Ethics in journalism

By Patrick Nicholson

Ethics in Journalism

Finding the Truth

It is important to verify all facts presented in an article.  Yet, upholding this idea involves more than just using reliable sources and recording interviews.  The following are a few things to remember in regards to sticking with the truth:

 

-          Seek out all people mentioned in your news story, to give them an opportunity to respond to any allegations or statements made by other sources.  This goes along with the idea of investigating both sides of an argument, and helps reporters avoid misrepresentation of an event.

-          Avoid undercover methods of obtaining information unless tradition methods will not yield important information to the public.  Use of such methods should be noted in the story.

-          Make sure that news teases and headlines do not misrepresent the story, but rather are non-opinionated or represent the views of the sources.

-          Grant anonymity if requested by sources, but note the motives for the source’s decision to remain unaccredited.  It could lead to a new side to the story.

-          Do not edit video clips or pictures so that they misrepresent the story or source.  But remember that image enhancement for technical clarity is always acceptable.

Privacy

When pursuing an interesting story, journalists may need to dig deeper than normal for the vital information.  What every reporter needs to remember in such situations is that there is a fine line between finding information the public needs to know and invading someone’s privacy.  Here are a few tips:

-          Private or embarrassing facts that are irrelevant to the story should never be disclosed to the public, even if they may be interesting to the public.

-          A reporter is not entitled to invade on someone’s seclusion or solitude.  As in any other interview, a source must grant the reporter’s request for an interview before questions are asked and recorded.  This is especially important if the source just experienced a traumatizing or depressing event.

-          Remember that as a journalist, you are provided the public with information that will help them make good decisions or further their understanding of a situation.  The title of reporter does not give you a license to gossip.

Main Idea

When dealing with all natures of stories, the goal is to give the people a full, truthful, and interesting story.  But remember that you should never override a person’s privacy or your own integrity in order to do this.

Works Cited:

Journalism Ethics: Privacy." The University of Iowa. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.uiowa.edu/~c019168/168s6online15.html>.

"SPJ Code of Ethics." Society of Professional Journalists. 1996. Web. <http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp>.