Marcus:  For most ethical dilemmas the journalist is likely to face, traditional journalistic ethics is clear, adequa...

Mehran January 25, 2016

Marcus argues that for most ethical dilemmas the journalist is likely to face, traditional journalistic ethics is clear, adequate, essentially correct. To prove this, he sets forth an example: when journalists have uncovered newsworthy information.

However, as Anita points out, this is not really an ethical dilemma. Rather it is the journalist's job. Anita then points to the TYPICAL case where a journalist has some information but is unsure whether this information is actually "newsworthy." In these cases, according to Anita, the guidance provided by traditional journalistic ethics is inadequate.

Notice (C) states exactly this, i.e. "The ethical principle that Marcus cites does not help the journalist in a typical kind of situation in which a decision needs to be made."

Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.

anapayne2012 January 3, 2018

My choices were between C and D ... I picked D (obviously, wrong), I feel like C and D are nearly the exact same point. How do I differentiate in these situations?

Kathy3755 January 7, 2018

I got this question correct however I was stuck choosing between "B" and "C". now looking at "D" i can't come up with a clear reason as to why it's not correct. Please explain

Mehran January 8, 2018

@Kathy3755 the problem with (D) is that it is too harsh.

We know that Anita thinks Marcus's guidance is inadequate in the typical case but this is not the same thing as "no principle of journalistic ethics can be of help."

While Marcus's guidance is inadequate in the typical case, there could be another principle that could be useful.

Notice that (C) is limited to "the ethical principle that Marcus cites . . . "

Hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Ashley-Tien May 26, 2018

Why is "B" incorrect and what is the difference between B and C? I feel that the language is very similar

Christopher June 6, 2018

@ashley-Tien, (B) essentially takes to hard of a line. Anita isn't saying that Marcus is wrong but that his approach is inadequate. She agrees with him in cases wherein the information is clearly newsworthy, but in less clear cases, this ethic doesn't help. (B) claims that she's saying he's wrong, while she's actually saying that his approach is not always helpful. (C) takes the more limited approach by saying Marcus's ethical approach doesn't always help, which is what Anita is saying.

Hope that helps.

dtcolby86 July 1, 2018

I picked B in this question. I read the responses as to why it is C but I'm still slightly confused. Marcus is saying ethics are clear adequate and correct. If Anita counters, doesn't she feel like he is wrong?

Mehran July 1, 2018

Hey there @dtcolby86, thanks for your post. Notice that Anita actually starts her comment by *agreeing* with Marcus - up to a point. ("Well, Marcus, of course interesting and important information should be brought before the public . . ."). This is why, as @Christopher explains earlier in this thread, (B) is wrong. Anita is not saying that Marcus is wrong - just that his approach is inadequate for less clear cases.

Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

AmMaSu Saturday at 09:55PM

I chose B over C because I did not equate Anita's use of the word, "inadequate" as "unhelpful". And that is why I chose B. Because I thought that Anita was saying that Marcus's rationale may not be ENOUGH in typical situations, not that, it was necessarily unhelpful. Can someone explain this distinction to me?