Forgive Me Now, Fire Me Later: Mass Communication Students' Ethics Gap Concerning School and Journalism

Abstract

Survey data on mass communication students' perceptions of plagiarism and fabrication indicate an ethics gap in which students are more concerned about ethical breaches in journalism than in academics. Further analyses found that the ethics gap increases among students near graduation who had higher levels of concern and suggested harsher penalties for unethical journalistic behavior, as did students with experience in student media or internships, specifically journalistic ones. Results from the study reported here demonstrate that applied media experiences and coursework are crucial in developing future journalists' perceptions of fundamental ethical behavior.

Keywords:

• Ethics
• Journalism
• Academics
• Plagiarism
• Fabrication
• Education

Notes

1. Even though the unit is called a journalism school, it involves curriculum for a variety of mass communication careers. The most popular areas of study for the students are public relations (32.1%), magazine reporting (32.1%), newspaper reporting (18.6), and broadcast news (15.5%). Students could choose more than one area.

2. The authors have taught 3 of the 78 class sections included in the data set.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mike Conway

Mike Conway is in the Indiana University School of Journalism

Jacob Groshek

Jacob Groshek is in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University