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A brief overview of ethical questions faced by working journalists and how to handle them.
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Ethics in journalism
The fundamentalsof media credibility
Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics
www.spj.org/ethicscode.aspand
Linked from class website
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, Mike Wise 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, Mike Wise 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• Do not quote your family members unless you’re writing a personal essay– That’s not something you’ll be doing in J2
4. Avoid conflicts of interest
• Do not quote your family members unless you’re writing a personal essay
• Do not report on story in which you or family members are directly involved
4. Avoid conflicts of interest
• Do not quote your family members unless you’re writing a personal essay
• 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 in the “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 your source’s identity
7. Anonymous sources
• Urge them to go on the record; use them as little as possible
• Your editor has a right to know your source’s identity
• 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 your source’s identity
• 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!
