Other Ethical Principles Accuracy, Objectivity and Credibility are perhaps the most important ethical principles journalists try to live by, but they are by no means the only ones…

Good Taste Avoid sensationalism Stay away from sexually explicit material Sex and crime are subjects that require extreme caution when reporting and editing. Seek understatement, not overstatement Do not glorify bad behavior Do not invade the privacy of others Avoid profanity and anything else one might consider obscene.

Right of Reply Also known as: Simultaneous Rebuttal If you must print or air criticism of someone, permit that person to respond in same story.

Fairness to All Equal right to fair treatment regardless of : Race Color Philosophy Religion Gender Age Economic Status Do not apply different standards to different people or groups.

Plagiarism Do not pass off the work of others as your own. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE. You may quote from others’ work, but you MUST give credit. In most classrooms, students are failed In the newsroom, reporters are fired

Attribution Identify where information comes from “The President said today…” This allows your audience to judge for themselves the value of the information Never use anonymous sources

The TRUTH Never fake anything Your identity as a journalist A quote A photograph A detail Report only what you know beyond a doubt Never speculate or guess

“If you print that, I’ll sue you for everything you own!” Libel Law Libel Printed false defamation of character Student press is not exempt from libel law Spoken false defamation is slander To defame a person or organization is to reduce their reputation. For libel to occur you must have printed something false.

Libel laws are complex and changeable Vary from state to state Often involve whether the person libeled is a private person, public figure or elected official. Seldom considered a crime; usually a civil action. What can reduce a reputation? She cheats on exams His is immoral She is a liar They falsified lab reports Possibilities are endless

Remember: Even if you can print or air a story, you may decide not to for ethical reasons. By definition libel is printed defamation, laws and principles regarding libel and its defenses apply to print media: Newspapers Yearbooks Magazines As well as: Broadcasts Interactive multimedia projects On-line material

Defenses Against Libel: Truth Privilege Fair comment Admission of Error Public Officials and Public Figures

Journalists must play fair! Ferguson, Donald L., Jim Patten, Bradley Wilson. Journalism Today 6 th edition Lincolnwood, Illinois: 2001.