Introduction to Investigating Media Misconduct: Part 1A by Daniel Mer, MLIS, MA

Introduction to Investigating Media Misconduct: Part 1A 

by Daniel Mer, MLIS, MA

The news media plays an important role in society. Informing citizens of news, events in the community. However, on the downside of these beneficial aspects, in the last decade there have been many cases of citizens or students (i.e. the Duke Media misconduct case in 2006 - link below), who had been wrongly charged for some reason or another and yet have faced a smear campaign and news media exploitation. The concept of Digital Forgetting has been study in the last 20 years in the internet age and will be further discussed in Part 1B of this study.  

This investigation poses one of many questions. One question is: at what stage do news agencies overstep the line or privacy for individuals who could have been falsely charged with a crime and at what point do they cross the line into negatively affecting individual's careers and family life? Further, what happens when innocent professionals, students or others have their reputations damaged from media misconduct and how this can affect even online personal identity.

Further, what are our citizen rights and protections in the "court of public opinion"? In the last decade there was the highest national increases of false arrests to many notable public officials, leaders, managers and scholars who had been wrongly charged and yet have faced media exploration.What happens when news outlets go too far before someone is found guilty and how this can negatively affect citizens livelihoods?


Below are some exploratory links on Court of Public Opinion and more:

• Link on Media Misconduct and Public Opinion (Duke University) 

This study was researched by Daniel Mer, Master of Communication, Library and Information Studies from the University of Rhode Island. In his words, "this study aims to explore Media Misconduct and the public opinion dynamic which can occur with media misconduct". 

Mobius the Shepherd: Artist with a Message

Mobius the Shepherd (Daniel Mer) has emerged in the underground music scene as an artist with a message in times when many artists are only seeking commercial success. As the 2nd member of the group Thought Process, there is no controversial topic Mobius will not cover in his expressive lyrical form. He tackled the effects of industrialization on nature on his first solo online hit in 2007 in "Everything I knew", when he took the online community by storm and demonstrated his imaginative realism and mystical side with "Secret Box", which elevated his status beyond just up and coming Mc to being an influential contender in the "Literal Hip-Hop" scene.

He released the solo album titled "Anamorphism" in 2010 and In the works at this time is another Thought Process album due out in 2012-2013. Mobius is also planning on a 2nd solo album within that timeframe as well and he plans to hit a broader audience with his expressive sound and will not be holding back in the range of his messge no matter how controversial in site of the numerous public and personal injustices that plague American society in the digital age.
 
Mobius the Shepherd songs can be heard below:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=831001

Mobius the Shepherd Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nB5BSg7OgA

When does the media go too far? Part 1

 The news media plays an important role in society regarding informing citizens of events and situations occurring in the community. While we all have a right to practice our 1st amendment rights, at what stage do news agencies overstep the line or privacy for individuals who could have been falsely charged with a crime and at what point do they cross the line into negatively affecting individual's careers and family life? Further, what are our citizen rights and protections in the "court of public opinion", or are contributing citizens, taxpayers, and professionals treated as "media fodder" without any rights to privacy? When does the media go too far in negatively effecting people's lives and lively hoods in the digital age or is the age of media ethics gone entirely? Your thoughts are appreciated.

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