What’s ethical, and what’s not? Journalistic Ethics What’s ethical, and what’s not?

Truth-telling What responsibility do journalists have to tell the truth? At what cost? Read “Lying for the Story.” Do you think it would ever be okay to lie in order to get your story? If yes, under what circumstances?

Lying for the Story http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/getting-the-story/lying-for-the-story/

Balance and Bias What does “balanced reporting” mean to you? Read “Did powerful image present an unbalanced view?” See front page in question:

Balance and Bias http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/9756/did-powerful-image-present-an-unbalanced-view/

Balance and Bias What effect does layout have on balance and bias? Would you have run the same layout, or would you have changed it? If so, what would you have done differently?

Stanley J. Forman, Boston Herald American, July 22, 1975 Diana Bryant and young Tiare Jones fell from fire escape as they tried to get out of burning building. Bryant was pronounced dead at the scene. On July 22, 1975, photograph Stanley J. Forman working for the Boston Herald American newspaper when a police scanner picked up an emergency: “Fire on Marlborough Street!” Climbed on a the fire truck, Forman shot the picture of a young woman, Diana Bryant, and a very young girl, Tiare Jones when they fell helplessly. Diana Bryant was pronounced dead at the scene. The young girl lived. Despite a heroic effort, the fireman who tried to grab them had been just seconds away from saving the lives of both. Photo coverage from the tragic event garnered Stanley Forman a Pulitzer Prize. But more important, his work paved the way for Boston and other states to mandate tougher fire safety codes.

Would you have published the previous photo. Why or why not Would you have published the previous photo? Why or why not? What are the ethical considerations in making your decision? Note: Forman won a Pulitzer for his photograph, and Boston strengthened building fire codes.

Balance and Bias What criteria do you need to consider when making a decision about balanced coverage? Consider the following photographs. Make a list of reasons they should be published, and a list of why they should not. What can you add to your code of ethics to guide student reporters and editors in their decision-making process?

Baghdad - Mohammed Saleem, 18 months, lies in a coffin at a Sadr City morgue. Relatives said the boy and four other family members were killed in their car when U.S. forces opened fire overnight. (Photo by Karim Kadim, June 6, 2004)

With her back to her daughter, Theodora Triggs shoots heroin With her back to her daughter, Theodora Triggs shoots heroin. She insists that she loves Tamika and says she knows other children of addicts who are worse off, but admits, "When I'm using, I'm chasing my drug. I'm not paying attention to her."

This photograph showing a starving Sudanese child being stalked by a vulture won Kevin Carter the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography. He chased away the vulture, and she made it to the feeding center.

Bias Is it possible to avoid bias? Is an objective news story or photo always fair? Is a subjective news story always unfair? Why or why not? Objective: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. Subjective: based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.

How can a media outlet take a position on an issue in an editorial and/or column and still be fair in its coverage of that issue? What role does providing equal time and editorial responses have in helping to ensure journalistic fairness? Is it important that each publication present a fair and balanced view of every issue, or is fairness achieved by the diversity of media choices available to the individual consumer in our society?