Ethics

What is ethics?

• The difference between good and bad• Morals• A person’s beliefs regarding what is right to them

• Comes with integrity• Doing what is right when no one is watching

In journalism…

• Makes all the difference because we are gatekeepers • If journalists determine what is released to the

public, we must decide what is right and what is wrong• The difference between good and bad is very

vague so media sets certain guidelines• Determine public opinion and what is considered

politically correct

Why else?

• For backlash from students, teachers or the community• For law suits• Remember, people can sue for anything, even

against a high school newspaper

• http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2013/09/04/neighbor-says-church-bells-helped-destroy-his-marriage/• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ydaCnv8xM• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079940/

Dead-man-killed-tragic-train-collision-CAN-sued-woman-injured-flying-body-parts.html

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/james-holmes-batman-massacre-lawsuit_n_1699308.html• http://www.occupythegame.com/

lieutenant_john_pike/• http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/

2013/10/24/california-davis-police-occupy/3176599/

• Don’t be intimidated • Still ask plenty of questions• Never leave a question unanswered • Always back-up your information

However…

Conflict of interest

• Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.• “A situation in which a public official's decisions

are influenced by the official's personal interests.”• Remember, journalists are public figures• In journalism, a journalist cannot run a story that

is by any means related to them

• Journalists should:• Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special

treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.

• Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.

• Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.

• Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money;

SPJ: http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

•When you cover an event, gifts will be offered. For example, if you cover a high school football game from the press box, you will be offered food. Should you accept food? If yes, how much? If no, why?

Homer

• Being biased towards your high school, or “home,” team you cover.• For example:• Only covering your high school team and not interviewing

the other coach, players, etc.• Putting a team in a positive light, despite performance• Saying we, us, etc. in television broadcasts• http://deadspin.com/5914346/ken-hawk-harrelson-melts-

down-after-white-sox-pitcher-ejected-for-throwing-behind-a-batter

• http://deadspin.com/former-expos-announcer-loses-his-mind-on-melky-cabrera-1554509299

Rules

• DON’T BE A FAN WHEN YOU ARE INVOLVED IN JOURNALISM

• Don’t wear the school/team colors if you are covering an event

• Don’t cheer, clap, boo, make biased statements at a game you are covering

• Be fair if you are Tweeting or writing a story. Regardless of how your school does in an event, it is not your job to be positive or negative about it.

• Don’t cheer on a team in a story, a tweet or anything related to journalism.

Plagiarism

• “The practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.”• In journalism, always give attribution• I.e. Vega said he…

• Remember, if you are using someone’s exact words in a string of at least three words in a row, use quotations• Plagiarizing yourself

• http://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/jul/21/highereducation.uk• http://deadspin.com/rick-reillys-latest-self-

plagiarism-is-the-worst-1519836119

• Cite everyone that helped you write the story, including if a photo is a photo illustration or just a photo• If an editor changes more than 200 words, the

editor’s name should be shared on byline

Media Relations

• People who give permission to interview/get story• As a beat writer, you may get close or attached to

them, even considering them friends• BUT YOU ARE NOT MEDIA RELATIONS’ FRIENDS• Their job is to place their “clients” in a positive

light and hide negative events• Their job is to be biased and are the opposite of

journalism

WithHolding Information

1) ANONYMOUS SOURCES•"The anonymous source--its use or misuse--is an issue of growing concern for us and other newspapers, particularly as it relates to the issue of newspaper credibility and public confidence in the media." William T. Newill, Burlington County Times in New Jersey •Should we use Anonymous Sources? Why or Why not? What are the cons?

WithHolding Information

1) ANONYMOUS SOURCES

•Sixth Amendment •Janet Cooke •Off the Record – Zacchini v. Scripps Howard• 4/5 editors had run staff-written stories based on unnamed sources. •Trial Balloons

WithHolding Information

2) PRIVACY•Moments of Grief—Traffic Accidents, Plane Disasters, Victims of Violence•Tennis player Arthur Ashe and the Washington Post• "I know there are tradeoffs in life. I understand

that the press has a watchdog role in the maintenance of our freedoms and to expose corruption, but the process whereby news organizations make distinctions seems more art than science. I wasn't then, and I am not now, comfortable with being sacrifice for the sake of the 'public's right to know.'"

WithHolding Information

2) PRIVACY•Challenger-->Concord Monitor said, "For days after the shuttle tragedy the talk in bars and restaurants was of what vultures the media were, what heartless invaders of privacy."  •Oliver Sipple

WithHolding Information

3) COMPASSION V. POLICY•Suicide Threats•In El Paso, media held a story about the kidnapping of two boys for two days because of threats, relayed by the FBI, that the kidnappers would kill the boys if the kidnapping were publicized. The boys were freed unharmed. •Dillard's solicitation case.

Withholding Information

Wrapup•"The real ethical issues are the hard choices faced in reporting day-to-day news," said Bill William, The Paris Post-Intelligencer. "Do I publish the name of the rape victim? Do I wait until the defendant appears in court before publishing news of the arrest? Do I allow the mayor to provide information off the record? Does my birth column list illegitimate children?"

Withholding Information

Wrapup•T.J. Hemlinger of the Hartford City News-Times said, "Our ethical questions are: Should we run a picture of a suicide victim covered by a sheet, or a picture of someone injured in a traffic accident? Should we run a picture of a woman who probably is mentally ill as she goes into court to face charges of murdering her 9-month-old infant? My answers are all 'yes,' by the way.”

Decision Making

Modified Potter Box

Test

Test

• I) Choose three of the following situations and use the following process outlined in the modified Potter Box to determine your course of action. • II) Then on the Ethics Blog: Detail your process and justify your decision. • III) Then read and give constructive commentary on two others’ solutions.