From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:48:01 1997
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 05:36:49 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA

Greetings all. Here is the CASE STUDY about the imaginery company called
DOMINION MEDIA.  Please read it carefully.  Before proceeding into working
on it, please make sure you understand it. If you have any questions,
please let me know and I will attempt to answer them so that everyone is
happy before we
go to work. I know that Tom Brislin also intends to go over the case with all of
you in Hawaii and clarify all that he can before he leaves Tuesday. THANKS.
Prof. C.    (see below)

(THIS IS THE WORDING OF THE CASE STUDY GIVEN BY IRTS TO US. In some areas
I have dropped sentences or paragraphs no longer relevant or shortened
sentences, etc., for clarity at the undergrad level.)


How can diversified media companies exploit opportuntities in new media,
given the phenomenal growth of the Internet?  This question is much on the mind
of the chairman and chief executive officer of Dominion Media, a
diversified media company operating in the mid-South. He has asked his key
managers to join
in a retreat to ponder opportunities and strategies to participate in the
explosive growth of the Internet and has sent a memo to his chief financial
officer, asking for an outline of some options at the retreat.

(Prof. C's interpretation of the paragraph at the top =  The top gun of a
big company in media wants top brass and managers to brainstorm
some good ideas for making money for Dominion Media via the new technologies)

THE COMPANY:  Dominion Media (not a real company) operates a diversified group
of broadcast, cable operations and newspapers in the mid-South (in the mainland)
but is best known for its recent success in establishing cable networks.
Starting in the newspaper business, the company diversified into
broadcasting with the coming of radio and TV in some of its markets, then
established cable systems and cable networks.  The company operates a
broadcast group of radio and TV stations in the South. It has newspapers in
four key Southern cities.
It has 400,000 cable subscribers in Georgia and South Carolina. Nationally
Dominion is best known for its Climate Channel, which reaches over 80% of
cable homes (like the Weather Channel).  The company is also known for its
Family Values Channel which reaches an even larger audience with a
wholesome menu of reruns, mostly Westerns, sitcoms and family movies (like
the Family Channel). A third channel, the Voyager Channel,  dedicated to
travel and travel advertising (like the Travel Channel) has been
struggling.

DOMINION'S INROADS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES:  Most of the managers in the Dominion
company have established Internet services and homepages for their customers.
The newspapers have been most enthusiastic, primarily for defensive reasons,
since phone companies and cable companies can use the Net to compete for
classified ad revenues (i.e. to steal away customers).  The cable networks
have also created home pages to promote home viewing, and possibly some
interactive ad capabilities.  Some Dominion TV stations have home pages for
PR purposes but haven't been able to make money from these.  Radio and TV
station owners are considering joint ventures with on-line companies, just
as NBC and Microsoft have formed MSNBC.  The cable TV manager, who is
excited about new technologies is considering an option called cable modem
in which customers could lease a "cable modem"...that is, they could hook
up to TV and the Internet simultaneously and use joint services (combined
moving picture/broadcast/and
internet games/programs/services/ads, etc.).

THE CASE:  STUDENTS should consider what types of technologies might help
Dominion but should also consider if there are any ETHICAL problems that might
creep in if you do.  (For example, if you create classified ads on line, how
would you know if someone selling guns was a front for mercenaries of
Skinheads...or does that matter?   If you set up ways to show your TV shows
on the internet with cable modems, might children have more access to obscene
material?  Are there hidden radiation effects, etc., from too much terminal
fixation?  Who knows?)  Clearly some of what you consider is pure speculation
and guesswork but every idea will be important and some may lead to other
breakthroughs.  Before you continue, however, please let me know if you don't
understand some part of the case.  Before beginning  on Tuesday or so,
let's leave about three days for all questions to be answered and for folk
who are only on line occasionally to catch up and for "live questions" to
be answered
in class.  I welcome your on-line questions and clarifications thus far.

One last ethical consideration for all of us. By competing for the Coltrin
Award, we are saying that I (and possibly others might help) will compile
our overall thinking and send in a report to be judged in the competition. To
do that I need to know if I can quote from your ideas and amalgamate them into
a larger report.  If so, I'd need to also send in back-up copies of your e-mails
to make sure the right authors get credit for their ideas in our appendix.
Therefore please give me your permission to quote you.  If you are
contributing
any idea you do NOT want potentially quoted in the contest, or if you do
not want your name listed, write CONFIDENTIAL in capital letters above and
below your message. Please keep all messages short.  THANKS VERY MUCH.
Prof. C.


From UG95279426@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU Mon Mar 10 09:49:22 1997
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 14:27:06 -1000
From: UG95279426@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Dominion

I thought a lot about where I would be going with new
technology. I looked at my own life and asked how do I use
the computer and what would I want?
First of all I would go into the internet. I would set up an access
provider something like Compuserve.
Like AOL it would have a flat rate of $20 a month as opposed
to charging by the minute. However, for various functions there would be
a charge.
My computer system would be called Tree-Net.
I use the computer to research genealogy. I am not alone. There are thousands
of other people out there doing the same thing.
What I would like to do is set up an archival system.
Right now you will find a genealogy forum on compuserve and an Italian forum,
a Portuguese list serve hidden on the net, and an Irish forum on AOL.
My system would consoladate, making an effort to represent all groups.
Right now you have to hunt like mad if you are not Irish or Italian.
I would like to make some kind network as far as newspaper records
. Right now I am trying to get ahold of obituaries from a small
town in California from 1979. This is not easy if you live on the
east coast.
The way it works now is that you send out an appeal, and out of the kindness
of their hearts, strangers will look stuff up for you, sometimes.
Perhaps with certain forums, there could be agreements made
that if you are looking for something in one town,
you agree to look up stuff in your own town for anyone looking.

Anyway, that is the plan I am proposing, some kind of archival research arena.
Everyone has a family. Imagine if it was as easy as sitting down at your
computer to get someone's birth record, or look an article up in a newspaper 
from 1896. Imagine if newspapers were indexed the way books are.

ETHICS-
SOCIALLY - people need to talk face to face more and to their computer less.
RIGHT OF PRIVACY - some people may feel uncomfortable 
that they can access anyone's records at a keystroke.
However, for a price you can already access anyone's birth and death records.
This just speeds up the process.
People are also very free and easy on the net. I joined
a dog lover forum in search of my favourite author. People gave
me her phone number and address, no questions asked. I could have
been any pschopath.
NEWSPAPER RIGHTS - When people in 1890 wrote articles, they were not writing
them for the entire world to see. I can access an article about Hayward
California, but where is the context? How do I know it is accurate?
What about the people who paid $1 for the Sunday Globe, while their
neighbour accessed it for free? Is this fair?
What about copy right laws? Who has the right to reprint articles?
Who checks to make sure someone in Bermuda isn't reprinting an
article downloaded from the Globe.
FUN - this takes all the fun out of genealogy and makes it really boring.
(If you thought it was fun to begin with). There is a certain
satisfaction you get. You pour over records for hours,
you get discouraged, ask your WHY? Then finally you hit upon a familar name.
Geneologists, and researchers in general, don't care about their topic.
(I don't care too much either to be honest) It is the thrill of the hunt.
(Read Collecting Dead Relatives , if you really care).
OTHER ETHICAL QUESTION - I read about a woman who made $10,000 selling
copies of Elvis's will. Her original investment was $45.
You are sort of praying off of people's ignorace, by charging them to
search the database. You are also cheating hte government
if they pay less than they normally would.
SAFETY - You can talk till your blue about radiation. However, many people
pollute their lungs knowing full well cigarettes make you sick.
At least this way their range of knowledge would be widened before it was
stolen by a nasty brain tumour. Perhaps though that people should be warned
about possible side effects of computers. I have never been told of any,
personally.
Also, there are a lot of crazies on the net. It would be very easy
for people to fake being related to so and so and use that to their
advantage. (most people are researching names like David Smith.)
People voluntarily hand over a lot of information about themselves
though email messages.

Jessie
Emerson

From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:49:34 1997
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 17:35:29 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Jessie's contribution

Don't know if you got Jessie's contribution on the Dominion case yet (sometimes
e-mail messages take different amounts of time to reach different destinations)
but when you do, it's really worth reading....lots of good food for thought and
just what the case assignment is all about. Thanks. Jessie. I'm trying to reply
to each person who is writing for now since we're just starting a more focussed
excercise. I may not be able to keep up with writing about each message (nor
should I when it becomes more of a forum once people pick up on each other's
ideas) so please don't take a lack of future comments as a judgment pro,con,
or neutral, on anyone's message.  So far, lots of good thinking. THANKS, J !
Prof. C.



From Nia210@AOL.COM Mon Mar 10 09:49:43 1997
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 18:13:28 -1000
From: Nia210@AOL.COM
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: the first amendment

Fortunately, in this wonderful country of ours, the government has no power
in prohibiting our right to free speech or access to it as adults.
Unfortunately, this can cause a problem for companies like Dominion, who want
to ethically provide the consumer with services like the internet.
There are systems in place on line to prevent children from viewing some
material, although the internet is a playground for many psychos. With my
type of e-mail services, I can provide a mail box for my children (if I had
any) to make certain that my mail is not accessible to them.
Is it possible for Dominion to expand their cable stations to include the new
type of internet access from the television? And do these new 'net' stations
provide parents with the ability to determine what their children view?
A few years ago there was an incident involving a bombing , in which the
methods for building the bomb came from the internet. Scary.
Obviously the goverment can't begin to control the information provided on
the net, it would be unconstitutional, and its already gotten way out of
hand.
Can a company like Dominion provide a method of service in which e- mail is
accesible to all in the family (using his/her own mail box), but set up
another password for reaching the web, for parents only? I'm new to this
online stuff, maybe that's already possible.

