Ethics of News: 10/14/07

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Munhwa Ilbo Ordered to Apologize for Nude Photos

The controversy of this article is based on the printing of nude photographs of a person who was accused of a crime. The paper that ran the article was Munhwa Ilbo, a Korean daily. They ran the nude photographs of Shin Jeong-ah. Shin was accused of creating a fake Yale University diploma and having an "inappropriate relationship" with a secretary.

The paper ran these photos because they thought the photos may be clear evidence of Shin offering sex to authorities for career opportunities. The Korean Press Ethics Commission has stated the photos are not evidence in the case, and that the paper printing the photos has damaged the dignity and reliability of all print media.

I do not know much about foreign media, but I am presuming that running a nude photo of a person without there consent is a bad idea in most parts of the world. So, ethically, I think running the photos was a poor choice in the first place. Also, at this point, Shin was only charged with allegations. He was not convicted of anything, so running the photos that you believe might show his guilt is a risky move. If he ends up innocent, the paper could have ruined his reputation for nothing.

If I was in the editor's position I wouldn't have ran the photos. I say it was irresponsible to run them because he was nude and because he may be innocent.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Is an Imus return appropriate?

Last year following the NCAA women's basketball championship game, nationally syndicated radio-host and media member Don Imus shocked the nation after making what many perceived as racist and misogynistic. He was immediately pulled off the air and since has not hosted a radio show.

However, six months later it is beginning to look like Don Imus may be back on the air entertaining thousands of people across the country. There are rumors that Imus may be given a nationally syndicated talk-show over one of the satellite radio stations.

These rumors are beginning to spark controversy across the country. Some people believe that Imus' comments were so inappropriate and foul that he should never be allowed into the public limelight again. These people also believe that because he is a member of the media he should be held to a higher standard because many people would be depending on him to bring them their news. However, others see that he did apologize for what he said and if a network is willing to risk their name by broadcasting his show then let them.

I completely agree with the second opinion. I believe that what Don Imus said was wrong, but then again, it was his job to be edgey and controversial with his comedy. He crossed the line, and once he realized that, immediately apologized. Too many times, people make an accident in the public eye and are forever condemned because of this. We need to look at ourselves and ask if we have ever done anything that we regretted and how it felt if people would have denied us that. Don Imus is a human being, just like anyone of us.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21254125/

Monday, October 15, 2007

Life or Eth(ics)

Over the summer two journalists illegally entered Lebanon to get a better sense of how the people felt about the war and what was actually going on in the country. This was an ethically illegal maneuver and the journalists were only concerned with producing a good story. The reason this was so frowned upon was because the writers were endangering the lives of the citizens making this an unethical matter. This broke the laws of the country, falsely entered the country which is fabricating the truth, and jeopardizing the lives of the people they came into contact with during the duration of their stay. There is a thin line between going too far and ruining a journalists credibility or going just far enough for a story. These two journalists clearly went too far and were not thinking ethically, which is the number one rule of journalism. Also, they could have died but many innocent citizens who had no idea these men were not being truthful about their stay in the country could have died. Journalists need to remember their limits and keep in mind that they can destroy the lives of others over a story that is not dire to their, or many others, own lives.

The Daily Star

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.

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.

Ethics of News