Journalism Ethics: Philosophical Foundations for News Media.

John C. Merrill brings forty-five years experience as a college professor and journalist to this well-written, wide-ranging book that injects philosophic insights into the practice of journalism. The author believes that journalism students should think about such insights instead of only concentrating on the daily routine of the job. If they do this he hopes that we will have a more ethical press providing accurate and truthful information.

In addition to analysis of such concepts as individualism, communitarianism, propaganda, and responsibility, there is a chapter titled "Korzybski to the Rescue" which discusses the benefits of general semantics training for journalists - "An orientation to general semantics will raise the linguistic consciousness of journalists, bring them to a higher level of sophistication, instill in them a recognition of the weaknesses and the power of words, and generally help them overcome the enslaving tendencies of language." Merrill also discusses Korzybski's eclecticism, the relationship of general semantics to Buddhism, and offers a clear explanation of general semantics principles and ways they can be used by reporters to write more dearly and to avoid bias.

Merrill concludes that general semantics through its multi-valued approach to problems can help the thoughtful journalist develop a philosophy of "ethical mutualism." This involves going beyond either-or approaches like individualism or communitarianism, rationalism versus emotionalism, and merging the best aspects of such theories into a golden mean that balances respect for society with respect for the individual. Given the rise of investigative and tabloid journalism, with their propensity to exploit the social fabric and the individual, this middle road may be difficult to locate. However, Merrill reminds us that Aristotle stressed that we become virtuous or ethical by habitually acting virtuously. Thus, an ethical reporter needs to stay the ethical course through effort and practice.

The book also contains an appendix with brief ethical case studies for analysis, a glossary of relevant terms, and Foundational Mentor boxes which offer glimpses of seminal figures such as Plato, Kant, Camus, Machiavelli, and Locke. Although the author aimed his book at working journalists and journalism students, I recommend it to all who believe that journalism should be TUFF (Truthful, Unbiased, Full, Fair).