From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:50:29 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 11:00:33 -1000
From: tom cooper 
To: Julie A Carpio 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: the first amendment

Julie C. raises many fine points below. Thanks so much for this THINKING...
there are answers to SOME of your questions, but I'm going to move back
a bit now to let others join in. THANKS SO MUCH to Julie. (see her thoughts
below).



>I just read your response to Nicole's question.  I am aware that there are
>restrictions for children to get on to the web and so forth.  You brought
>up another intersting issue ... that the parents have to learn about the
>process of internet.
>
>Why would it be so hard for the parents to learn the process.  If theire
>children are literate of the proces why can't they.  It is inevitable that
>parents can control what their children watch.  However, it may be
>possible to monitor what their childen access through the web.
>
>Maybe one solution that Dominion may consider is like movies -- and
>now TV shows -- information on line should have ratings. As the example of
>the home made bomd that Nicole brought up.  There should be a way that a
>"lock" can be up so that house holds with children cannot access that
>information.
>
>Another possible solution could be to have the information break into
>subjects, and to have a subsciption list. Like Oceanic Cable for instance,
>they have HBO, The Disney Channel, The Movie Channel, all of which are
>additional payments to the bill.   For example, if information though the
>web are on guns, bombs, etc, rate those as extremely violent.  The parent
>has a option to order that particular catergory, obviously if they have
>children, they would not order that "channel."
>
>And finally, Dominion could consider screening all their incoming mail.
>If it is tasteful information, then by all means make it available
>to whoever has access to your page.
>
>But most importantly, I think it is crutial to have the parents
>participate and educate themselves about the new technologies.  If they
>are really concerned about their child's well being that they would make
>the time to learn about what is going on in thei children's lives.



From mburger@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:50:40 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 11:48:24 -1000
From: Matthew K Burger 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: DOMINION


   As far as I see it, Dominion wants to dive into the explosion of
information outlets/technology and grasp as much of the market as they
possibly can. After all, this is where the money is; every media company
tries to grab as much of the pie as possible. But this practice isn't
where the real ethical issues lie.

   In amassing as many outlets as possible (cable tv and all the internet
services especially), Dominion is significantly increasing the amount of
information (movies, shows, listserves, tv shows) they disseminate to
the public. With this explosive growth, the demands on the 
deseminators (editors, webpage creators, journalists, broadcasters) will
most certainly increase dramatically. This, in my opinion and from
personal experience, undermines the ability of the deseminators to perform
their jobs adequately. The chances of mistakes, misinformation and bad
information making it on the air increases. Anyone wanting to argue with
me about the necessity of the gatekeeper should think about all the
garbage on the internet and cable tv...more is not necessarily better. I'm
NOT saying we should limit access but rather that we need to continually
be careful about how we interpret our world for the millions that only see
it though the media. 
   I also see problems with the increasingly competive world of broadcast
news (internet now included---almost as instantaneous as tv). In
everyone's rush to get the story first or get that bombing suspects name
on the air, we permit ourselves less time to really think about what we're
doing.  
   I apologize for being long winded; I probably won't have time to read
this entire thing...


   Matt Burger
   UHM

    


From jeela@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:50:51 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 12:11:43 -1000
From: Jeela Goldberry Ongley 
To: Tom Cooper 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA


It seems that we are anticipating the arrival of what the Dominion cable
manager called the "cable modem." It is not a question of if or how but
when (qualified with an ethical how, perhaps).
	It would be irresponsible for a company such as Dominion to just
all-of-a-sudden offer full web access to subscribers.  Slow and cautious
is the way.  
	With that in mind, instead of attempting to start up by filtering
and/or rating the almost incomprehensible mass of online information
(expensive and time-consuming and no doubt filled w/exceptions &
loopholes) Dominion would do better to service the market they already know.
	It seems that they could offer something akin to the basic cable
package and tie it in strongly to their newspaper, radio and TV holdings.
To avoid promoting indecent or inappropriate information, they should
develop and monitor most of this information, and see that the content of
the online information and services is neutral (i.e. not violent, risque
or dangerous) and useful or fun for the public; ideally while turning a
profit.
	While no one has yet figured out a way to make much money from
online news, Dominion's tv holdings might tie-in nicely with an online
business.  The ailing Voyager Channel might work symbiotically with an
online travel agent or itinery planner.  Of course,the safety of credit
card transactions on the Internet is still doubtful.  Could Dominion
perhaps pioneer this type of technology?  Or just bill with the media
service, like 1-900 numbers?
	Other useful, localized information that could tie in with a basic
cable net subscription might be up-to-date movie and program listings,
local weather based on The Climate Channel, online newspapers (Dominion's
own, natch), retailers who agree to discounts for online customers, sports
results & highlights, and games and stuff.  Email requires a keyboard --
could that work (well) on cable?
	After time and market research, something like what Julie proposed
would seem like a good bet for turning a profit w/online cable: A
monitored rating system with graded "channels" or packages that viewers
could subscribe to based on their interests and/or maturity.
	Or viewers could have the option of subscribing to services such
as the proposed "tree-net."        
	The more adult offerings could be bought like pay-per-view, with a
known time limit.
	
	I know these suggestions have implications and problems i have not
even touched on, but Professor Cooper said to keep messages short & i
think i've already not followed that direction. 

jeela@hawaii.edu


From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:51:53 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 13:20:41 -1000
From: tom cooper 
To: Amy Elizabeth Irwin 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: dominion

Thanks very much, Amy. I appreciate your ideas. a note to everyone in Hawaii:
Emerson goes on spring break effective tomorrow night so there may not be
many replies from our side. Feel free to keep thinking/brainstorming on
your side though, as I (and some of us) will stay on line. When is YOUR
spring break?  Thanks again, Amy  (Everyone please see her thoughts below).


>It would seem strange to me to pay for online services if the programs
>contained advertisements for a certain product or company. I would be
>paying for a company to entice me to purchase its product. I think if
>Dominion or any other company starts to integrate the internet with
>television via modem or some other means, internet access would have to be
>automatically available to anyone who owns a computer -- just as public
>television is available to anyone who owns a t.v.
>As far as what I would like to see with television and the internet:  it
>would be great to "download" the television programs I want to watch into
>my computer and view them whenever I have the time.  A lot easier than
>setting a VCR, and parents could divide the shows into separate folders
>appropriate for their children and for themselves.  This would probably
>shatter many copyright laws, but it would be a much more
>convenient way to monitor when and what your family watches on television.



From christiy@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:52:01 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 13:23:03 -1000
From: Christi A Young 
To: Tom Cooper 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA

	Dominion needs to jump on the interactive/internet/online
movement.  It is a necessity for a media company--such technologically
advanced ccompanies need to keep up with the times an it appears as if the
worldwide web is NOT a fad, but a lifestyle.
	Inorder to make more of a profit, Dominion needs to not only
research the "how-tos" of forming a mass media website (including
individual webpages and sites for each newspaper, television station, and
radio station with tie-ins to each other...hey, let's keep all of our
audiences at home in Dominion), but the legal implications of the
internet.  Copyrights need to be researched as it now simpler to pull
entire pages of the internet and print them out for personal use.
	One aspect that the internet has going for it, besides acting as a
draw for the majority of the AMerican public who has a attention span of
about 30 seconds...wow, did I lose you already?...is that the internet can
create entire pages for individuals people.  One idea Dominion newspapers
and newscasts in general may want to create is a news website composed of
a "bullet's first page--a basic index of the contents of the paper
summarized as completely as possible in 3 sentences or so (not teasers,
but shortened stories) and page numbers where people can find the complete
article.  Also, Dominion can now rate their news for content--much the way
television stations do now, with 'G" ratings and the like--cautioning
people the graphicness of possible stories and photographs inside.
Dominion can even create within the website a completely 'G' rated paper,
with possible less detailed accounts of murder and such for scertain
readers, and 'R' papers with graphic photos and detailed accounts--both
papers would carrry the same stories, but in different degrees of details
for different readers.
	Dominion cable stations can, as has been done, offer contests and
interactive games to boost the viewers of the Voyager channel--like watch
our "Italy hour", tell us the name of the special plant used to flavoe
Rice Krispy treats and clean liinoleum and win $40!
	Yes, Dominion should charge for their viewers to grab these new
websites, but if they tie themselves to a large conglomerate such as
Microsoft, they better make sure that they won't fall the victim to large
corporation to corporation battles.  If Dominion ties itself to another
corporation, we hav to make sure that Dominion maintains complete control
over the integrity and content of the media sites we create--money cannot
talk over quality and media responsibility.  Dominion will be able to
reach thousands of other people--their ethical responsibilities increases
for each person they touch. 
	ALso, Dominion should treat the internet and basic sides of their
media channels equalliy so to serve the old-fashion newspaper readers and
the internet surfers equally.
	Well, Matt, I beat you at the long-windedness award!  

