Show for Nov. 20, 2011. John Brown Reconsidered.
The Pulitzer-winning writer Tony Horwitz has a new book out about anti-slavery crusader John Brown (Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War), and we consider the challenge that Brown still poses for American history. Was Brown right to spill blood fighting slavery? When is violent resistance to manifest inhumanity justified? I talk history and morality with Tony Horwitz, with my friend and John Brown buff Andrea Monroe, and with ethicist Peter Singer.
You can download the MP3 here (if using a Mac, control-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” If using a PC, right-click and choose Save Target As…”)
Show for Nov. 6, 2011: Peter Singer on Ethics in Theory and Practice
Peter Singer may be the world’s best-known ethicist. He’s regarded as the intellectual father of the animal liberation movement and has staked out prominent positions on euthanasia, abortion, the use of military force and economic inequality. We talked about those and other sticky moral questions, as well as Peter’s brand of utilitarianism, which aims to provide a single logical framework for all ethical decision making. Originally broadcast in 2006.
You can download the MP3 here (if using a Mac, control-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” If using a PC, right-click and choose Save Target As…”)
Show for Oct. 31, 2010: Journalistic Ethics In Focus
NPR recently fired news analyst Juan Williams after his controversial comments about Muslims on Fox News’ O’ Reilly Factor. The sturm und drang that followed cast the incident as a political clash—pitting right-wing Fox against lefty NPR, and straight-talking Williams against the forces of political correctness. But NPR says the matter comes down to principles of journalistic responsibility, which draw a hard line between reportage/analysis (appropriate for newspeople) and editorializing (a no-no).
In this edition of the show, we examine journalistic ethics in light of the Williams affair, asking whether news organizations need to better enforce traditional rules or if it’s time to lighten up. Guests include Alicia Shepard, NPR ombudsman; Kevin Smith, ethics chair of the Society of Professional Journalists; Tom Goldstein, professor of journalism at U.C. Berkeley; James Rainey, On the Media columnist for the Los Angeles Times; and Judy Muller of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Click the “play” arrow above to listen, or download the MP3 here.
- Watch the O’ Reilly Factor segment in which Juan Williams made his remarks. (Shorter videos are available on YouTube, but this longer one on the Fox News site provides more context.) Williams fires back at NPR after his dismissal.
- Read the NPR ethics code.
- Read the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics.
