The Ethical Dimensions of News and Entertainment

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  Sometimes our generation has difficulty distinguishing the difference between hard news and entertainment news. Therefore, finding truth in reporting is becoming increasingly more difficult. 
  

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Major events today are not only covered by major sources of "hard news" such as CNN or ABC.  We are exposed to information by other sources including infotainment channels and documentary films. 

Can we always expect to be presented with truth and facts? Sources outside the realm of hard news are not always held to the same ethical standards as traditional outlets. Therefore, the validation of facts and reporting accuracy standards are not necessarily existent at the same level. 

The case of the Malaysian plane crash is an example of this widespread and controversial reporting of "facts" and "news". The event was covered by numerous outlets,  coming from many different perspectives. Each have very different motivations, goals, and loyalties when providing information. 

Hard news, for example, is concerned with giving accurate, up-to-date, factual information. CNN, Fox,  ABC, and the New York Times (to name a few who covered the story) each reported in a similar manner. We knew the who, what, when, where, why, and how, after just a few minutes of reading or watching the coverage. When reporting on the missing flight, the audience was immediately presented with facts and relevant updates. We could keep up with the status of the search through these up-to-date reports. 

Infotainment news channels, on the other hand, took on a different approach. Although "real" news exists as the basis for the information, it comes across as either satirical, entertaining, or amusing.  Infotainment programs are coming under heavy criticism by some "fact seekers" as a result of this approach. Rather than making their number one aim to provide the facts, we are presented with more opinion oriented news. In the case of the missing Malaysian flight, many sources reported in a humorous light; even going as far as making jokes about the event. On the negative extreme, infotainment channels can been seen as unethical, biased in their reporting, and in violation of the journalistic code of ethics. Yet, with such high ratings and a large following, can they be blamed for they way they tell stories? After all, we are the ones making these channels popular. 

Documentary films as news sources bring up another dimension of ethical debate. Is an intentionally dramatic portrayal of an event ethically acceptable as a form of news? In my opinion, documentaries as a means of creating awareness for social issues is important and necessary. If the aim is to expose people to an event or issue, visual communication is often times the most effective way to spark interest and discussion. In the highly stimulated and image-dense world we live in today, we need to be entertained or told a story in a memorable way in order to keep information top-of-mind. Traditional news sources are falling behind in this realm. Documentary film makers have to keep in mind that, as a result of this trend, they must hold ethical standards in order to maintain their credibility as a form of news. 

While there is still a line between hard news and infotainment, current media trends are blurring the distinction between the two. Entertainment and traditional news sources have undeniably been merging together in the past couple of years. We, as constant consumers of information, have to be even more aware where we can place our trust in obtaining information. Just as we expect media outlets to uphold their ethical standards and stay true to their loyalties, we too have to think critically and seek out the truth for ourselves. 

Subliminal Advertising

        Subliminal persuasion in advertising is one of the most interesting and controversial topics in the industry today. We are processing so many messages and forms of advertising on a daily basis, so it is unusual to spend a lot of time looking at one particular image. Yet, if you take a closer look, the hidden meanings can be revealed. Many subliminal signals go undetected by the human eye, however, they are perceived and understood on the subconscious level. Could there be a truth in the belief that a significant amount of the power of persuasion lies in what we aren’t consciously aware of? 

        Looking at some of the most recognizable company logos of our time, with an understanding of the subliminal messages and symbols, we can uncover new meanings regarding their purpose and aims. FedEx’s logo, for example, uses a concept known as negative space to create shapes where there appear to be none. The use of white space has been carefully designed to reveal particular symbols relating to the company. Looking carefully at the space between the capital E and the lower case x, we can see an arrow pointing to the right. Directly correlating to the purpose of FedEx as a business, the arrow symbolizes efficient movement and progress. 

Amazon’s logo depicts a similar technique. Firstly, the yellow curve resembles the smiling mouth of a smiley face, perhaps suggesting happiness and customer satisfaction in association with their website. Also, the arrow moves from the letter a to z. The overall significance of this placement is that Amazon is promoting their business as having the resources to provide you with anything you might be looking for. Products from a to z will be made available to you if you go to amazon.com. Although we do not make such connections consciously when looking at logos, these connections are made on a subconscious level. In our mind we are constantly looking for relationships between images and visual clues to make sense of all the visual persuasion in our world.

        Each of these logos employs visual techniques that subconsciously persuade us of the legitimacy of the company. What is hidden within messages acts as a powerful component of the overall persuasion. Although such subliminal advertising is often viewed as unethical, controversial, and manipulative, I think it is a significantly effective tool of persuasion.