						Christiy


From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:52:19 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 14:42:03 -1000
From: tom cooper 
To: Caroline R H Julian 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA

Wow. We're receiving some fine reponses now (thanks for the last four to friends
in Hawaii. Caroline argues below that information overload is a problem.  Stuart
Wurham has a book out on "information anxiety"....execs, adacademics, and many
others worry that they cannot keep up due to the heavy stream of e-mail,
faxes, internet sites, memoes, etc., that flood us....and lot of trees,
plastic, electricity, etc. is burned up in the process...thanks, Caroline
(and Matt, too) for leading us into brand new territory). Best, TOM C.


>greetings...boy this one is a tough one...i read some of the
>responses...julie c. brought out some good points...i liked her ideas.
>okay, so how can companies, such as the dominian, exploit the internet?  i
>think that the company exploits its access on the internet by trying to
>sell their services to people  and all the executives have a home
>page...do all the executives need a home page...they could have just done
>it by departments or what they really needed to sell.  I think the ethical
>issues involved could be the information overload of useless
>information...by trying to sell products...and accessibility...anyone has
>access to the internet...children and adults..julie brought up good points
>about that.
>
>Is there a possibility that this company is overusing and overloading
>their access onto
>the internet and overloading it and keeping other companies from opening
>a home page or information on the internet?  what about overloading with
>useless information?
>
>The thing about accessibility for children and adults... parents should be
>aware of what their children are looking at.  What they can do is weed out
>all the information for adults and put it on late at night...but then
>again..who knows if exactly if their children are up late at night on the
>internet or sleeping...
>
>i think one solution could be having pass codes set up for accessiblity
>onto certain information or web pages...all those for adults can have a
>certain pass code that only parents know and their children don't
>know...that brings the responsibility back onto the parents to select what
>their children can see on the internet...maybe every web page that are for
>adults can have a pass code for accessibility...
>
>caroline julian...hawaii



From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:52:55 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 14:52:29 -1000
From: tom cooper 
To: Christi A Young 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA

Mahalo, christi.  although copywright is a legal, not ethical issue, the
problems creating it (theft, fairness, proper acknowledment) are ethical.
The notion of intellectual property is decided in the courts, but the
larger questions of who deserves credit, control, payment, and distribution
of/for ideas is philsophical and ethical...you've hit on a BIG issue. Your
other issues are  very important, too. Thanks.  (Once again I won't single
out each reply this way to save time...BUT there have been good ideas in
every single answer..way to go....this is fun. aloha.TOM



>        Dominion needs to jump on the interactive/internet/online
>movement.  It is a necessity for a media company--such technologically
>advanced ccompanies need to keep up with the times an it appears as if the
>worldwide web is NOT a fad, but a lifestyle.
>        Inorder to make more of a profit, Dominion needs to not only
>research the "how-tos" of forming a mass media website (including
>individual webpages and sites for each newspaper, television station, and
>radio station with tie-ins to each other...hey, let's keep all of our
>audiences at home in Dominion), but the legal implications of the
>internet.  Copyrights need to be researched as it now simpler to pull
>entire pages of the internet and print them out for personal use.
>        One aspect that the internet has going for it, besides acting as a
>draw for the majority of the AMerican public who has a attention span of
>about 30 seconds...wow, did I lose you already?...is that the internet can
>create entire pages for individuals people.  One idea Dominion newspapers
>and newscasts in general may want to create is a news website composed of
>a "bullet's first page--a basic index of the contents of the paper
>summarized as completely as possible in 3 sentences or so (not teasers,
>but shortened stories) and page numbers where people can find the complete
>article.  Also, Dominion can now rate their news for content--much the way
>television stations do now, with 'G" ratings and the like--cautioning
>people the graphicness of possible stories and photographs inside.
>Dominion can even create within the website a completely 'G' rated paper,
>with possible less detailed accounts of murder and such for scertain
>readers, and 'R' papers with graphic photos and detailed accounts--both
>papers would carrry the same stories, but in different degrees of details
>for different readers.
>        Dominion cable stations can, as has been done, offer contests and
>interactive games to boost the viewers of the Voyager channel--like watch
>our "Italy hour", tell us the name of the special plant used to flavoe
>Rice Krispy treats and clean liinoleum and win $40!
>        Yes, Dominion should charge for their viewers to grab these new
>websites, but if they tie themselves to a large conglomerate such as
>Microsoft, they better make sure that they won't fall the victim to large
>corporation to corporation battles.  If Dominion ties itself to another
>corporation, we hav to make sure that Dominion maintains complete control
>over the integrity and content of the media sites we create--money cannot
>talk over quality and media responsibility.  Dominion will be able to
>reach thousands of other people--their ethical responsibilities increases
>for each person they touch.
>        ALso, Dominion should treat the internet and basic sides of their
>media channels equalliy so to serve the old-fashion newspaper readers and
>the internet surfers equally.
>        Well, Matt, I beat you at the long-windedness award!
>
>                                                Christiy



From jasat@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:53:03 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 15:06:13 -1000
From: jasat@hawaii.edu
To: Journalism Ethics Mailing List 
Subject: Response: Dominion Media

Two technologies which could help put a company like Dominion at the front
of the pack: News Agents and Demographic Filters.

News Agents, "smart" programs whose function is similar to that of a
clipping service, watch the internet for news topics and key words
requested by the user. When "hot" words or phrases are found in text (or
web pages, images, et. al.) the News Agent saves the documents to a file
which can be viewed by the user at any time. Keep in mind the News Agent
acts on its own, even when the owner is not using his computer. 

The Demographic Filter is a program that functions as a "service" to the
user of Dominion Internet Services. Upon sign-up with DIS users are asked
to fill out a "survey" answering questions about their likes and dislikes,
what brands they commonly use, are they looking for a certian brand of
product, etc. This will help users by giving them ads only for products
that they might find intresting.

In essense, both technologies serve similar functions and, of both,
aspects of their usage must be seriously investigated.

The News Agent and the Demographic Filter act in the same way -- in the
USER'S mind they seperate the wheat from the chaff. The user gets home and
fires up his/her television, now hooked into the internet via Dominion... 

The first thing the viewer sees is their News Agent who gives them a list
of the stories which contained the users "hot" words. While the user reads
the story he sees ads for products via the Demographic Filter. Good? 
Maybe. Convienient? Maybe that too, but... 

People always talk about the internet's lack of content. Oh, there's a lot
to see, but "Where's the beef?" People claim there's a lot of "crap" and
"useless" information out there, but who's to say what is and isn't
"crap"? And wouldn't it be easy for Dominion to censor material as needed? 
After all, most end-users are not computer programmers. Users can tell the
News Agents what to look for, but if the person who's designed the Agent
program (read: Dominion) it doesn't want us to get certian information
we'd never know because the Agent acts on its own. 

On the other end of the spectrum: The money maker -- the Demographic
Filter. In a way this process is already at work on television. Television
sitcoms are the breaks between commercials. Advertisers buy network time
by the demographic of the program's viewers. 

Should the internet be commercial free? Let's assume Dominion decides
otherwise and runs ads using the filter system. Users pay Dominion
$19.95-a-month for Dominion to use information subscribers enter into
Dominion's Demographic Filters to sell ad space, making Dominion very (?)
wealthy, while users think they're getting convenience and a "good deal".

It's good business, but just how much information should be "screened" or
"filtered" before it becomes censorship (maybe a kind of self-censorship
in the case of the News Agent)? Eventually there might be a need for
another watchdog to watch media/internet providers to insure that "smart" 
programs like these aren't abused by the people who provide them.

Something to keep in mind: Companies like America Online (AOL) already
censor and even "deport" users for mere words and ideas.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 "Settle back, fire up a Colortini,   \___/                     Jon Asato
 and watch the pictures as they fly    \o/               jasat@hawaii.edu 
 through the air."                      |     University of Hawaii, Manoa
                    -- Tom Snyder      _|_     College of Arts & Sciences
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Visit The Hockey Jones -- http://www2.hawaii.edu/~jasat/         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------





From pphilpot@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:53:17 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 16:40:47 -1000
From: Paul Everett Philpott 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Dominion

Well, I am finally jumping in and getting my feet wet.
	Has anyone else contemplating this scenario noticed the big word,
"dominion." The miniute I saw the word and read the bio I automaticly
thought of George Orwell, 1984 and BIG BROTHER. And in this case isn't
this company trying to command how much and what kind of information
people receive.
	Financially and instinctively Dominion wants to do the best they
can and make the most money. And it seems that it already has the basis
for getting their product out and developing on it. If it really wanted to
be a big contender it might explore expanding its operations into satelite
and phone companies. It then could use all the forms of communication that
it has available to flood the market with ads for their service. The more
that it can control the bigger, richer and more powerful it can become.
	But then it all goes back to having too much control, a dominion,
on the market that it releases only the kinds of information that it wants
to. Who is going to check BIG BROTHER when he gets too big, i.e.
Microsoft, ATT, the government.
	This scenario has to be considered since Dominion sounds primarily
profit generated. What would happen to the news, or the marketing of
products, or even the release of movies by Dominion if it merges with a
powerful company that (lets say) makes toys. The owner of this company
gains a controlling interest in Dominion. He has very strong opinions on
life, products, his company, and his friends. Won't he move to control the
mood of the message generated by Dominion. Can't this also happen when the
advertizers threaten to take their money away because they don't like what
one of Dominion's news stations might release.
	Another issuse was brought up about the control Dominion should
take on the kind of advertizers and the harm that their products can do to
the public. This goes back to the problem of money. I feel that if
Dominion is too interested in making money they won't screen their
advertizers.
	One of the things I find amazing is all the talk about not
controlling the kinds of information or having consequences for those that
cause harm when they distribute information across the net or even e-mail.
Why then is it a crime to place obscene phone calls? Why are, in a lot of
places, resturants,bars,or what-ever held accountable for damages a person
does if they were drinking alcohol at the bar, etc. 


