Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the way in which journalists make decisions about ethics. This study involved the exploration and examination of the individual and organizational ethical decision-making processes at a major-market television station. The concentration is on the "structure" of ethics. By considering the principles and logic of moral reasoning, it is possible to understand the "why" element of ethical beliefs and the "how" element of decision-making. ;Participant observation and in-depth interviewing based on phenomenological traditions provided a systematic framework to investigate these issues in a naturalistic setting. By observing the journalists at work, listening to their voices as they reflected on their personal and professional values, and examining the organizational culture of the newsroom, it was possible to consider the nature of ethical intention and ethical capacity. ;The study suggests that while most of the journalists held strong ethical beliefs that were the product of their developmental years and their life experiences, many individuals were willing to yield to organizational pressures and professional values that conflicted with their personal beliefs. This dynamic was particularly applicable to photojournalists. ;The study also suggests that the dominant form of decision-making is based on evaluating potential consequences of actions, rather than on following prescribed principles. Additionally, individual decision-making relies heavily on "storytelling" and pragmatism. ;The descriptive element of this dissertation provides a multi-dimensional portrait of individual and organizational ethics. The normative element of this dissertation focuses on journalistic principles, moral obligations and duties, and the process of ethical reasoning and decision-making