Media Ethics

1. Media Ethics

2. Ethics
● What are ethics?
o Moral principles that govern a
person's or group's behavior
o The branch of knowledge that
deals with moral principles
● Ethical dilemmas have
always existed, but the
internet and social media are
presenting new challenges.

3. When confronted by a dilemma
Ask yourself -
● It may be legal, but is it ethical?
● What’s the harm vs. what’s the
benefit?
● Is omitting the truth the same
thing as lying?
Helpline for Journalists -
● ethicsadvicelineforjournalists.org
● spj.org/ethicshotline.asp

4. Deception
Sometimes deception is used in
investigative journalism. BUT:
● Consider as a last resort
● Can you get the story through
standard interview
methods/public records?
● Consider a FOIA request
● Is the info of such overriding
public importance that it can
help people avoid harm?

5. Plagiarism
● Cardinal sin in journalism
● Now more of a problem
than ever with copy/paste
from the internet
● U.S. Copyright laws don’t
protect ideas - it’s OK to
localize national story or
take idea from another
newspaper - the key is
original content and
reporting

6. Fabrication
• Jayson Blair, the NY Times, plagiarized
and fabricated facts in at least 36
articles, something that led to his firing
and to the resignation of an editor and
manager at the newspaper. Smith
resigned from the Boston Globe in 1998
after she admitted fabricating people
and quotes for columns.
• Patricia Smith, who was a finalist for the
1998 Pulitzer Prize, admitted to making
up most or all of four different columns.

7. Conflicts of interest
These occur whenever
reporters face competing
loyalties. If you cover student
council and your best friend
is president of student
council, you may feel
inclined to be less skeptical
of the council’s decisions
because of your friendship.
Your loyalty to your friend
and to your readers is in
conflict.

8. Privacy issues
● How private can a public figure
expect his/her life to be?
● When it does it serve public
interest to publish private
information?
o Crime suspects names
withheld until formally
charged
o Names of rape victims due
to trama and stigma
o Should the accused be
named and not the accuser?

9. Harming reputations
• Thorough news reporting at times
brings discomfort to those in
power and those who are the
subjects of stories.
• However, just because someone's
life or reputation will be affected
doesn’t mean you should look the
other way when an injustice is
occurring.
• Be absolutely sure about your
facts before submitting them to
your editor.

10. Anonymous sources
You should always be as honest with
readers as possible. Anonymous sources
wrap key information about your story
in a cloud of uncertainty. They should be
used only in extreme circumstances
(ex: the source’s life may be in danger).
Make sure to check with your editor
before granting anonymity.

11. Accountability to readers
Journalists hold others to high
standards.
They, too, must live by these
high standards.
Their first obligation should be to
the truth.
They should listen to readers who
have complaints about coverage and
correct errors promptly.

12. Be Fair
● Stick to the facts
● Question authorities
● Don’t assume
● Pay attention to
alternative explanations

13. Photo subjects
● At what point are we
invading privacy?
o Public’s need to see
vs. want to see

14. “We do our jobs
when we give
readers all the
news – no matter
how painful or
ugly….Personal
feelings cannot
dissuade us from
our mission to
provide the facts
upon which an
informed citizenry
can make
decisions.”
~Inquirer managing
editor Anne Gordon

16. Video news releases
● “Fake TV news”
● Run as segments,
indistinguishable from the
regular news
● Highly controversial -
usually backed by
government or corporation
- not objective, not news

17. Ethical reasoning
Journalists use several methods to
justify their decisions. In most ethical
dilemmas, editors and reporters
discuss the issue and the consequences
of publication before making the
decision. They consider how
newsworthy the story is and whether
the public really needs this
information.

18. Ethical reasoning
1. Define the dilemma. Consider all the problems the
story or photograph will pose
2. Examine all your alternatives. For example, you
can publish, not publish, wait for more information,
display the story or photo prominently or in a lesser
position or choose other options
3. Justify your decision. Weigh the harms and the
benefits of publication, or weigh such factors as
relevance and importance of the story to the public

19. Poynter Institute Model
1. Why am I concerned about this story, photo or graphic?
2. What is the news? What good would publication do?
3. Is the information complete and accurate, to the best of my knowledge?
4. Am I missing an important point of view
5. What does my reader need to know?
6. How would I feel if the story or photo were about me or a member of my family?
7. What are the likely consequences of publication? What good or harm could result?
8. What are my alternatives?
9. Will I be able to clearly and honestly explain my decision to anyone who
challenges it?

20. Discuss: Ethical dilemmas
● Freebies at an event you’re covering
● Photos from a car accident with a
fatality
● A source accusing a suspect of a
crime asks to go by a fake fame
● The media company you work for
closes 12 local outlets; your
publisher decides not to run any
press on the issue

21. Codes of Ethics
The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics is a
statement of abiding principles supported by additional
explanations and position papers (at spj.org) that address
changing journalistic practices. It is not a set of rules, rather a
guide that encourages all who engage in journalism to take
responsibility for the information they provide, regardless of
medium. The code should be read as a whole; individual
principles should not be taken out of context. It is not, nor can it
be under the First Amendment, legally enforceable.
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

22. Codes of Ethics
● New York Times:
http://www.nytco.com/who-we-
are/culture/standards-and-ethics/
● Washington Post:
http://asne.org/content.asp?pl=236&sl=19&
contentid=335