Leading California publishers and editors have asked educators to exercise the ethical thinking of our students as part of integrated approach to teaching/journalism journalism. At a journalism summit held at the Orange County Register in May 2007, they said that ethics was one tool in the journalism toolbox that they would like to students to feel more comfortable picking up, using and applying.
This blog is a response to their request -- an approach to let us clearly identify the thinking that goes into the decisions being made today by practicing journalists, and to allow us to consider whether we agree or disagree with those decisions and how, in the same circumstance, we might think through these decisions.
Not only are you expected to post weekly on this blog about what ethical minefields you have discovered, but I encourage you to (politely) comment on those posted by your new colleagues. Do you agree or disagree? Is there some fallacy in their thinking that you would like to (politely) point out.
As always, no flaming. An educated, thoughtful debate is encouraged.
I look forward to an interesting 16 weeks of discussion and debate. Now, get started! Find that first ethical issue and post away!
Sylvia Fox
Professor of Journalism
SPJ Code of Ethics
Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
— Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
— Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
— Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
— Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
— Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
— Never plagiarize.
— Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
— Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
— Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
— Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
— Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
— Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
— Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
— Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
— Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
— Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
— Never plagiarize.
— Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
— Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
— Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
— Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
— Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
— Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
— Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
— Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
— Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
— Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
— Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
— Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
— Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.
Journalists should:
—Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
— Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
— Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
— Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
— Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
— Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
Journalists should:
— Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
— Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
— Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
— Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
— Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of writers, editors and other news professionals. The present version of the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months of study and debate among the Society's members.
Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the
American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996.
3 comments:
In the article I just read, the one ethical issue that stood out for me, was the one where journalist do not accept gifts or special treatments. To me, it seems like when people try to bribe the journalist, they want the news that they want to go out, not the news that you are supposed to bring out. The other ethical issue, is holding someone with power accountable. We as journalist have to make sure we get the facts correct and cover our grounds before we publish anything in general about anyone. Publish something that is not fully accurate about someone in power, and it will backfire on the journalist and will lose their reputation and respect. On the final note, which to me personally is the most important ethical issue, is th minimize the harm in the people we interview that are going through a tough time. As it says, show some compassion and sensitivity to the people we are getting information from. To me, to get information from any person, we have to show respect and sensitivity to any information we seek. The more people see that a journalist is respectful to the person they are seeking information from, the more likely a journalist will be able to retrieve more information.
Frankie
After reading the article, "Ethics of News," and seeing the extensive list of journalist conduct, I feel as though two issues really grabbed my attention. First and foremost, the issue that a journalist should "...balance a criminal suspects fair trial rights with the publics right to be informed.." I think this is an issue that many journalists neglect to carry to fruition. In our modern, cut-throat, media it seems a criminal suspect is guilty until proven innocent and as soon as they are condemned in the eyes of the media they are thrown into the prison of public opinion. How can one hope to have a fair trial when all over the news are pictures of them directly attached to gory crime scenes or eye witness accounts...the jury has come to its decision before they are even selected. The other issue I found to be a bit hilarious was under the header "Be Accountable,"" in which it was written, "Admit mistakes and correct them promptly." The old saying, too little too late, seems to apply here. Unfortunately, words are weapons and once that bombshell of false news has been launched there is no "I'm sorry" big enough to regain one's reputation or take back an untarnished identity. In the world of journalism, there are no room for errors to be published, one must check, re-check and once again verify their sources, their information and their final press release before letting it all hang out for any and everyone to take in, process and form opinions off of. While most news rooms are familiar with the quote, "if it bleeds it leads," perhaps this is the exact mentality that is taking us farther and farther from the path of Ethical news.
-K
The most significant issue that I came across in the article was "Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status." It's almost impossible for a journalist to avoid at least violating one of these stereotypes, whether it be intentional or unintentional. Unfortunately, it's the way of life for humans to judge without justification based on what they've seen either previously or on what someone else told them. Turn on the television to the nightly news and I guarantee you will catch at least some form of a stereotype. Is it their fault that the journalist are not "being honest and fair"? Not necessarily. We as an audience have become acceptant of stereotypes in the media and it doesn't offer a high effect as it would have done in the past. In a sense, we contribute to them with shows such as "Flavor of Love" (woman portrayed as promiscuous, un-ladylike), "The Sopranos" (All Italians are members of mob=dangerous), "Little People, Big World" (dwarfism issues and being assimilated to a height centered society)... the list goes on and is not limited to television. When a story opens up on the news that says "A priest has been arrested today...", the first thought that comes to most minds is that the priest probably molested a child or something to that degree, even though he could have just been arrested for a DUI, etc. The journalist has the option to level his/her integrity and shy away from the norm and the wants of his producer, which could result in their loss of a job or further scorn. I applaud the journalist who maintains focus on delivering true, non-biased news based on assumptions of character and integrity.
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