First amendment freedoms

On March 3, 2006 Mathew Snyder a marine deployed in Iraq died in a non combat vehicle accident. On March 10, 2006 the Funeral of Mathew Snyder took place. While the funeral was happening Fred phelps and the Westboro Baptist church (WBC) decided to picket the Funeral. While Picketing took place they said things to "America is doomed", "Fag Troops", "Semper Fi fags", "God hates you", "Your going to hell", and "Thank god for dead soldiers".


Albert Snyder, the father of  Mathew Snyder took offense and felt that Phelps violated The Snyder's privacy. Albert Snyder said "They turned this funeral into a media circus and wanted to hurt my family. They wanted their message to be heard and they didn't care who they stepped over. My son should have been buried in dignity not with a bunch of clowns outside." Albert Snyder sued Fred Phelps and his daughters Rebecca Phelps-davis, and Shirley Phelps-Roper. He sued Them for defamation, intrusion upon seclusion, publicity given to private life, intentional infliction of emotional distress,and civil conspiracy.


Fred phelps felt that his actions were not wrong at all because all of their actions took place on a public sidewalk and they were only expressing their opinion. Albert Snyder's argument was that Fred Phelps caused emotional distress and the memory of his son will always be associated to the acts of Phelps. Albert Snyder thought that Phelps had no place at the funeral.


Initially The jury found for Albert Snyder and he was awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages, $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy, and $2 million for causing emotional distress. Later an appeal was filed and the fourth circuit ruled that the lower court had erred by instructing the jury to decide a question of law rather than fact (specifically, whether or not the speech in question was protected by the first ammendment.)  Albert Snyder had to $16,510 in court costs.


My opinion to this verdict is that it is absurd, Personally I think that Fred Phelps Caused so Much pain toward the Snyder Family. Phelps also caused unwanted attention towards the funeral. I think that Fred Phelps should have had to pay the $16,510 in court cost plus an amount towards Albert Snyder.


Source for the case:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snyder_v._Phelps

Slander and libel

The television reporter is definitely guilty of defamation of character. Just because the witness could not describe the details of the scene it gave the reporter no right to say that the witness was intoxicated. The reporter should have just stated that the witness could not provided any details, and then dismissed the witness properly. The proper outcome to this case should be a payout from the news station to the witness they wrongly described.

My Code Of Ethics.

1. Do not change the details of the story to make it better.
2. Be fair and respectful to anyone included in the story.
3. Do not offer any gifts to get a story from someone.
4. Provide all sources the information comes from.
5. Be clear and accurate.

I think that these rules would be good because they all would ensure that the articles would have the truth in them and that they are not just useless stories for attention.

Ethical?

Being ethical means that you do what is morally right. When it comes to doing what is ethically right it isnt always easy. Sometimes a person can be faced with a choice that may be wrong to some extent but actually it is morally right.

Ethics in Journalism recommends journalist to respect the presumption of innocence. most Journalism code of ethics include the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity,  impartiality, fairness, and public accountability. The journalist code of ethics is designed to assist journalist in dealing with ethical dilemmas.