34115242_BegumS_COM245

ELECTRONIC ASSIGNMENT
COVERSHEET

Student Number: 34115242

Surname: Begum

Given name: Shahhana

Email: Hanaocean19@gmail.com

Unit Code: COM245

Unit name: Media Law and Ethics

Enrolment mode: External, Internal or Placement

Date: 13 March 2023

Assignment number: 2

Assignment name: Ethical Analysis

Tutor:

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Introduction:
The Daily Mail recently published an article titled "Loved ones say their final

goodbyes to pregnant mother at heart-breaking funeral." The article discusses the funeral of

a pregnant woman who died in a car accident, leaving behind a husband and three children.

While the article may seem like a touching tribute to the deceased, it raises ethical concerns

related to privacy and sensitivity. This essay aims to identify the ethical issue in the article

and relate it to the Media, Entertainment, and Arts Alliance (MEAA) Code of Ethics

standards.

Ethical Issue:
The ethical issue in the article revolves around privacy and sensitivity. The article

includes personal details about the deceased and her family, including their names, ages,

and the number of children left behind. The article also includes pictures of the funeral and

quotes from the family members. While the article may have been intended as a tribute, it

raises concerns about the privacy and sensitivity of the family members.

MEAA Code and UAE Code of Ethics Standards:

The MEAA Code of Ethics is a set of standards designed to ensure that journalists

act with integrity and respect for their subjects. The Code of Ethics includes several

standards related to privacy and sensitivity. Standard 3 states that journalists must respect

the privacy of individuals unless it is in the public interest to do otherwise. Standard 5 states

that journalists must be sensitive when reporting on death, grief, and trauma. Standard 7

states that journalists must seek consent from individuals before publishing information that

may cause harm or distress. The UAE code of ethics that daily mail has breached is

Standard 9, which calls for journalists to respect the privacy and dignity of individuals,

especially when covering sensitive topics such as death, illness, and tragedy. By publishing

personal details and images from the funeral, the article may have failed to uphold this

standard and violated the privacy and dignity of the deceased and her family. Additionally,

the article may have breached Standard 10, which calls for journalists to avoid causing
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harm, distress, or offense to individuals or groups, particularly those who are vulnerable or

marginalized. The publication of sensitive and potentially distressing details about the funeral

may have caused harm or distress to the deceased's family members and loved ones,

thereby violating this standard.

Similar Examples:
Several similar examples of ethical violations related to privacy and sensitivity have

been reported in the media. In 2019, the New Zealand Herald published an article that

included graphic details about the victims of the Christchurch Mosque shootings. The article

was widely criticized for violating the privacy and sensitivity of the victims and their families.

In another example, the Daily Mail published an article in 2018 that included personal details

about a child who was killed in a car accident. The article was criticized for violating the

privacy of the child's family.

Decision and Changes:

When confronted with a comparable situation, my priority would be to uphold the

privacy and sensitivity of the family members involved. Prior to publishing any personal

details or pictures, I would seek explicit consent from the family members. Furthermore, I

would avoid using any graphic details or descriptions that may cause distress to the family

members. If the family members decline to give consent, I would fully respect their decision

and refrain from publishing any details or pictures.If I were to modify the original news story,

I would focus on the impact of the accident on the family members and the community, while

avoiding any personal details or pictures that may be perceived as exploitative or insensitive.

Additionally, I would seek input from the family members regarding their preferences for the

inclusion of specific information in the article

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Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Daily Mail article titled "Loved ones say their final goodbyes to

pregnant mother at heart-breaking funeral" raises ethical concerns related to privacy and

sensitivity. The article violates several MEAA Code of Ethics standards and may be seen as

exploitative or insensitive. It is imperative to adhere to ethical journalism practices to

establish and maintain trust and credibility with the audience and the individuals involved in

the story. By prioritizing privacy and sensitivity, seeking consent, and avoiding the use of

graphic details or exploitative language, journalists can help to ensure that their reporting is

ethical and respectful.

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References:
Chapman A and Hil B (2019). At least 49 people are killed and 48 injured in multiple
Christchurch mosque massacres involving an Australian terrorist, 28, who live-streamed
himself opening fire on worshippers - as a man in his 20s is charged with murder.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6811785/Shooter-opens-fire-New-Zealand-injures-
four-people-witnesses-say-heard-20-shots.html

https://www.meaa.org/meaa-media/code-of-ethics/

Wondracz A (2022). Loved ones say their final goodbyes to pregnant mother who
was struck in the head by a concrete block in an unprovoked attack at a heartbreaking
funeral. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11583351/Diane-Miller-farewelled-funeral-
Perth-mum-unborn-child-allegedly-killed-concrete.html