Posted on 01/01/2020 7:15:12 AM PST by Eddie01
SPJ Code of Ethics
Revised September 6, 2014 at 4:49 p.m. CT at SPJ’s National Convention in Nashville, Tenn.
Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity.
The Society declares these four principles as the foundation of ethical journalism and encourages their use in its practice by all people in all media.
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.
Seek Truth and Report It
Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
– Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it. Use original sources whenever possible.
– Remember that neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy.
– Provide context. Take special care not to misrepresent or oversimplify in promoting, previewing or summarizing a story.
– Gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story.
– Be cautious when making promises, but keep the promises they make.
– Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.
– Consider sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Reserve anonymity for sources who may face danger, retribution or other harm, and have information that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Explain why anonymity was granted.
– Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond to criticism or allegations of wrongdoing.
– Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information unless traditional, open methods will not yield information vital to the public.
– Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. Give voice to the voiceless.
– Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
– Recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government. Seek to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open, and that public records are open to all.
– Provide access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate.
– Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear.
– Avoid stereotyping. Journalists should examine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.
– Label advocacy and commentary.
– Never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information. Clearly label illustrations and re-enactments.
– Never plagiarize. Always attribute.
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
– Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness.
– Show compassion for those who may be affected by news coverage. Use heightened sensitivity when dealing with juveniles, victims of sex crimes, and sources or subjects who are inexperienced or unable to give consent. Consider cultural differences in approach and treatment.
– Recognize that legal access to information differs from an ethical justification to publish or broadcast.
– Realize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than public figures and others who seek power, influence or attention. Weigh the consequences of publishing or broadcasting personal information.
– Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.
– Balance a suspect’s right to a fair trial with the public’s right to know. Consider the implications of identifying criminal suspects before they face legal charges.
– Consider the long-term implications of the extended reach and permanence of publication. Provide updated and more complete information as appropriate.
Act Independently
The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public.
Journalists should:
– Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
– Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.
– Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; do not pay for access to news. Identify content provided by outside sources, whether paid or not.
– Deny favored treatment to advertisers, donors or any other special interests, and resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage.
– Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two. Prominently label sponsored content.
Be Accountable and Transparent
Ethical journalism means taking responsibility for one’s work and explaining one’s decisions to the public.
Journalists should:
– Explain ethical choices and processes to audiences. Encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage and news content.
– Respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness.
– Acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently. Explain corrections and clarifications carefully and clearly.
– Expose unethical conduct in journalism, including within their organizations.
– Abide by the same high standards they expect of others.
If fact, it appears the left read through the ethics guidelines and strive to do the opposite.
You want to see a deep state propagandist's face go white ask them, "What are the four principals of ethical journalism?"
They won't be able to come up with one of them.
I was in SPJ when I worked in the Scribbling Profession.
The cynicism of fellow reporters helped drive me away...
All it would take is to start expelling people who don’t meet these standards and this organization could save journalism.
Any professional code of ethics, like a trial jury, is based on personal sense of right and wrong—call it God if you want. That notion or sense of right and wrong has left the latest generations. They feel only politics and will bend any oath necessary to advance politics.
No kidding. An astute writer, with the time, could write their real code, one by one after each point.
Modern day journalists are just a member of the sector of the Democrat propaganda machine
Yep. Sounds all well and good.
Too bad that there seems to be so very few who take these positions to heart.
Somebody ought to set up an organization for journalist like the Jewish ADL. Set it up during the Trump Adm. and get established as reliable.
Journalists....do they undergo regular continuing education?
Journalists Code of Ethics?
Izzat one or two meaningless sentences?
I think there are two other elements of ethical journalism not mentioned here, and both are _totally_ missing from today’s journalism.
(1) Don’t use the same sources over and over. Have sources that disagree with each other so that multiple views are represented in the story. Don’t just find the Democratic view and the Republican view—find _multiple_ views, the real world is not binary. Go beyond the obvious—don’t use the same sources other reporters are using. Find new ones—find truly independent sources. Don’t forget to talk to the “little people” in any organization, not just the PR flaks or the bosses. Promise them confidentiality if the organization forbids talking to reporters. (That means you have to develop a history of honesty and trustworthiness—otherwise no independent source will put their meal ticket at risk talking to you.)
(2) Research truly new stories—develop _real_ expertise on subject matters that interest you. Do independent research—and find out who is lying on the subject and why they are lying.
One other thought—any story which quotes an “official source” should disclose whether that organization bans its regular employees from talking to reporters—that is a big clue that the source may be untrustworthy or have an axe to grind.
That’s the problem. SPJ is toothless.
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