Ethics in journalism

The fundamentalsof media credibility

1. Don’t make things up

• The most basic rule in journalism

1. Don’t make things up

• The most basic rule in journalism

• Mike Barnicle, Patricia Smith, Jayson Blair, Jack Kelley, Stephen Glass, Janet Cooke and on and on and on

1. Don’t make things up

• The most basic rule in journalism

• Mike Barnicle, Patricia Smith, Jayson Blair, Jack Kelley, Stephen Glass, Janet Cooke and on and on and on

• Non-fiction is the heart and soul of what we do

1a. Don’t plagiarize

• Along with fabrication, one of the two capital offenses in journalism

1a. Don’t plagiarize

• Along with fabrication, one of the two capital offenses in journalism

• Easier to get caught than ever before because of Google and LexisNexis

1a. Don’t plagiarize

• Along with fabrication, one of the two capital offenses in journalism

• Easier to get caught than ever before because of Google and LexisNexis

• The “Romenesko effect”

1a. Don’t plagiarize

• Along with fabrication, one of the two capital offenses in journalism

• Easier to get caught than ever before because of Google and LexisNexis

• The “Romenesko effect”

• Background doesn’t have to be attributed — but what is background?

3. Exact quotes are exact quotes

• What’s inside quotation marks is exactly what the person said

3. Exact quotes are exact quotes

• What’s inside quotation marks is exactly what the person said

• Don’t use quotation marks for indirect quotes

3. Exact quotes are exact quotes

• What’s inside quotation marks is exactly what the person said

• Don’t use quotation marks for indirect quotes

• Use fragmentary quotes when you only get a few pithy comments

4. Avoid conflicts of interest

• Do not quote family members

4. Avoid conflicts of interest

• Do not quote family members

• Do not report on story in which you or family members are directly involved

4. Avoid conflicts of interest

• Do not quote family members

• Do not report on story in which you or family members are directly involved

• Do not accept gifts from sources

5. Be fair and neutral

• Seek out the truth and report all sides

5. Be fair and neutral

• Seek out the truth and report all sides

• Always contact someone who is being criticized by others

5. Be fair and neutral

• Seek out the truth and report all sides

• Always contact someone who is being criticized by others

• Write with an “objective” voice — keep your opinion to yourself

6. Identify yourself

• Always tell a potential source that you’re a reporter working on a story

6. Identify yourself

• Always tell a potential source that you’re a reporter working on a story

• Never turn a conversation into an interview without permission

6. Identify yourself

• Always tell a potential source that you’re a reporter working on a story

• Never turn a conversation into an interview without permission

• Undercover assignments must be approved at the highest level

7. Anonymous sources

• Urge them to go on the record; use them as little as possible

7. Anonymous sources

• Urge them to go on the record; use them as little as possible

• Your editor has a right to know

7. Anonymous sources

• Urge them to go on the record; use them as little as possible

• Your editor has a right to know

• You are bound by the promise you made

7. Anonymous sources

• Urge them to go on the record; use them as little as possible

• Your editor has a right to know

• You are bound by the promise you made

• Ex post facto requests to go off the record must be handled with care

8. Recorder protocol

• Massachusetts is a two-party state

8. Recorder protocol

• Massachusetts is a two-party state

• First thing we should hear is, “I’ve just turned on the recorder”

8. Recorder protocol

• Massachusetts is a two-party state

• First thing we should hear is, “I’ve just turned on the recorder”

• Recording is becoming more important in online journalism

9. Admit your mistakes

• We all make them

9. Admit your mistakes

• We all make them

• Prompt and willing correction can help avoid libel suit

9. Admit your mistakes

• We all make them

• Prompt and willing correction can help avoid libel suit

• Adds to media credibility

10. Have fun!