Category Archives: ethics

The Contrarian Sioux

I’ve had to release the notion that all Indians are community-minded. While anthropologists correctly note cultures are classified by their communitarian versus individualistic values, there’s plentiful evidence that indigenous folk have an independent streak. The Sioux, for example, tolerated individuals … Continue reading

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Who will be the watchdog?

My guilty pleasure is rejoicing in investigative journalism. What a pity the pleasure isn’t the venerable New York Times or 60 Minutes. It’s Newsroom: a scripted, created—invented–story of journalism that airs on cable but I have to wait until it … Continue reading

Posted in authenticity, cinema, ethics, film, framing, His Girl Friday, journalism, news bias, Portland, Pulitzer, Rosalind Rusell, social media, writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Listen to healing

I listened to the medicine men talk about the power of self-persuasion. They agreed that focusing on bad health can sometimes lead to bad health. Your attitude can make a difference and you can set yourself up to indulge in … Continue reading

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May your gander be proper

My propaganda students presented final projects in class yesterday, showing how propaganda can be subtle or overt. And always present. Students sliced through the veneer of million dollar campaigns that convince you to drink milk, vote Republican, quit smoking and … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, ethics, film, framing, Indian, manifest destiny, milk campaign, native american, Native Science, news bias, Roosevelt, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Media Research: Think Again

We may need to re-think how media affect our attitudes and behavior. The foundation for media theories assumes people use information in predictable ways: we watch television during prime time and search the web to learn how to bake a … Continue reading

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Cookie Full of Arsenic

I’d hate to take a bite of you. You’re a cookie full of arsenic. That’s just one of the unforgettable quotes from the movie, The Sweet Smell of Success my students viewed this week. Set in 1950s against the backdrop … Continue reading

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Science Ethics Redux

Henrietta Lacks is back in the news. Lacks’ story captured headlines after Rebecca Skloot’s 2010 book revealed the dying mother had her cells removed for science—without her permission. Doctors at Johns Hopkins hospital had tried unsuccessfully to keep alive human … Continue reading

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Defining Race

The conversation turned to race. My talk Wednesday at the Newberry focussed on Native and scientific perspectives, particularly over Kennewick Man–the 9300-year-old skeleton discovered in the Columbia River. During the question and answer session one guest asked if Kennewick Man … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, ethics, framing, human origin, Indian, journalism, Kennewick Man, native american, Native Science, news bias, repatriation, science, science communication, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Science Censored

Imagine you could cure a disease but the government refused to allow you to study the data. That’s what happened at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) according to the latest issue of Scientific American. The CDC … Continue reading

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Bullet in the Chamber

Some poor sod is having a bad PR day. Turns out Nike’s advertising campaign featuring Oscar Pistorius likens the athlete to a bullet in the chamber. Problem is Pistorius has been accused of releasing four real bullets from the chamber … Continue reading

Posted in authenticity, censorship, ethics, journalism, Native Science, news bias, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment