Personal Code of Ethics

When I first showed up to class in the beginning of this Fall semester, we were all asked what ethics meant to us and at first it took me a second, but then I was able to think of a couple of definitions. I think the first had to do with morality and then I came up with a personal guideline one strives to hold to. I came to find out a little later that I was actually spot on. Ethics are a moral principles that govern a person’s or a group’s behavior.

When dealing with journalism, the code of ethics they stick to is mostly voluntary, unless there is an office or organization that requires its employees to uphold it as a policy for their workplace. I personally do not plan on being a journalist, since I am only minoring in Communications, but I do believe this is good for myself to think of a personal code of ethics that I can use as a guideline on how to act and live when dealing with others. It is almost like the Ten Commandments given to Moses, where I need to take them upon myself and be willing to suffer the consequences to my actions if I go astray from what I have promised to uphold. Well, maybe it is not so strict, but if I thought of it like that, I would definitely be a better person and co-worker.

As this semester has moved on, I really have learned a lot about journalism and how much goes on behind the scenes with the importance of this code of ethics. Like I mentioned earlier, the code of ethics is voluntary and it amazes me how journalists, for the most part, strive to be honest, fair and trustworthy. To help with what makes up this certain code of ethics, there is an organization called the Society of Professional Journalists, which is made up of thousands of journalists, and they have come up with four pillars of ethics. To introduce these four pillars they have said that the forerunner to justice and the foundation of democracy is public enlightenment. They also said that standing at the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility is professional integrity. I am astonished at what these professionals strive to do in the name of journalism, which leads us to the four pillars. They are to seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable. It covers the basis of what a journalist should do to provide good reports to his or her audience. I personally have made a personal code of ethics that is quite similar to that of the SPJ’s. I will explain what my goals are with this code and how I plan to stick to it.

Being only a Communication minor, and taking the basic journalism classes, I am given the opportunity to learn how to look at news and decide whether I can trust certain agencies. I have learned that as a member of the audience to the news I consume, I have the ability to do some checks to see whether the stories are accurate or not. I have the right, as a consumer, to pick which source is best for me, because I have choices. As an example of that, I recently have taken a liking to reading the newspaper, which I really have never done. The newspaper is slowly dying, which is a sad thing, but I believe I can trust The New York Times as still being the best out of the ones that are surviving. I have read other newspapers lately and I find The Times to be the most transparent and informative. That is my choice and my opinion, but in the end that is why we have that freedom to choose what we like best. Other than reading the newspaper I get other news online, because it is convenient being around computers most of the day. I don’t have time to watch TV, so that takes a back seat to any news consumption.

When determining which source of news to trust and how to know for sure if they are a good organization it is important to check them against other sources for independence, verification and public vigilance. In other words, what are they reporting? Does it personally affect you? Does it help you to know what you are consuming? Is the information’s accurate? All these are great questions to find out if you are taking in good information and will help you find the best source for your personal wants and needs. I truly believe that an individual journalist and an organization have to stand up for what they believe to be true and right. When the whole team is organized, bold and following the four pillars of journalism, they would be considered an outstanding example in journalism. That trust journalists seek with their audience takes time to develop, but it is key if they want anyone to pay attention to them.

For my life personally, I want people to trust me, as well. I want to be able to be a good listener and have people trust me with their information they share with me. I want to be a valued source when asked questions and have people believe me when I tell them something. My parents taught me to be trustworthy and growing up that characteristic took some courage to stick up for my values, but in the end it is always worth it to choose the right. Yes, I have slipped up and told lies, but have learned my lesson and regained the trust of those I harmed. It took time and hard work to fix my wrongdoings, but I am glad I went through those experiences. I have learned that will help me through out my life. I want to share a list, which I have taken from other sources and applied to my personal code of ethics. I want to be or a journalist to be trustworthy, courageous, loyal, objective and fair to both sides. All those together, if a person was to stick to them, would make a pretty outstanding person.

Journalism is an honorable career and after going through this class I respect them even more. They are all around us, but do an outstanding job with all the details they have to keep in mind while reporting. It is, once again, all done to help us stay informed. We the audience are being enlightened by other citizens who have taken upon themselves to be watchdogs within our society and uphold what matters most to a democratic society, freedom. That includes the freedom to express ideas, opinions and thoughts with out being censored by the government. What a blessing it is to live and work in this great country, where we enjoy and have enjoyed these freedoms for hundreds of years.

