Text 8 journalism ethics code

Codes of ethics assist journalists with ethical dilemmas they might come across in their careers. The written codes and standards may vary from organization to organization and from country to country but usually there is some type of framework established on ethics.

Reporting the truth is never libel, which makes accuracy and attribution very important. Private persons have privacy rights that must be balanced against the public interest in reporting information about them. Public figures have fewer privacy rights and publishers vigorously defend libel lawsuits filed against their reporters.

One of the most important rules is to make sure your sources given information is reliable and true. You are responsible for what material you are reporting. Always question your sources of information and dig deep in order to compare all the material that is available on the topic in question.

When you obtain photography or video images for a report make sure not to distort the images in any way. An exception to the rule is to increase the clarity of the images.

Make sure to focus on facts and details without making any personal comments or suggestions. This allows the reader to form his or her own opinions and give feedback.

It is also important to use your career as a tool for the voiceless to be heard. Sources can be average people who have experienced events or are currently in difficult circumstances and looking for a way to be heard. Be their aid and not only will you be helping them but you are also putting together a story that others will be touched by and may even relate to.

As a group, create a list of ethical standards you believe journalists should follow in their work. ____________________________________________________

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TASK 34

Read the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics (Supplement for Unit 1, Text 2.). Highlight key ideas. Compare and contrast the standards in your list to the SPJ’s codes of ethics:

• What are the most important positions in the SPJ’s code?

• How closely does the SPJ’s code align with the code you created?

• Is there anything in the SPJ’s code that you think should be left out?

• Would you add anything to the SPJ’s code?

Using the same positions, compare the SPJ Code of Ethics and the Journalists Ethics Code adopted in your country.

TASK 35

Ethics can be helpful in reporting sensitive or controversial issues. The goal in asking ethical questions before stories are published is to carefully consider the implications and consequences of the journalist’s choices. Express your opinion on the following issues:

• Is it ethical for a reporter to write a news piece on the same topic on which he or she has written an opinion piece in the same paper?

• Under what circumstances do you identify a person who was arrested as a relative of a public figure, such as a local sports star?

• Freelance journalists and photographers accept cash to write about, or take photos of, events with the promise of attempting to get their work on the prominent news outlets, from which they also will be paid. Is that ethical?

• Can a journalist reveal a source of information after guaranteeing confidentiality if the source proves to be unreliable?

 ACHIEVEMENT TEST