From Nia210@aol.com Mon Mar 10 09:53:26 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 17:00:25 -1000
From: Nia210@aol.com
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Dominian

O.K. folks quick concept here, (as I am very tired and hungry)...Cable
services like the ones in Boston offer packages. Metro service for simple
basic cable to the deluxe everything you don't have time to watch channels.
What if, and from a marketing standpoint I think this makes sense, Dominion
offered custom internet packages to people? This way the customer can choose
exactly what comes into his or her home. With such a vast trashbucket like
the internet, certainly some of you would like to customize what you receive
and don't receive (like those stupid ads that come on everytime you sign on).
One more point. Someone mentioned that the provider could start checking and
reading the mail that flows through its services. Now I know, Tom, that it
already happens, but I think that I would consider that an enormous invasion
of privacy.
Have a great break:)
Nicole

From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:53:40 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 17:28:51 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: jasat@hawaii.edu
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: Response: Dominion Media

Thanks, Jon. Your smart technologies are moving us toward the hot area of
intelligent agents, which are highly sophistocated search engines that will
do lot's of work for us like a personal assistant, concierge, or executive
secretary on line. Your line of thought points toward technologies which can
help people fulfill their needs on line...but at what cost?? You ask some
good questions...will let others comment. Thanks.


>Two technologies which could help put a company like Dominion at the front
>of the pack: News Agents and Demographic Filters.
>
>News Agents, "smart" programs whose function is similar to that of a
>clipping service, watch the internet for news topics and key words
>requested by the user. When "hot" words or phrases are found in text (or
>web pages, images, et. al.) the News Agent saves the documents to a file
>which can be viewed by the user at any time. Keep in mind the News Agent
>acts on its own, even when the owner is not using his computer.
>
>The Demographic Filter is a program that functions as a "service" to the
>user of Dominion Internet Services. Upon sign-up with DIS users are asked
>to fill out a "survey" answering questions about their likes and dislikes,
>what brands they commonly use, are they looking for a certian brand of
>product, etc. This will help users by giving them ads only for products
>that they might find intresting.
>
>In essense, both technologies serve similar functions and, of both,
>aspects of their usage must be seriously investigated.
>
>The News Agent and the Demographic Filter act in the same way -- in the
>USER'S mind they seperate the wheat from the chaff. The user gets home and
>fires up his/her television, now hooked into the internet via Dominion...
>
>The first thing the viewer sees is their News Agent who gives them a list
>of the stories which contained the users "hot" words. While the user reads
>the story he sees ads for products via the Demographic Filter. Good?
>Maybe. Convienient? Maybe that too, but...
>
>People always talk about the internet's lack of content. Oh, there's a lot
>to see, but "Where's the beef?" People claim there's a lot of "crap" and
>"useless" information out there, but who's to say what is and isn't
>"crap"? And wouldn't it be easy for Dominion to censor material as needed?
>After all, most end-users are not computer programmers. Users can tell the
>News Agents what to look for, but if the person who's designed the Agent
>program (read: Dominion) it doesn't want us to get certian information
>we'd never know because the Agent acts on its own.
>
>On the other end of the spectrum: The money maker -- the Demographic
>Filter. In a way this process is already at work on television. Television
>sitcoms are the breaks between commercials. Advertisers buy network time
>by the demographic of the program's viewers.
>
>Should the internet be commercial free? Let's assume Dominion decides
>otherwise and runs ads using the filter system. Users pay Dominion
>$19.95-a-month for Dominion to use information subscribers enter into
>Dominion's Demographic Filters to sell ad space, making Dominion very (?)
>wealthy, while users think they're getting convenience and a "good deal".
>
>It's good business, but just how much information should be "screened" or
>"filtered" before it becomes censorship (maybe a kind of self-censorship
>in the case of the News Agent)? Eventually there might be a need for
>another watchdog to watch media/internet providers to insure that "smart"
>programs like these aren't abused by the people who provide them.
>
>Something to keep in mind: Companies like America Online (AOL) already
>censor and even "deport" users for mere words and ideas.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
> "Settle back, fire up a Colortini,   \___/                     Jon Asato
> and watch the pictures as they fly    \o/               jasat@hawaii.edu
> through the air."                      |     University of Hawaii, Manoa
>                    -- Tom Snyder      _|_     College of Arts & Sciences
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>        Visit The Hockey Jones -- http://www2.hawaii.edu/~jasat/
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------



From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:53:50 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 17:33:24 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: Paul Everett Philpott 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: Dominion

Thanks a million, Paul. Virtually all good high-tech sci-fi scenarios like
1984, BRAVE NEW WORLD, ROLLERBALL, FARENHEIT 451, COLLOSSUS: THE FORBAN PROJECT,
2001: A SPACE ODDYSEY, etc., envision problems when too much power is invested
in (a) technology (ies) or the folk who control them...another VERY important
line of thought...who keeps Dominion in check?  That's one reason we are
trouble-shooting for ethical problems NOW rather than later when it owns
a third of the corporate world or similar.   Keep us honest, Paul...well done.
TWC


>Well, I am finally jumping in and getting my feet wet.
>        Has anyone else contemplating this scenario noticed the big word,
>"dominion." The miniute I saw the word and read the bio I automaticly
>thought of George Orwell, 1984 and BIG BROTHER. And in this case isn't
>this company trying to command how much and what kind of information
>people receive.
>        Financially and instinctively Dominion wants to do the best they
>can and make the most money. And it seems that it already has the basis
>for getting their product out and developing on it. If it really wanted to
>be a big contender it might explore expanding its operations into satelite
>and phone companies. It then could use all the forms of communication that
>it has available to flood the market with ads for their service. The more
>that it can control the bigger, richer and more powerful it can become.
>        But then it all goes back to having too much control, a dominion,
>on the market that it releases only the kinds of information that it wants
>to. Who is going to check BIG BROTHER when he gets too big, i.e.
>Microsoft, ATT, the government.
>        This scenario has to be considered since Dominion sounds primarily
>profit generated. What would happen to the news, or the marketing of
>products, or even the release of movies by Dominion if it merges with a
>powerful company that (lets say) makes toys. The owner of this company
>gains a controlling interest in Dominion. He has very strong opinions on
>life, products, his company, and his friends. Won't he move to control the
>mood of the message generated by Dominion. Can't this also happen when the
>advertizers threaten to take their money away because they don't like what
>one of Dominion's news stations might release.
>        Another issuse was brought up about the control Dominion should
>take on the kind of advertizers and the harm that their products can do to
>the public. This goes back to the problem of money. I feel that if
>Dominion is too interested in making money they won't screen their
>advertizers.
>        One of the things I find amazing is all the talk about not
>controlling the kinds of information or having consequences for those that
>cause harm when they distribute information across the net or even e-mail.
>Why then is it a crime to place obscene phone calls? Why are, in a lot of
>places, resturants,bars,or what-ever held accountable for damages a person
>does if they were drinking alcohol at the bar, etc.



From rcampusp@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:54:09 1997
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 19:46:24 -1000
From: Ryan Campuspos 
To: Tom Cooper 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA


	In the future, the key word is "consolidation."  There will be
more of an emphasis on making things easier for the consumer, and that
points ultimately to integrating services that would be controlled from a
person or family's own home.
	Dominion Media must stake its claim in providing various services
(entertainment, business exchanges, teleconferencing, etc.) to its
customers through its new "Dominion Net."  One step is to consolidate its
various cable and regular TV channels, radio stations and newspapers to be
accessed by those for a fee.  This would be like some sort of "pipeline"
from Dominion Net straight into a family's household, not unlike how cable
channels are piped in to a subscriber's house already.
	But the difference is that along with accessing TV and radio
stations, Dominion Net will allow a subscriber to use the Internet in
normal everyday transactions such as buying groceries and talking to
someone on a telephone (or maybe even a high-quality video phone).
Dominion will have to expand from a media-based dissemination company to a
service based one.
	The downside of Dominion Net, of course, is that it reeks of a Big
Brother mentality (like Paul said).  One large conglomerate providing any
service a person could want?  While there may be advantages to one company
controlling the "dissemination of media and services," such as consistency
and reliability (becuase it may be the only service provider of its kind),
the fact that your life is in the hands of Dominion Net is a sign that you
really don't control your life - that the means is controlling you.

		Hope everybody at Emerson has a great spring break (while us UHers
have to wait another couple of weeks).  Aloha!

