Ethics From the Bottom Up
• Ethics is about doing the right thing and staying out of trouble.
• Legal restraints answer some questions—sometimes.
• Ethics philosophy guides everyday decisions: libertarianism vs. social responsibility, viewpoint, sourcing.
• Underlings should always pass ethical responsibility to their bosses, who get paid the big bucks to take on responsibility.
Ethics is Dealing With People
• Sources.
• Readers.
• Bosses.
• Owners.
• Professional critics.
• Professional peers—colleagues.
Dealing With Sources
• Never let a source read a story before it’s published.
• You may read sources paragraphs in which they are quoted, directly or indirectly.
• Never tell a source when something will be published.
• You’re always on the record unless you agree to leave it.
Diversify your sources—and view
• Our job: present society as it is, not as what we’re comfortable with.
• Do your sources reflect the diversity of your community? They should.
• Diversify by age, sex, ethnicity, income level, profession, education level, religion.
• Get out of your comfort zone—visit people, neighborhoods, organizations outside your experience.
Diversify your sources-2
• Ask yourself: Would a white, middle-class, blue- or white-collar guy take offense?
• If yes, rewrite if you’re saying about anyone else.
• Expand your personal life—the more you know, the more truthful you can be.
• Remember: Treat everyone with respect, whether CEO or homeless person.
Sources & Attribution
• Use neutral attributions—says/said, asks/asked, adds/added.
• Examples of attributions to avoid --Admitted --Acknowledged --Denied --Refused --Confessed --Argued• Non-neutral attributions imply a lie or
malfeasance or uncertainty.• Explain unidentified sources—why?
Sources and Deals
• Never make any kind of deal with a source without clearing it with your boss.
• Always be helpful to sources when you can do so without breaking a confidence.
• Make sure sources have the right to reply before allegations are published.
• Don’t use negative allegations from unidentified sources.
• Treat everyone the same—supergimp!
Sources and Payola
• No gifts, tickets, free rides.
• Give it to charity, share it with the staff.
• Report everything to the boss.
• Don’t pay to gather news—reviews, critics, fund-raisers and other paid events.
• Pay if not gathering news.
• Conduct yourself with humility.
• Do a favor, get a favor, ethically.
Give Readers a Break
• Don’t write about stuff in which you have an interest, or the appearance of an interest.
• The reader is smarter than you think.
• Balance, always, but make the point.
• Respond with courtesy when razzed.
• In public, you represent your publication.
• Strive to not offend or do harm, but do not fear the truth in print.
Dealing With Bosses
• If it feels wrong, it probably is. Take it to the boss.
• If you’re in a spat, seek boss’s support.• Clear even the smallest deals.• Always thank bosses for criticism, even
when it’s worthless.• Give heads-up—if it’s that kind of place.• Boss are paid to take heat—give it to
them.
Owners
• Biggest ethical influence: availability of resources. Live with it or quit.
• What matters most? Quality or profits?
• Is there pressure for puff pieces?
• Does top management screw with copy?
• Is there an ethics policy?
• Is the board composed of people you cover?
Brothers & Sisters in Arms
• Avoid office gossip—you will be burned.
• Help when you can without messing up your own work.
• If you can’t say something positive, don’t say it.
• Avoid talking about people who aren’t in the room.
• Respect others, and you will be respected.
Respect Others’ Work• On the rim, be careful about rewrite.
• Don’t steal words for headlines.
• Give writers a heads-up when you’ve changed something.
• Be positive: Emphasize improvement.
• Don’t be defensive when your work is edited—it’s a team sport.
• Take heat for those who work for you.
• Don’t steal ideas. Credit exclusives.
Doing the Right Thing
• Why is it in the public interest to print this?
• Does the public interest outweigh the harm it might inflict on others, particularly the innocent?
• Is there another way to do the story without doing the harm?
• If it’s not in the public interest, why are we running with the story?
Legal Eagle Stuff
• Libel: Regard for the truth, and malice.
• Libel: Public and private figures.
• Libel: If in doubt, lawyer up.
• Invasion of privacy: Important for people who aren’t public figures.
• Truth isn’t a defense.
• Getting more important.
Shield Laws or Not?
• Some states have ‘em, some don’t.
• Subpoenas of reporter notes and documents growing more frequent.
• If there’s a shield, who qualifies? Bloggers? Folks working on a book?
• Sometimes, it’s best to give it up.
• Always consult with bosses.
• Be ready to go to jail!