In conclusion to my time in this class I want it to be known that I will not take for granted the things I used to look over and not think much of. There is so much that goes into being a journalist and it really is a way of life. Journalists have to dedicate themselves to their work and make it a priority to be mindful of what they do and say. Even though I am learning the basics in this class, it will be useful for me in my life to use these principles in my life as I associate with the people of this world. Just as I have grown from this class and this assignment, I think it would be useful for all of us to look at our lives and determine what kind of personal code of ethics we could be living by. It will not only improve your life, but also the lives of everyone around us. Who knows, this might be the key to world peace. All I know is that I am a better person, because I want to be trustworthy, loyal and be fair to those I come in contact with. If only we could all live by the golden rule and treat others, as we would want to be treated, then we would really get somewhere. Mistakes come with the territory, just make sure to learn from them and try not to repeat them. One last thing, remember who you are and what you stand for, and then journalism will really find a special spot in everyone’s hearts. Learn the code and live it. That is my final advice for all who read this, which includes myself.

Ethics

Journalists nowadays are not forced to be ethical and there is no law holding them to what the SPJ has put together as the four pillars of ethics. Journalists are simply being responsible citizens and accountable for their work. The four pillars of the SPJ’s code of ethics (http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp) go as follows: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable.


Starting with the first pillar, seek truth and report it, there should be an understanding that journalists must be honest, fair, and courageous when gathering, reporting and interpreting information (Willis, 50). It is important to know that journalists are dealing with other people’s lives and should treat that information with care and be just in reporting it. That leads us to the next pillar to the code of ethics, minimize harm. Journalists’ sources, colleagues and subjects all have their personal opinions, feelings and thoughts that they must keep in mind. It is crucial to be wise when asking questions during tragedy and grief, because you do not want to come off greedy or seem like you are pandering. A journalist must think on their feet and be able to work on their own without making mistakes and causing more drama than is necessary. That is why the third pillar of the code of ethics is to act independently. This pillar also means that when journalists are on their own in the field they have to be aware of their own feelings and thoughts and maintain an independence from those they cover. One cannot get too involved in their story so that their judgment is swayed one direction or another. That is why journalists have to be accountable of themselves and those they surround themselves with at all times. Which takes us to the fourth and last pillar, be accountable (http://bigthink.com/ideas/3307). Journalists have to abide by the same high standards to which you hold others. Be aware that mistakes will be made and journalists have to accept this and make sure to go back and correct them (http://www.regrettheerror.com/).

Watchdog Journalism

When a newsroom asks its journalists to have more watchdog journalism in their work, what does that mean? To answer that question we can start with journalism being the fourth estate and it being a fourth branch of the government. They act as an overseeing eye and are there to inform the people (http://tinyurl.com/3tzyez4). Charlotte Hall, Editor at the Orlando Sentinel, said simply, “Watchdog journalism is a state of mind for the whole newspaper: Journalism that gives power to the people.” In other words, the entire team of journalists has to be aware of what is around them and be willing to keep a look out for the rest of us, so we can be informed (http://tinyurl.com/3kle4xp). They are the private eye for the public good.

At the same time, many are wondering if some journalists and organizations are taking watchdog journalism too far and turning it into a form of amusement. It is being drawn out and it is a joke, sometimes to boost ratings. Liz Leamy, a TV reporter, says that it is the “just add water” investigative reporting. Some bad examples of watchdog journalism include, a news channel putting cameras up in a house to prove you can’t get all your carpets cleaned for $7.95. Another in the mid 1990’s claiming a bra’s internal wire could poke the owners. This is not watchdog journalism. It supposed to be reporting that looks out for the civic interests of the audience and uncovers real problems in the community and offers solutions. A good example would be Bob Woodward and Carl Burnstein’s reporting on the Watergate Scandal for the Washington Post (http://tinyurl.com/azyqy). Remember, the purpose as a journalist is to be a link between the news/truth and the audience. It is to empower them with the information by keeping an eye on your surroundings, reporting the events and providing possible solutions.

Independence in Journalism

Whenever I speak of independence I always think back to the colonial times when the settlers were trying to break free of England’s tight grip over the colonies and what that must have been like. Independence in Journalism is a little different, but it still means to separate yourself from, and not being subject to control by others. Independence is the fourth principle in journalism (http://tinyurl.com/djszyf). Meaning Journalists must maintain an independence from those people and topics they cover. A journalist can’t be swayed by outside forces in their work. Their stand must be equal and look at all sides of the event. This could be termed as independence from faction, or having a true set of ideas rather than a member of a team, someone who puts the audience first (http://tinyurl.com/3wp7py2). Journalist have to be committed not only to their audience but to themselves. A journalist has to promise themself that they won’t have any conflicts of interest while working on a report. This is defined as an independence of mind and is crucial to a journalist and their work, for there can be no obstacles while reporting. The book The Elements of Journalism says, “Friendship, opportunities, and flattery all will conspire to seduce the opinion writer to cross the line” (p. 120). Living up to this principle of independence of mind is very difficult, take the case of Maggie Gallagher (http://tinyurl.com/d2qczz). She was an outstanding journalist for the New York Post and was always making her stance clear on being honest and completely committed to your work. Then, Howard Kurtz, media writer for the Washington Post, finds out she’s writing under a federal contract to promote President Bush’s marriage initiative. She goes to defend herself, stating she wasn’t aware of an issue between the two jobs she had. Well, it is too bad she didn’t reveal her contract because she just shot herself in the foot by not opening up about this conflict of interest. The moral of the story is, don’t get yourself involved in journalism without maintaining independence from your work and personal life.

