political, legal and financial advantage may yield more power or control of the media. Therefore journalists must use their power wisely as they can have a huge influence on the rest of society. They should act in the public interest, not to please shareholders or decision-makers.
2. A journalist should only be concerned about the profitability of their employer to a certain extent. A journalist should feel secure in their job, and should not have to worry about losing it. However, a journalist should not exploit their position and write biased articles simply to reflect their organisation's alliances. A journalist should always act in the public interest, and not in private interests.
3. No, I do not think it is reasonable for the owner of a media outlet to direct the editorial or to make editorial decisions on political and other issues. This is up to the editor and chief of staff. These people are not trained journalist and should therefore stay out of public interest debates. Although, this is probably very rare. I assume that many owners of media outlets would have a hand at making decisions such as these. I can only hope that they arn't too radical or biased.
4. Investigatory journalism is extremely important. Investigatory journalists uncover hidden information, and can have huge effects on issues. However, most news rooms are driven by day to day expenses, and the comparative cost of investigatory reporting is high. If a reporter has enough time and effort to conduct an investigatory report, the results can be astounding. Investigatory pieces can offer new sets of information that a daily newspaper cannot achieve.
----------------------------------------------------
Richie opts for same jail as Hilton
Posted Mon Aug 6, 2007 12:08pm AEST Updated Mon Aug 6, 2007 1:14pm AEST
Best friends and co-stars Paris Hilton (L) and Nicole Richie (file photo). (Getty Images: Kevin Winter)
Celebrity socialite and mother-to-be Nicole Richie has opted to serve her jail time for driving under the influence of drugs at the same detention centre that TV sidekick Paris Hilton called home for about three weeks.
"Her attorney has contacted us and indicated that Ms Richie wants to do her sentence in the LA County jail," Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, said.
Richie, 25, pleaded guilty last week to a misdemeanor DUI charge and was sentenced to four days in jail, with the option of serving her time in a sprawling county lockup for women or in a "pay-to-stay" program operated by a nearby municipality, like Burbank.
Although county jails are considered tougher than city jails, county inmates are often eligible for early release on good behaviour because of overcrowding at those facilities.
Mr Whitmore declined to comment on whether Richie would be eligible for such a release, but presumably she will be.
Hilton, who co-stars with Richie on The Simple Life, was sentenced earlier this year to 45 days in county jail for violating her probation in a drink-driving case.
She ended up serving 22 days, most of that at the Century Regional Detention Facility for women in suburban Lynwood.
Richie's guilty plea stems from a traffic stop in December in which police said she was driving the wrong way on a Los Angeles-area freeway.
Police said Richie failed a field sobriety test and told officers she had smoked marijuana and taken the painkiller Vicodin.
Pregnancy confirmed
Interest in Richie's case intensified over the last few months because of speculation she is pregnant with her first child.
Richie and her boyfriend Joel Madden, lead singer of the rock band Good Charlotte, confirmed she was expecting a baby in an interview that aired on Thursday (local time) with ABC America's Diane Sawyer.
In the interview, a contrite Richie said she recognised the seriousness of her mistakes and looked forward to a healthier and more responsible future.
In his first comments since she was sentenced, Richie's father, pop singer Lionel Richie, told Us Weekly magazine that he tried to teach his daughter the importance of accepting the consequences of her actions.
"She has not blamed others for her problems and is growing up very quickly, albeit in the heat of the media spotlight," he said.
"Her pregnancy has given her a new perspective on life in general."
Richie has until September 28 to begin serving her sentence.
It was not immediately known when she would surrender to authorities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Discussion
Well, it seems these two just can't keep away from the media spotlight. It saddens me to say this, but I do enjoy reading about their bizarre lives!
The first point that comes to my mind concerning this story is the headline, "Richie opts for same jail as Hilton", which is technically true, yet the story goes on to say that her lawyer indicated she would like to go there, and most probably because
she will get an early release because they are so crowded. This is very sneaky on the part of the writer who very much knows an attention grabbing headline. Although, after reading this article, I felt a little bit cheated, as stated in the text book as something to avoid as a journalist. Yet, the journalist has entirely told the truth.
I noticed that the reporter has also included quotes from father Lionel Richie and boyfriend Joel Madden, who are both highly newsworthy on their own. They fall under the "prominence" news value.
One thing that I always think about when I read about the Paris/Nicole/Lohan girls of the world, is why they don't either pay for a driver (they obviously have the money) or maybe even a taxi? Is it more a case of them having no regard to the law and the rest of society or is it just stupidity? Or maybe it is a case of being too intoxicated to know.
I wonder if pregnant women can actually go to jail? This struck me as another interesting point. Perhaps one that requires further research.
Nicole Richie's Mugshot
