Summary
The “every day” citizen is used to believing what they read, see or hear from their chosen leaders and influencers. When it comes to ethical standards, we have a blind trust that the content we observe across our various media mediums are ethical. In a sense, the general practice of the American people is “Ignorance is Bliss.” Issues with credibility are often due to unforeseen errors or due to not following the ethical practices of the Associated Press. This is an issue that one can debate back and forth due to too many rumors and or beliefs about the news media. Looking at a specific incident of a news source I chose the topic of “Whistle-blowing” because it is an example of where ethics meets law in a confusing gray area of ideals and beliefs. Edward Snowden and his dilemma were a popular issue that came and went and now it is still there but in the background. It feels like a topic that can help us better find that “baseline” of ethical practices that should become universal.
Legal and Ethical Issues
With the whistle-blower issue regarding Edward Snowden we see multiple perspectives and issues with law versus ethics. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), established in 1967 allows the public to make a request for information. Interestingly enough, before researching this topic myself I was always informed that this meant we have the right to all records. This is a misconception of the law. As I read its explanation I found that it allows the public to make a request for information about the government, but according to FOIA.gov there are “Nine Exemptions,” (FOIA, 1987). This fact of Nine Exemptions opens a new insight on what this Freedom of Information Act really is. Do these Nine Exemptions amend the purpose of the Act journalists believe in? Snowden believed he was doing the right thing but the United States is divided on the issue. Where does legal and ethical meet on this topic?
Justification
This is a very important topic to discuss for many reasons. First of all, it promotes my argument about needing a baseline for determining what is ethical and what is not. It also brings up the limits of the Freedom of Information Act which the average person may or may not know. With all of the controversies in the world being discussed, this topic holds a lot of components that need to be highlighted so we can once again unite as a nation and eventually a world. With all of the questions regarding this issue, I feel it will be a learning experience for not only me but for my readers in order to understand the lack of understanding behind our arguments and debates on any issue. Was Snowden a patriot for what he did or was it treason, or both? Information is harmful and this issue shows exactly how harmful and unethical the irresponsible release of classified information can be. I found multiple resources regarding this issue. I have utilized government sites as well as scholarly links through the Shapiro Library for my source material.
References
Moore, R. L., & Murray, M. D. (2012). Media law and ethics. New York, NY: Routledge
(FOIA), F. O. (n.d.). FOIA.gov (Freedom of Information Act) Home Page. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from https://www.foia.gov/
Greenwald, G., MacAskill, E., & Poitras, L. (2013, June 11). Edward Snowden: The whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa-whistleblower-surveillance
Internal Reporting | Ethical Systems. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2019, from http://www.ethicalsystems.org/content/internalreporting
Redman, B. K. (2014, October 23). Snowden and Institutional Corruption: What Have We Learned? Retrieved January 10, 2019, from https://ethics.harvard.edu/blog/snowden-and-institutional-corruption-what-have-we-learned
Gurnow, M. (2014). The Edward Snowden Affair. Indianapolis, IN: Blue River Press.
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W.S. Klass
I have a passion for writing. As a published author for nearly two decades, it pleases me to have a platform such as Vocal to share my works for free.
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Shock and Anger in Minneapolis: Protests Erupt After Woman Killed by U.S. Immigration Agent
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Final Thoughts The death of a woman at the hands of a U.S. immigration agent has once again forced Minneapolis — and the nation — to confront difficult questions about power, accountability, and human dignity. In a city already shaped by protest and pain, the message from the streets is clear: justice delayed is justice denied. As demonstrators continue to march, one truth remains unavoidable — without trust, enforcement becomes fear, and without accountability, tragedy repeats itself.
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