Brief 7: Exploitation Used to Frame the Minds of Viewers

     When a media finds a story that sells, it is common to see exploitation and over coverage concerning that topic. Exploitation can be used to manipulate consumers into viewing a story in a way that reflects what that particular media outlet desires. Megyn Kelly calls out the Liberal media and accuses them of excessive coverage on the Planned Parenthood shooting. Kelly is saying that the over coverage is evidence of a bias, most likely being political. 
   

In December, "Megyn Kelly tore into liberal media, accusing some reporters of bias by comparing recent coverage of [the] shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic to the way in which journalists have handled other crimes". Although there has not been a definite motive detected by law enforcement, it has not stopped "some from suggesting this has everything to do with political rhetoric". It is possible that the Liberal media is exploiting this story to try and get their viewers on their political agenda by making a criminal out to be an extremist from the opposing party. "Kelly also accused many media outlets of barely paying attention to the undercover Planned Parenthood videos when they were released this past summer by anti-abortion groups..., saying that some reporters are now suddenly invoking these clips in the wake of [the Planned Parenthood] shooting". The fact that there was only a small amount of coverage on the videos when they were released and since the shooting there was a huge increase in the amount of airtime these videos are getting reflect that the Liberal media is grabbing to find things that will support that the shooter was a part of an anti-abortion group. Although, there is no evidence that this is to be held true.

     The media often will have over coverage of a story that sells, but when the media begins exploiting a story to frame the minds of viewers it gets a little unethical. Until something is proven to be true, such as the shooter having a political motive, it should not be covered in such a way that viewers believe it to be the truth. Covering a story in such a way only proves that the media outlet is the one who has a political motive.

Articles Cited:
(http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/12/01/megyn-kelly-tears-into-liberal-media-over-coverage-of-planned-parenthood-shooting-is-this-not-evidence-of-bias/)

Brief 6: Copyright and Fair Use Taken to the Extreme

     Copyright and fair use laws can be a bit of a blurred line in media today. Fair use "permits copying under limited circumstances," this can include content used for educational purposes and if no profit is being made. This can leave certain copyright lawsuits mildly open for interpretation. A company that is currently undergoing a copyright lawsuit is Google and Oracle.
     

     Oracle "is asking Google the largest copyright verdict ever over the alleged software copyright infringement" at 9.3 billion dollars. Over 4 years ago "Google was accused of using the Java APIs without consent and that they were purportedly using a protected property in order to build its version of the market-leading mobile OS, Android". Google and Oracle first went to court in 2012 and the jury concluded that they were "unable to determine whether Google's use of Java was ensured by fair use". Google and Oracle are set to go on trial again on May 9 this year. Oracle is said to be asking for 9.3 billion in the upcoming trial, however Google "assessed damages are close to 100 million only." In fact, "the jury had found Google infringing only 37 APIs, which [is] a small fraction of the company's Android codebase". Copyright laws are coming into place and they state that "damages can only be claimed for profits that are inferable from the infringing code". This is a huge lawsuit and with the copyright and fair use laws in play, the outcome will be interesting to see. 

     Copyright violations can be a serious crime, this lawsuit is a prime example. The numbers the companies are throwing around start at 100 million and reach a staggering 9.3 billion. The copyright and fair use laws are in place to protect companies and people from the theft of their material for others gain, as well as protecting people who are using others content harmlessly. The moral of the story is that you should always double check that you either ask permission for content or give credit when its due, you also need to know your rights under copyright and fair use laws to prevent a nasty lawsuit similar to the one Google is facing. 

Articles Cited: 
(http://en.yibada.com/articles/112632/20160330/oracle-vs-google-demands-9-3-billion-copyright-lawsuit-against.htm)

Brief 5: How Much Do Shield Laws Actually Protect Reporters?

     

     Reporters are able to find great stories and obtain controversial information due to their ability to promise sources that what they say is going to remain anonymous. This promise is backed by shield laws that protects writers privilege and keeps them from being forced to testify about confidential sources. However, this law doesn't always fully protect reporters. They are still subjects of scrutiny from the public, law, and their company when they refuse to release information on their source, especially when their source reveals controversial information. This happened when reporter Claire O'Brien was fired after a reporters privilege fight. 

     Claire O'Brien "refused to reveal a confidential source and story notes from her jailhouse interview to Ford County Attorney". She was later fired from the Dodge City Daily for her practicing her rights as a reporter. She "told the press her lawyers from Gatehouse had hindered her from seeking outside counsel unless she agreed to testify". The Shield Law should protect her from this kind of manipulation, however you can clearly see this is not the case. She said that Gatehouse even "kept her in the dark about court dates," making it harder for her to keep up with her legal matters. 

     O'Brien was not forced by the court to reveal the confidential interview, however, the company she worked for tried to twist her arm into spilling the information by keeping her from seeking outside counsel and withholding her court dates from her. When she resisted releasing the information and exercised her reporters privilege, it resulted in her being fired from her job. Yes, the Shield Laws protected her from harassment by the courts hand, but what is going to protect her, and future reporters from the scrutiny and the ultimate demise of her career she faced with the company she worked for? 

Articles Cited: 
(http://www.imediaethics.org/dodge-city-reporter-fired-after-reporters-privilege-fight/)