--
rcampusp@hawaii.edu
Ryan Campuspos @ University of Hawaii 
Major: Life  
Minor: Journalism




From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:54:22 1997
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 03:44:31 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: Ryan Campuspos 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA

Ryan's important comments below bring up Neil Postman's argument that the
dangers Huxley points out in BRAVE NEW WORLD are more important than those
in Orwell's 1984.  In the latter other people use technology to maintain
absolute power and control over us, but in Huxley's world, we freely
abdicate
our power for bliss and new sensations.  The problem for Postman is not that
we are being controlled, but that we no longer care about being controlled
(by TV and entertainment values for example). and that the control is more
subtle than in 1984.  THe consolidated services that Ryan mentions could be
even more ADDICTIVE than TVs or computers because they would do so many
different tasks for us while bringing great pleasures.....HMMMMMMM.....I
want
this already just by the sound of it.....which is exactly the problem...
who controls whom? Thanks Ryan.


>        In the future, the key word is "consolidation."  There will be
>more of an emphasis on making things easier for the consumer, and that
>points ultimately to integrating services that would be controlled from a
>person or family's own home.
>        Dominion Media must stake its claim in providing various services
>(entertainment, business exchanges, teleconferencing, etc.) to its
>customers through its new "Dominion Net."  One step is to consolidate its
>various cable and regular TV channels, radio stations and newspapers to be
>accessed by those for a fee.  This would be like some sort of "pipeline"
>from Dominion Net straight into a family's household, not unlike how cable
>channels are piped in to a subscriber's house already.
>        But the difference is that along with accessing TV and radio
>stations, Dominion Net will allow a subscriber to use the Internet in
>normal everyday transactions such as buying groceries and talking to
>someone on a telephone (or maybe even a high-quality video phone).
>Dominion will have to expand from a media-based dissemination company to a
>service based one.
>        The downside of Dominion Net, of course, is that it reeks of a Big
>Brother mentality (like Paul said).  One large conglomerate providing any
>service a person could want?  While there may be advantages to one company
>controlling the "dissemination of media and services," such as consistency
>and reliability (becuase it may be the only service provider of its kind),
>the fact that your life is in the hands of Dominion Net is a sign that you
>really don't control your life - that the means is controlling you.
>
>        And now, since I didn't comment on the O.J. discussion, here's an
>O.J. joke (groan):
>
>There was a massive traffic jam on the L.A. freeway.  A guy was sitting in
>his car, stuck in the jam, when a policeman walks by.
>
>"Excuse me officer, do you know what's going on?"
>
>"Well, O.J. stopped his car in the middle of the freeway up a mile, and
>says that he doesn't have the money to pay the damages he owes in his
>civil trial ruling.  So he says that if he doesn't get the money, he's
>going to burn himself in his car, right now.  I'm going around taking up a
>collection for him."
>
>"Wow.  How much have you got so far?"
>
>"Oh, about 10 gallons of gasoline."
>
>        Hope everybody at Emerson has a great spring break (while us UHers
>have to wait another couple of weeks).  Aloha!
>
>--
>rcampusp@hawaii.edu
>Ryan Campuspos @ University of Hawaii
>Major: Life
>Minor: Journalism



From williamc@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:54:55 1997
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 10:56:39 -1000
From: Christie Williams 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Dominion Media 

One of the innovations that Dominion Media should consider pursuing would
be the integration of a online newspaper with a news broadcast. One of the
benefits would be that the readers/viewers would get the detailed accounts  
that print provides and the moving images of broadcast.

The subscribers would have the option of either reading the articles or
watching the broadcasts or doing both.  The service would be convenient
and saves time for the subscriber, who would receive up-to-the-minute
information.

However, because this would be a quicker way of delivering the news, there
should be concerns about accuracy and quality (Matt Burger also
mentioned this earlier).  The pressures of providing real-time news may
lead to poor-quality journalism.  The Internet provides a quicker link to
the public, but producing quality journalism will still take the same
amount of time.  Human journalists haven't evolved as quickly as computers
have; journalists and editors who try to keep pace with machines will find 
their work compromised.    


There is also a more-forgiving attitude on the Internet when it comes to
grammar, spelling and the other mechanics of writing. How would Dominion
try to keep up with the old standards of the English language?

Another thing to consider is security. It's much easier for someone to
hack into the system and tinker with Web pages than it would be for
someone to toy with a newspaper article or intercept a TV broadcast.


Finally, how does this service affect the community?  By giving people the
opportunity to "personalize" their news, is the company contributing to a
more fractured society? There's a danger that people will become more
detached from each other when they become more attached to their
television/computers.
 




From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:55:02 1997
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 11:02:15 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: Christie Williams 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: Dominion Media

Lots of thought-provoking ideas here. Regarding security, key people in cyburbia
now argue that encryption (secret codes) will be the major force of the
future to safeguard secrets...espionage on the net! Your suggestion about
combined
broadcast and online news is exactly wht MSNBC is doing in New Jersey...a
hybrid company using NBC's talent and Microsoft's high-tech.  It's not made
any money yet but is highly positioned to do so in 5-10 years as the net catches
on.  Thanks fro MANY good ideas. Best, TOM


>One of the innovations that Dominion Media should consider pursuing would
>be the integration of a online newspaper with a news broadcast. One of the
>benefits would be that the readers/viewers would get the detailed accounts
>that print provides and the moving images of broadcast.
>
>The subscribers would have the option of either reading the articles or
>watching the broadcasts or doing both.  The service would be convenient
>and saves time for the subscriber, who would receive up-to-the-minute
>information.
>
>However, because this would be a quicker way of delivering the news, there
>should be concerns about accuracy and quality (Matt Burger also
>mentioned this earlier).  The pressures of providing real-time news may
>lead to poor-quality journalism.  The Internet provides a quicker link to
>the public, but producing quality journalism will still take the same
>amount of time.  Human journalists haven't evolved as quickly as computers
>have; journalists and editors who try to keep pace with machines will find
>their work compromised.
>
>
>There is also a more-forgiving attitude on the Internet when it comes to
>grammar, spelling and the other mechanics of writing. How would Dominion
>try to keep up with the old standards of the English language?
>
>Another thing to consider is security. It's much easier for someone to
>hack into the system and tinker with Web pages than it would be for
>someone to toy with a newspaper article or intercept a TV broadcast.
>
>
>Finally, how does this service affect the community?  By giving people the
>opportunity to "personalize" their news, is the company contributing to a
>more fractured society? There's a danger that people will become more
>detached from each other when they become more attached to their
>television/computers.
>



From pscott@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:55:09 1997
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 12:10:13 -1000
From: Marie Patrice Scott 
To: Matthew K Burger 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: DOMINION

i agree with Mathew Burger on this one.. Life is too short to sort through
evrybody's take on everything..DOMINION is an accurately named
organization. Alot of this stuff gives me a headache and makes me want to
go crawl under a big rock for about ten years rather than take part in any
of it. Well, it's friday anyway so I'llthink more about this and try again
on Monday when the new week seems full of promise and oppurtunity.

Patrice Scott


From UG95279426@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU Mon Mar 10 09:55:34 1997
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 13:25:38 -1000
From: UG95279426@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Response to filters

I find the idea of filters slightly worrying. Often journalists
put out stories to change peoples mind. For instance
I would like to see more stories in my community about gay rights.
With filters someone could put a block on all stories
with the word "gay" in it, or all stories with the word "black"
or all stories with the word "jew".
It is already hard enough to get Americans to turn to the international
section.
Newspapers are filled with"useless" information yet tehre
is actually very little real news in comparision to
advertisements. Without the advertisements you ca expect to pay a lot more
than 60 cents for your daily news service. 
Ads are also all over the net these days. I don't think we need
to help Americans be any more narrow and isolated than they already are.
(I'm sorry if that is offensive, but if you disagree that
Americans have a tendancy towards isolation please state the case.
). (Ethical issue: Should I send this and tick everyone off, or erase it
and be nice.) 
Jessie
Emerson

From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:55:44 1997
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 14:53:25 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: UG95279426@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: Response to filters

Well put. In this case "filters" means aneasthetizer or insulator or wired
womb or similar...any of which shelters us from unwelcome reality. On the other
hand a filter could block all advertising, or all sports, or all unsolicited
PR notices, or all junk mail or....i.e. it goes both ways. I'm not putting down
any of the above areas...just saying it would help some people to filter out
other people's INTERESTS which are very different than filtering out other
"peoples". Good thinking on both sides. THanks. Tom C.


>I find the idea of filters slightly worrying. Often journalists
>put out stories to change peoples mind. For instance
>I would like to see more stories in my community about gay rights.
>With filters someone could put a block on all stories
>with the word "gay" in it, or all stories with the word "black"
>or all stories with the word "jew".
>It is already hard enough to get Americans to turn to the international
>section.
>Newspapers are filled with"useless" information yet tehre
>is actually very little real news in comparision to
>advertisements. Without the advertisements you ca expect to pay a lot more
>than 60 cents for your daily news service.
>Ads are also all over the net these days. I don't think we need
>to help Americans be any more narrow and isolated than they already are.
>(I'm sorry if that is offensive, but if you disagree that
>Americans have a tendancy towards isolation please state the case.
>). (Ethical issue: Should I send this and tick everyone off, or erase it
>and be nice.)
>Jessie
>Emerson



From judyma@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:55:51 1997
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 15:29:57 -1000
From: Judy K Y Ma 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Dominion

I recently read about a service called AudioNet which provides internet
broadcasts of events such as sporting events, concerts, and news programs.
AudioNet offers programs from more than 150 radio and TV stations.
It allows people who live in places that do not receive broadcasts such
events to receive them from the internet. Currently, anyone with access to
the internet, a web browser and a free software called Real Audio, can
listen in to the events at no charge.

