Arthur Ashe and Robert Finn
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In 1992 Arthur Ashe, the first black man to win the U.S. Open, announced at a press conference that he was HIV positive. He had been previously tipped that U.S.A today had been informed of the situation, and was going to print the story, and beat them to the chase. Later on that year Arthur Ashe spoke vividly about the situation and revealed the press, that he felt forced into clarifying his situation after the media was tipped about his HIV status.
Arthur Ashe also stated in a later interview with U.S.A today, that the Highly ranked newspaper had not been the first to know about his HIV status. Other media professional backed this statement, after Arthur Ashes death in 1993. Broadcasters later went on record with A&E Biography, to say that it was universally agreed upon to keep the matter private and not to publish the story, for fear of African American community being devastated
and Ashes repertoire of history making events to be scrutinized. Ashe had been diagnosed since 1988.
Wether or not the freedom of speech and press was involved, they all decided it was morally wrong to publish the story. Richard Finn, the person who was originally supposed to break the story had it not been for Ashes interference, Later went on record and said he regretted the decision, and his own personal moral theory had been put aside for financial gain and credibility.
In the textbook, the definition of a personal moral theory is or own formal recognition of the structure through which we engage in moral reasoning and by which we make the more significant moral decisions of our lives, particularly in professional decisions (pg.43).
Richard Finn had obviously made an immoral decision as he admitted to later in life. His ultimate goal was morally corrupt, since his motivation was not focused on the impact or consequences of his actions, it could not be morally correct. He did not think about his personal values, He was focused on personal gain.
Richard Finn according to the text, was not morally mature enough to handle the situation. He failed to abide even the childlike stages of Kohlbergs six stages of moral maturity. Kohlbergs six stages of moral maturity are: avoiding punishment, expecting reward, confirming to group expectation, following rules, becoming an autonomous moral agent, valuing human beings (pg.52).
Finn failed to confirm to Kohlberg stages, He ignored all punishment for personal gain. He avoided public persecution, because Ashe decided to inform the public himself. Had it not been for Ashe, Finns professional rep would have been non existent. It was agreed upon among the media broadcasters and journalists not to break the story for a while, Ashe had been diagnosed since 1988. He did not think of the people he would effect, and the kind of effect the story would have.
The list of virtues would have helped Finn discover his immoral reasons for writing the story. Had he asked himself questions like Ðhow much do I value information being available to others?, Ð Is this story important enough to break out group conformity and be an individual? Ð do I feel that this information should be protected because it reveal someones personal health status, and it would do more harm than good?.
Because of Finns poor morals, he was not respected professionally. Finn was interviewed by A&E biography by saying he felt like he was “blackballed” out of U.S.A today, and has since left the company and is now reduced to freelance writing.
Chapter 2 teaches us not to censor ourselves, but how to morally evaluate situations. It teaches us how to make moral decisions in the media but not limit ourselves and deprive the audience of important information. It teaches how to become morally mature and gives a list of virtues to help question ourselves before making decisions in the media.
In 1992 Arthur Ashe, the first black man to win the U.S. Open, announced at a press conference that he was HIV positive. He had been previously tipped that U.S.A today had been informed of the situation, and was going to print the story, and beat them to the chase. Later on that year Arthur Ashe spoke vividly about the situation and revealed the press, that he felt forced into clarifying his situation after the media was tipped about his HIV status.
Arthur Ashe also stated in a later interview with U.S.A today, that the Highly ranked newspaper had not been the first to know about his HIV status. Other media professional backed this statement, after Arthur Ashes death in 1993. Broadcasters later went on record with A&E Biography, to say that it was universally agreed upon to keep the matter private and not to publish the story, for fear of African American community being devastated
and Ashes repertoire of history making events to be scrutinized. Ashe had been diagnosed since 1988.
Wether or not the freedom of speech and press was involved, they all decided it was morally wrong to publish the story. Richard Finn, the person who was originally supposed to break the story had it not been for Ashes interference, Later went on record and said he regretted the decision, and his own personal moral theory had been put aside for financial gain and credibility.
In the textbook, the definition of a personal moral theory is or own formal recognition of the structure through which we engage in moral reasoning and by which we make the more significant moral decisions of our lives, particularly in professional decisions (pg.43).
Richard Finn had obviously made an immoral decision as he admitted to later in life. His ultimate goal was morally corrupt, since his motivation was not focused on the impact or consequences of his actions, it could not be morally correct. He did not think about his personal values, He was focused on personal gain.
Richard Finn according to the text, was not morally mature enough to handle the situation. He failed to abide even the childlike stages of Kohlbergs six stages of moral maturity. Kohlbergs six stages of moral maturity are: avoiding punishment, expecting reward, confirming to group expectation, following rules, becoming an autonomous moral agent, valuing human beings (pg.52).
Finn failed to confirm to Kohlberg stages, He ignored all punishment for personal gain. He avoided public persecution, because Ashe decided to inform the public himself. Had it not been for Ashe, Finns professional rep would have been non existent. It was agreed upon among the media broadcasters and journalists not to break the story for a while, Ashe had been diagnosed since 1988. He did not think of the people he would effect,