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To: Pikamax

Wouldn't you think many members of the media would be members of the SPJ? If so, do they follow the ethics code as set out on their ethics page? ("Minimize Harm" and
"Act Independently" lists are too lengthy to add...read them for yourself).


Society of Professional Journalists

http://www.spj.org/ethics_code.asp

Seek Truth and Report It

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:
• Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
• Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
• Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
• Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
• Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
• Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
• Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
• Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
• Never plagiarize.
• Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
• Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
• Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
• Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
• Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
• Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
• Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
• Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.


10 posted on 08/16/2004 5:26:49 AM PDT by Maria S ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." Hillary Clinton, 6/28/04)
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To: Maria S
Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.

There's the key right there. "Diversity" always means shallow concepts like skin color and sexual preference. "We got the viewpoint of a white liberal, a black liberal, a female liberal and a gay liberal".

"Diversity" is never meant to include the viewpoints of conservatives.

13 posted on 08/16/2004 5:36:23 AM PDT by VisualizeSmallerGovernment (Question Liberal Authority)
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