I think Dominion could capitialize on this idea by improving on a service
such as AudioNet. Dominion improve the service by it faster, making sure
the audio feed doesn't break up and allowing people to adjust volume.
Maybe Dominon could even offer a way for people to see these events and
not just listen to them on the internet. Dominon could establish a network
among the TV and radio stations, cable networks and newspapers it
owns to cover different events. It could then broadcast these events on
the internet to people who subscribe to their service for a fee.

One of the problems with this idea is that the ownership of broadcasting
rights for the different events could interfere with providing such a
service. Another problem would be whether such a service would be really
fair to the people holding and attending the events. The service could
also provide unfair competition to cable operators. It would also
encourage people to stay on the internet instead of experience the events
in "real life".

One of the ethic problems with offering such a service is the TV and radio
stations are making a profit from covering these events. An example
would if a TV station was covering a sporting event for their 6 p.m. news.
Would the TV station be covering the event for its newsworthiness or just
to broadcast the sporting event on the internet for a profit?

I'm sure there are many more problems with such a service, but I can't
think of any more right now. 

Judy
UHM




From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:55:59 1997
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 1997 13:10:25 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: a brief recess

Thanks for so many EXCELLENT responses regarding "Dominion Media" to date.
I'd like for us to have a brief recess (no e-mails) for just a few days at
this stage so that  1) people on spring break here who aren't near computer
labs won't return to Boston feeling WAY behind  2) Dr. Brislin may catch up
on his world/work after returning from his trip (if he needs to)  3) people
who have not YET had a chance to write about Dominion (possibly due to
minimal access to computers) may do so to "catch up" if they now have
better access.   The recess (down time or breather) pertains to those who
have already written.
If you haven't, now is your chance if you have anything to say. The e-mails
that have come in during the past ten days or so about Dominion are in my
view among the very best since we started this process in September (will see
if Dr. B. concurs when he's had a chance to read through everything). So,
MUCHO MAHALO for your efforts and thinking. This breather is NOT to censor
anyone. If you have some good thoughts, just write them down, and send them
out when the recess if over. I'll be back on line with some new info and
questions re Dominion and ethics in a few days. In the meanwhile, happy
spring break on this side and happy recess on the other! Cheers, Tom Cooper
(Prof. C.)



From esben@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:56:11 1997
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 23:02:44 -1000
From: Esben A Borsting 
To: Tom Cooper 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA

         The Dominion story is a familiar one. It seems as though these
days, every company that has a handle in the media business is trying to
make sure not to left behind in the internet rush. 
        The main ethical concern that Dominion should be looking at is
whether they are offering the best representation of itself in the ruch to
get online. 
         There are good and bad points to being on the net. The danger
lies in putting out a shoddy product just to get it out. One thing
dominion might consider is grouping all of the various pages for all of
its various enterprises into one server. From there Dominion can monitor
everything that comes in and out and grant a certain amount of consistancy
to the pages. 
         If the concern is for maintain and montioring customer
satisfaction, then keeping the message clear is a good idea. Also, each
part of the company can be constantly kept up to date without as much
chance of miscommunication.
        The original dilemma brought up by Prof. Cooper is interesting but
isn't it one that is faced by anyone who offers sapce for advertising?

Anyways thise are my thoughts...

Esben


From masano@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:56:18 1997
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 23:42:31 -1000
From: Michelle Kimi Asano 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: dominion

    [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set]
    [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set]
    [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly]

Dominion needs to reach out to ALL of its viewers.  We should include
services that cater to blind and deaf people.  Dominion needs to make all
its services ACCESSIBLE!  For example, make sure that all of our television
broadcasts are closed captioned.  But, it is difficult for a blind person
to view the internet let alone enjoy it.  There are several ways we at
Dominion can provide accesiblity to the internet for blind people.  One way
is to provide special software that is capable of reading the text on web
pages and then converting it to voice output.  Hyperlinks can be
accompanied by a sound, like a bell,  to let the user know that it is a
link.  Hyperlinks on pages can be encoded to  accept voice commands, that
way blind users can simply say the hyperlink and the link would go there. 
Also when developing web pages that may have photos or pictures, it is
important for us to place a caption describing the photo, that way the
software can read the caption and descibe the picture to the blind user.
There would be extra costs in setting up these services, like man-power to
develop software and to add in extra text (captions) for all web pages. As
a service we should provide the software for free.  These cost would be
minor compared to the good reputation the company will receive.  And this
would bring in more subcribers as well as advertisers...which equals more
revenues...


Michelle Kimi Asano

From wigdel@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 09:56:32 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 01:35:57 -1000
From: James T Wigdel 
To: Tom Cooper 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA

Mr. Chairman,

After careful consideration of the ramifications of expanding access to
our varying Internet interests, I humbly submit the following proposal for
your edification and ultimately your approval. Allow me to begin with a
few suggestions and ideas of what our overall philosophy on the Internet
might be.

First, the Internet is overloaded with redundant information. Sure, we
could on each of our respective home pages, run our media outlets take on
the days news, or what the top-ten country music hits are etc.you get the
picture. My point is, so is everyone else.net surfers can point their
Dewey Webers in any direction and catch the same information at hundreds
of sights. We dont have to do that. 

We can minimize our investment on the web by providing only the most basic
services such as programming information, corporate information,
station/print employment opportunities etc. My thinking is, if someone
comes to our Web pages, they are not their to read the news or hear the
station, they want information they can use so lets give it to them. 

Now, in the mean time, we do want to recover our investment so lets run
ads from our affiliates in the media. Lets just let people know what WE
have available as far as our print, radio and TV outlets go. By letting
people know who we are and what we are about as a corporation, everyone
benefits. In other words, lets give our audiences a quality stop on the
Internet devoid of redundant programming and irritating advertisements.
Lets begin a new era of using the Internet for what it was designed for,
an exchange of information, not commercial exploitation.

Respectfully

James T. Wigdel



From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 10 09:56:41 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 02:48:43 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: Esben A Borsting 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: CASE STUDY--DOMINION MEDIA

Thanks, Esben...some important points here.  You raise a good questin at
the end. The difference with advertising for the NET is that it can be
created and
distributed entirely on-line so you are never sure who you are dealing with,
how reputatlbe they are, if they are really where/who they say they are...there
have been many hoaxes on line..it is also much easier to doctor/touch-up/
manipulate/and recontextualize images and info on line...which makes FALSE
advertising all the easier...lot's of issues here to ponder. Thanks agian,
TOM C.


>         The Dominion story is a familiar one. It seems as though these
>days, every company that has a handle in the media business is trying to
>make sure not to left behind in the internet rush.
>        The main ethical concern that Dominion should be looking at is
>whether they are offering the best representation of itself in the ruch to
>get online.
>         There are good and bad points to being on the net. The danger
>lies in putting out a shoddy product just to get it out. One thing
>dominion might consider is grouping all of the various pages for all of
>its various enterprises into one server. From there Dominion can monitor
>everything that comes in and out and grant a certain amount of consistancy
>to the pages.
>         If the concern is for maintain and montioring customer
>satisfaction, then keeping the message clear is a good idea. Also, each
>part of the company can be constantly kept up to date without as much
>chance of miscommunication.
>        The original dilemma brought up by Prof. Cooper is interesting but
>isn't it one that is faced by anyone who offers sapce for advertising?
>
>Anyways thise are my thoughts...
>
>Esben



From kfu@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 14:52:39 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 13:58:17 -1000
From: "Kim K. Fu" 
To: Michelle Kimi Asano 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: dominion



I agree with Michelle that we should service ALL potential clients of
Dominion, Inc.  (I just like the Inc. part, I'm not sure if this is part
of our name?), and I'd like to suggest that we go international --
provide software that would translate our online material into a foreign
client's native language.

Dominion could post international ads about their online services online
-- in several different languages. In these ads we can tell people about
the company and what services will be offered, why our services are better
than the rest, etc.

I'm not sure if this poses an ethical problem, per se, but by translating
material into another language we would have to impose a definite meaning
to each term.  Translated material may not translate accurately,
inadvertently getting the wrong information.

In any case, by going international we'll broaden the types of clientele
we can cultivate, and gain access to a host of new information and ideas.


From zai@hawaii.edu Mon Mar 10 14:52:49 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 14:08:33 -1000
From: Zaihan Mohamed Yusof 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Dominion

	Hi everybody,
			after reading most of the opinion and suggestions
about the Dominion case study, I feel that Americans have the luxury of
writing and advertising their products on the internet without worrying
about government persecution and censors. As a Singaporean, the level of
access that we have on the internet is limited. THe government censors
anything that it deems "anti-social" and "harmful" to the integrity of
Singapore. THe government regulates and monitors internet users/servers.
	In America, however, the problem is perhaps people can say
things that may hurt children/people on the internet. I guess the problem
is how do we protect children from undesirable information from the
internet. Perhaps, Dominion Media could work with the community and sort
of rate the materials on their service. Another way, involves Dominion
Media,screening the information by the people who are interested in
airing their views or products. Well, this may sound a little like the
Singapore government -- censoring every little bit of "undesirable"
information. Screening or censoring seem to go against the people's right
to speak but dominion must consider who it is they are protecting.
Somethings found on the internet may be desirable to some people whereas
some may be offensive. Maybe, Dominion could offer a package for adult
internet users and non-adults.
	Nevertheless, parents should supervise their kids who are using
the internet. Children can be given full access on the internet in the
presence of their parents. Perhaps by punching in a password, the
children's access can be limited to whatever their parents deem safe.

