Ethical and Legal Issues in Media: ACC213 Assignment, Semester 2

This report analyzes the ethical and legal issues faced by the media in four distinct scenarios. The first scenario involves a news director, a camera crew, and a reporter covering a missing person case, highlighting issues of privacy invasion, potential contempt of court, and the ethical considerations of gathering news. The second scenario involves multiple news channels filming and reporting on a family, raising concerns about contempt of court, intrusion, and the application of social responsibility theory. The third scenario covers the discovery of the missing woman's body, exploring issues of interviewing family members, revealing police suspicions, and balancing public interest with ethical considerations such as respecting the dignity of victims. The fourth scenario addresses the arrest and court proceedings of the husband, focusing on violations of confidentiality, potential contempt of court, and the ethical implications of reporting on social media and court proceedings. The report emphasizes media law, ethical considerations, and the role of professional organizations like MEAA and PRIA in guiding media practices.