The rules for journalism – and life Ethics The rules for journalism – and life
What are ethics A set of moral principles A theory or system of moral values Are ethics and morals different? Discuss
Journalists Society of Professional Journalists Seek truth and report it Minimize harm Act independently Be accountable
Seek Truth and Report It Avoid inadvertent error Seek out all sides of story (not just two) Identify sources when feasible Never plagiarize Examine own cultural values and impact they may have Help ensure government openness Question sources
Minimize Harm Show compassion Be sensitive Don’t be arrogant Use good taste Be cautious Be balances Be judicious
Act Independently Avoid perceived or real conflicts of interest Refuse gifts Disclose unavoidable conflicts Hold those in power accountable Resist pressure from advertisers to distort news Be wary of favors
Be Accountable Invite public comment Admit mistakes and correct them promptly Expose unethical practices
It Comes from Inside Your ethics might be different than mine That’s OK (in some cases) Some rules apply universally Everyone has to come up with his or her own moral compass Big ethical breaches grow from small ones (see later)
What Would You Do? You finish a two-hour interview with the mayor about all the changes she wants to make to improve the city. She lets it slip that she thinks the police chief has bungled efforts to curb crime. After the interview, she asks you not to use that….
What Would You Do? You keep getting beaten by your counterpart at a competing news organization. Your boss has warned this must stop. You are about to file your story on a triple homicide, and you notice your competitor has details online that you don’t have. What do you do …
What Would You Do? You are covering a homicide, and you find out that three young children (under age 5) witnessed the homicide. The mother of the children agrees to have the children photographed, and agrees to let you interview the children. The suspect is still at large …