THank You, 
	  ZAI
	


From tcooper@tiac.net Tue Mar 11 09:48:51 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 18:17:13 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: dominion

Please see below.

>
>To:"Kim K. Fu" 
>From:tcooper@tiac.net (Tom Cooper)
>Subject:Re: dominion
>
>Thanks, Kim.  With Dr. B's and your permission, will appoint you V.P. in
>charge of international marketing, sales, and ETHICS!   Best, Prof. C.
>
>
>>I agree with Michelle that we should service ALL potential clients of
>>Dominion, Inc.  (I just like the Inc. part, I'm not sure if this is part
>>of our name?), and I'd like to suggest that we go international --
>>provide software that would translate our online material into a foreign
>>client's native language.
>>
>>Dominion could post international ads about their online services online
>>-- in several different languages. In these ads we can tell people about
>>the company and what services will be offered, why our services are better
>>than the rest, etc.
>>
>>I'm not sure if this poses an ethical problem, per se, but by translating
>>material into another language we would have to impose a definite meaning
>>to each term.  Translated material may not translate accurately,
>>inadvertently getting the wrong information.
>>
>>In any case, by going international we'll broaden the types of clientele
>>we can cultivate, and gain access to a host of new information and ideas.
>



From tcooper@tiac.net Tue Mar 11 09:49:02 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 18:25:22 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: Zaihan Mohamed Yusof 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: Dominion

Zaihan, mahalo for bringing an international ETHICS awareness (i.e. each
country has a different approach to the net and to censorship and to
communication rules).  Your awareness not only helps us expand the perspective
vis-a-vis Dominion, but reminds me to let you know that our class is working
on a term paper in which each student has to defend the media ethics policy
of a different country as if they were proposing that country's policy to the
U.N.   Anyone on line is welcome to identify the country s/he is from if you
have lived there recently as you might be a resource to a student on this
side who is working on your country.  Similarly, if any of you want to know
about the media in Boston, some people here have internships or jobs, and
some have had jobs in N.Y., etc., or soon will so feel free to help each other.
Thanks again, Zaihan. Best, TOM C.


>        Hi everybody,
>                        after reading most of the opinion and suggestions
>about the Dominion case study, I feel that Americans have the luxury of
>writing and advertising their products on the internet without worrying
>about government persecution and censors. As a Singaporean, the level of
>access that we have on the internet is limited. THe government censors
>anything that it deems "anti-social" and "harmful" to the integrity of
>Singapore. THe government regulates and monitors internet users/servers.
>        In America, however, the problem is perhaps people can say
>things that may hurt children/people on the internet. I guess the problem
>is how do we protect children from undesirable information from the
>internet. Perhaps, Dominion Media could work with the community and sort
>of rate the materials on their service. Another way, involves Dominion
>Media,screening the information by the people who are interested in
>airing their views or products. Well, this may sound a little like the
>Singapore government -- censoring every little bit of "undesirable"
>information. Screening or censoring seem to go against the people's right
>to speak but dominion must consider who it is they are protecting.
>Somethings found on the internet may be desirable to some people whereas
>some may be offensive. Maybe, Dominion could offer a package for adult
>internet users and non-adults.
>        Nevertheless, parents should supervise their kids who are using
>the internet. Children can be given full access on the internet in the
>presence of their parents. Perhaps by punching in a password, the
>children's access can be limited to whatever their parents deem safe.
>
>THank You,
>          ZAI
>



From tcooper@tiac.net Tue Mar 11 09:49:21 1997
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 18:34:21 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: recess

Thanks for letting those who haven't contributed to our discussion do so over
the past two days.  Now I'd like to act for a COMPLETE recess as I must be
off-line myself for the next three days of spring break (although Dr. B. and
I may briefly connect). Will be back by Friday or so with some new material
on Dominion and new questions for you...the folk from Emerson should be back
by Sunday or Monday.  THANKS SO MUCH!  "this court is recessed until Friday"



From tcooper@tiac.net Thu Mar 13 12:54:49 1997

From J_BOUVIER@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU Mon Mar 17 17:38:13 1997
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 12:43:55 -1000
From: J_BOUVIER@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU
To: JETHICS-L@hawaii.edu
Subject: DOMINION

Just thought I'd add a few thoughs to the mix . . .

One of the things that concerns me with large media conglomerates forming
partnerships (like Microsoft and NBC) is that in doing this they are reducing
the number of independent media sources that are available to the public.  
In this type of practice, fewer hands have control of the information that 
reaches the general public (Staring to sound a bit Orwellian??)  I just think
that this approach to business gives the few an awful lot of potential power to
censor and slant the already skewed information that we receive.  We have less
and less media outlets to turn to already and I see this trend toward media
partnerships as a growing phenomenon.  I think that Dominon needs to consider
this potential power and the possiblility of inadvertant censorship versus its
responsibility to the US public's need for diverse sources of information and
how they can best achieve their goals.

just a few thoughts

Joseph

From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 17 17:38:22 1997
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 14:25:57 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: J_BOUVIER@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: DOMINION

Many thanks, Joseph.  "Convergence" has been a hot buzz word in the new
tech world which, on the bright side, means greater simplicity and consolidation
in using the wide array of media. ON the dark side, you speak well of the "what
ifs"...what if one person or conglomerate or group of conglomerates (sounds
more like reality already) are final filters for our reality?  THANK YOU. TWC



>Just thought I'd add a few thoughs to the mix . . .
>
>One of the things that concerns me with large media conglomerates forming
>partnerships (like Microsoft and NBC) is that in doing this they are reducing
>the number of independent media sources that are available to the public.
>In this type of practice, fewer hands have control of the information that
>reaches the general public (Staring to sound a bit Orwellian??)  I just think
>that this approach to business gives the few an awful lot of potential power to
>censor and slant the already skewed information that we receive.  We have less
>and less media outlets to turn to already and I see this trend toward media
>partnerships as a growing phenomenon.  I think that Dominon needs to consider
>this potential power and the possiblility of inadvertant censorship versus its
>responsibility to the US public's need for diverse sources of information and
>how they can best achieve their goals.
>
>just a few thoughts
>
>Joseph



From tcooper@tiac.net Mon Mar 17 17:39:49 1997
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 00:54:41 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Cc: tbrislin@hawaii.edu
Subject: DOMINION, PHASE 2

Greetings all (and welcome back from spring break to Emerson folk). I am pleased
to report that there was time to print out and analyze all of your messages
about Dominion Media over the break and I have sent a copy of a three page
summary of your thoughts (with a few of mine added) to Dr. Brislin.  He is
consulting with a UH student (I don't have permission yet to name this
colleague) about constructing a web-site showing our thinking to date. Here
is
what we could do as "phase 2" while the website is being constructed.  could
you please

1. Study the three page summary which Dr. Brislin should have available on your
side and which I will bring to class at Emerson tomorrow and see if there
are any important possible "products or services" which Dominion/we have
overlooked.
The three page summary will also show ethical issues and possible solutions to
those issues.  Are there any issues or "solutions" which we should add to the
three page list?  If so, please send an e-mail to jethics-l@hawaii.edu so I can
update the list, and so that Dr. Brislin and the webmaster may POSSIBLY add this
new material to the website.  Please  use the format I've used on the
three page summary which looks like this (this is a demo/farce below for your
amusement...use more serious products)

NEW DOMINION PRODUCT             ETHICAL ISSUE/SOCIAL EFFECT        SOLUTION?

ELECTRIC AGE REMOVER             False advertising,                ADD WARNING,
(prevents aging when             physiological damage such as      TEST PRODUCT,
customer shocks him or           body burns, electrocution,        ON-SCREEN
herself with computer)           or hair loss                       INSTRUCTIONS


Please use this three column format to save us and the webmaster much time.
Please note that under your product there is an explanation of what it does.
Also note that if you have more than one issue or solution, each should be
separated with a comma at the end of that line. Thank you.


2. BIBLIOGRAPHY.  I am compiling a bibliography which students could use to
read about these new technology ethics issues.  If you've run across a good
book or article on the subject, please mail jethics-l@hawaii.edu a message
with the article/book title, author, journal or magazine title, date and
publisher (if it is a book).  Thanks.

3.  EDITING.  If you see any mistakes on the three page summary or have ideas
about how to simplify or clarify the language,  please put our a note with
the suggested correction to jethics-l@hawaii.edu since 40 heads are better
than one.

4. OTHER....if you have any other thoughts about Dominion's products, services,
or ethics, including more general comments,  please send them in THIS week,
since next week is UH spring break (right?). Do not hesitate to ask
questions
in class or on-line. THANKS. The thinking thus far is excellent overall.
BRAVO!
Prof. C.



From C_WILSON@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU Tue Mar 18 12:28:05 1997
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 05:08:26 -1000
From: "Clare Wilson ->--- Qulayre the Impaler"
     
To: Tom Cooper 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu, tbrislin@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: DOMINION

Looking at the INSTANT NEWS idea, the problem of rushed and innaccurate
facts is no different than print or broadcast journalism.  The same is
true with unplanned graphic violence.

	CABLE MODEM:
If this works, there is no need for a separtion between broadcast media
and interent at all.  Broadcast networks can braodcast over the
internet.  Pay channels can make its money by only being offered on
certain networks, which can charge for usage.
	Radio stations can also broadcast over internet.  Print journalism
depends so much on advertising anyway that free access on the internet
will cut subscription income, but the advertising will reach so many
more people that it will be worth more.
	We are exposed to radiation from everything now.  Carpel-tunnel is a
concern now, but once voice-recognition and other forms of input are
developed further, it won't be as pressing an issue.

	INTERGRATED SERVICES:
Telephone service.  It is not difficult to see the internet as the sole
communication device.  With broadcast and print media, mail, and
telephone on-line, the only the internet can't cover is human contact.

	Most of the ethical issues presented are the same with other media, not
just the internet.  How much is being done for those media?  Are they
not a concern because they are passing media?

--Clare

P.S. Sorry this is not in column form.  It's more comments on other
ideas rather than completely new ones.
-- 
When was the last time you
talked to yourself?
From tcooper@tiac.net Tue Mar 18 14:32:09 1997
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 12:38:54 -1000
From: tom cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: DOMINION

>Date:   Tue, 18 Mar 1997 09:24:47 -1000
>From: Marie Patrice Scott 
>X-Sender: pscott@uhunix2
>To: Tom Cooper 
>Subject: Re: DOMINION
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>
>Thank you for responding to all of our thoughts. Both you and Dr.Brislin
>seem exceptionally ready to participate in your classes. Sorry, but this
>is refreshing. Last time I wrote just an irritable response, but my views
>haven't changed too much. Big is not better. Look at any aspect of
>American social progress since manifest destiny. My brain stops when
>things get too large. I don't know a million from a billion from a
>trillion and I doubt anyone else knows either. When things get huge, they
>become mythical. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. I'd
>rather go back to Kansas. I'm probably in the wrong field ( no pun
>intended).For the purpose of discussion it's fun to imagine all this huge
>conglomerate corporate mogulized stuff, but I'd personally rather watch
>something grow, like a plant. Thanks again for providing an interesting
>discussion and for reading all our responses.
>Patrice Scott, UH.
>



From tcooper@tiac.net Tue Mar 18 14:32:32 1997
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 12:47:02 -1000
From: tom cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: DOMINION

>
>To:Marie Patrice Scott 
>From:tcooper@tiac.net (tom cooper)
>Subject:Re: DOMINION
>
>you bet, Patrice. I (and I'll bet Prof. Brislin) am/are VERY interested in your
>thoughts and this is a new and exciting venue for us as well. There were a
>series of very interesting conferences called the LIMITS TO GROWTH a few
>years
>ago which concluded with your thoughts that bigger is definitely NOT better
>and that the growth of population, spending, resource depletinon, international
>corporate growth were damaging to humanity.  You make the case very well...
>just how much DOMINION is too much?  Cheers, TOM
>
>
>>Thank you for responding to all of our thoughts. Both you and Dr.Brislin
>>seem exceptionally ready to participate in your classes. Sorry, but this
>>is refreshing. Last time I wrote just an irritable response, but my views
>>haven't changed too much. Big is not better. Look at any aspect of
>>American social progress since manifest destiny. My brain stops when
>>things get too large. I don't know a million from a billion from a
>>trillion and I doubt anyone else knows either. When things get huge, they
>>become mythical. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. I'd
>>rather go back to Kansas. I'm probably in the wrong field ( no pun
>>intended).For the purpose of discussion it's fun to imagine all this huge
>>conglomerate corporate mogulized stuff, but I'd personally rather watch
>>something grow, like a plant. Thanks again for providing an interesting
>>discussion and for reading all our responses.
>>Patrice Scott, UH.
>



From kfu@hawaii.edu Tue Mar 18 15:25:33 1997
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 15:20:32 -1000
From: "Kim K. Fu" 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: More Dominion info.


Possible new product, modeled after one advertised in "Time" and
"U.S. News and World Report."



NEW DOMINION PRODUCT             ETHICAL ISSUE/SOCIAL EFFECT       SOLUTION?

HIGH-TECH PAGER-SIZED		 Monopolizing the news market 	test the 
COMMUNICATOR			 with this device, again, the   product's 
(a mini super-fast computer	 translation problem/		value,
with fax/e-mail/pager/cellular	 inundating people with too	offer
phone capabilities.  There's a	 much info., info. overload,	freebies.
pager on the market that alerts  too much technology, cost, etc.
owners to hot news events as 
soon as the info comes over the 
wire.  Our product would allow
owners to get the info. and be
able to respond to clients, etc. 
by fax, e-mail or cellular phone
ASAP.  Correspondence would be 
translatable into most foreign
languages.


From tcooper@tiac.net Tue Mar 18 17:36:12 1997
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 17:18:23 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: "Kim K. Fu" 
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: More Dominion info.

Mucho mahalo, Kim, for strong product and reader-friendly format. Way to go.
Best, Prof. C.


>Possible new product, modeled after one advertised in "Time" and
>"U.S. News and World Report."
>
>
>
>NEW DOMINION PRODUCT             ETHICAL ISSUE/SOCIAL EFFECT       SOLUTION?
>
>HIGH-TECH PAGER-SIZED            Monopolizing the news market   test the
>COMMUNICATOR                     with this device, again, the   product's
>(a mini super-fast computer      translation problem/           value,
>with fax/e-mail/pager/cellular   inundating people with too     offer
>phone capabilities.  There's a   much info., info. overload,    freebies.
>pager on the market that alerts  too much technology, cost, etc.
>owners to hot news events as
>soon as the info comes over the
>wire.  Our product would allow
>owners to get the info. and be
>able to respond to clients, etc.
>by fax, e-mail or cellular phone
>ASAP.  Correspondence would be
>translatable into most foreign
>languages.



From tcooper@tiac.net Wed Mar 19 13:49:08 1997
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 00:23:37 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: "Clare Wilson ->--- Qulayre the Impaler"
     
Cc: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Subject: Re: DOMINION

Thanks much, Clare. No need to apologize since valid critiques are just as
helpful as creative ideas. THis is useful.  We have a Webmaster who will
be creating a Website for us who can add, for example, your idea about voice
recognition as a "solution" to carpel-tunnel, etc. Thanks.  (I won't identify
our web-master until I've met him and have his permisssion to do so as he may
already be swamped with initial start-up input)...but eventually, this comment
is just the sort of thing that should help him modify that part of the site.
THANKS. Prof. C.


>Looking at the INSTANT NEWS idea, the problem of rushed and innaccurate
>facts is no different than print or broadcast journalism.  The same is
>true with unplanned graphic violence.
>
>        CABLE MODEM:
>If this works, there is no need for a separtion between broadcast media
>and interent at all.  Broadcast networks can braodcast over the
>internet.  Pay channels can make its money by only being offered on
>certain networks, which can charge for usage.
>        Radio stations can also broadcast over internet.  Print journalism
>depends so much on advertising anyway that free access on the internet
>will cut subscription income, but the advertising will reach so many
>more people that it will be worth more.
>        We are exposed to radiation from everything now.  Carpel-tunnel is a
>concern now, but once voice-recognition and other forms of input are
>developed further, it won't be as pressing an issue.
>
>        INTERGRATED SERVICES:
>Telephone service.  It is not difficult to see the internet as the sole
>communication device.  With broadcast and print media, mail, and
>telephone on-line, the only the internet can't cover is human contact.
>
>        Most of the ethical issues presented are the same with other media, not
>just the internet.  How much is being done for those media?  Are they
>not a concern because they are passing media?
>
>--Clare
>
>P.S. Sorry this is not in column form.  It's more comments on other
>ideas rather than completely new ones.
>--
>When was the last time you
>talked to yourself?



From tcooper@tiac.net Fri Mar 21 09:49:06 1997
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 06:42:24 -1000
From: Tom Cooper 
To: jethics-l@hawaii.edu
Cc: tbrislin@hawaii.edu
Subject: Dominion out/Brislin in

We are organically beginning what we call in film/video/audio a cross-fade
in which the Dominion e-mails are fading out and a new discussion with Christi/
Elliot and others is fading in...that's great.  Spring break is coming up at
the Univ. of Hawaii soon so Dominion would be fading now anyway and we welcome
other topics (so long as they are media or journalism ETHICS related) so this
is a LAST CALL for anyone who has not contributed to the Dominion conversation
to do so before SUNDAY. Others should feel free to comment on anything else.
Next week (or the following one if Dr. Brislin wishes to take a breather) we
will leave it up to Dr. Brislin (or to you if he wants to let the open forum
continue) to set the topic or call a recess during the U.H. spring break.
I want to thank everyone for MANY excellent ideas on the Dominion situation
which we've been happy to collate and synthisize.  By now you've seen part of
the chart we will submit as part of the competition, a chart composed by all
of you.  We will also submit a website (thanks to JON!!)...which we can look
at when Prof. B. and the webmaster give us the go-ahead...AND we've created
a bibliography (all book and article suggestions are still welcome) and I've
also been working on an article which will become a class hand-out and a new
syllabus to go with all of this.  If anyone has any other suggestions or last
minute Dominion input, all is welcome PRIOR to Sunday.  Thanks so much for
your teamwork and those of you going on break at U.H.,  have a great one!
Respectfully, Prof. C.

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