Verification

The human body depends on the heart to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body to supply vital organs with the nutrition it needs. It is crucial that it continues to beat all day and all night, if not death is imminent. In journalism, the same goes for what is reported and how the information has been verified. Verification is the beating heart of credible journalism in the public interest and without it a journalist is nothing (http://tinyurl.com/3avjurn). Verification allows the work that is presented to stand on its two feet and supply the audience with the vital information they seek.

I present to you five techniques, which allow journalists to thoroughly verify their work before it is published or aired:

1. Edit with skepticism- Ask questions like, why is this here? Can it be supported? Can it be proven? Don’t settle with information you receive. Instead dig deeper and find the source to be sure of its legitimacy.

2. Keep an accurate checklist- Make sure you have a good list to check your work and balance the sides in your work. Also, don’t be afraid to add to this checklist. You can add procedures which help your final outcome be even better.

3. Assume nothing- This is referring to not allowing any room for complacency. It is important to get as close as you can to the source for your work. Think of a target and having the immediate source in the middle. Going out from there you have eyewitnesses, primary sources and then secondary.

4. Tom French’s Red Pencil- this is, or should be, another part of your checklist. It simply means to get the red pencil out and put a check next to facts and assertions to double check that your work is true(http://tinyurl.com/3odwxzt).

5. Be careful with anonymous sources- with anonymous sources it is hard to determine what their intentions are, so go back to step one and be skeptical. Ask yourself what their motivation is (why?), what other alternatives their might be to check that the information is verifiable and determine what importance their message really has http://tinyurl.com/3vopo8s).

The Profession

While reading a book called The Mind of a Journalist by Jim Willis, it was very interesting to find a chapter with the title, “The Priesthood of Journalists.” What does that mean exactly? Well, it seems like many journalists see their work as surrendering to a higher calling of serving others (http://tinyurl.com/3lssjos), not unlike the clergy of a church or even police officers. They describe this priesthood with two important theories: hegemony theory and news work theory.

The hegemony theory is directed at journalists’ beliefs, comprised of their social, cultural, and ideological beliefs. Beliefs being defined as convictions about whether something is true or false. The problem with this theory is that many critics come out and state that editors and reporters of the news media are the ones who decide what is important and report what they want the public to know or not know. However, many of us know that, by and large, those days are over, because of technology that lets the public not only have feedback (http://www.cnn.com/feedback/hdlns/), but also have a say in which news they want for themselves.

The second part to this priesthood of journalism is the news work theory. Within each office there is a type of news culture and these norms and ethics are passed down from older generations to newer generations of journalists (http://tinyurl.com/fmg37). Some of the norms are not for all and among journalists there are debates on what is right and wrong. One of those debates is how detached journalists should become from their community to report with less bias and be equal to all parties. That is usually left to each office and is determined by the news director or editor.

Journalism and Loyalty (plus future of news update)

Journalists position themselves to be right in the middle of what’s happening in their immediate community or around the globe. They present, or relay, what they see and hear to their audience which makes them intermediaries. This is why the second principle of journalism is so important to the audience. It is that journalists’ first loyalty is to the citizens.

In many countries corruption not only rules law enforcement, businesses, but also journalism (http://tinyurl.com/6rrrjw). Money is what drives those to give in to change stories and sometimes even forget what was seen or heard. Fortunately, many journalists feel a need to bring the truth out without being bought out or influenced by those in power. Journalists have even gone as far as declaring they won’t let their self-interests cloud their decisions when reporting an event. This movement has even spread to whole organizations, making a code of ethics standard in the work place. Some of those organizations include the NY Times, Washington Post and LA Times (http://tinyurl.com/3wac3gr). They include regulations such as fairness to the audience, avoiding conflict with them and even correct attribution (journalism sourcing). This makes it easy for journalists to know that all within the workplace are held to these standards. Unfortunately, even with these principles and regulations, we find examples of occurrences when journalists give in to an outside source and change their story. Sometimes it might even be that journalists don’t convey clear messages to the public and are later caught in situation where they can’t explain themselves, which happened with Dan Rather and the Killian Documents (http://tinyurl.com/5fwam).

It so important for journalism to understands its role in peoples’ lives and for journalists to accept their position as middlemen. They chose be who they are and should stand up for what they know. Their loyalty is not to their boss, their mother or their religion. Rather, it is solely to their TV, radio, newspaper, or magazine audience.


Update
If you read this NY Times article (http://tinyurl.com/3e56go3) about a Pew Media Study, you will find interesting shifts in media consumption among different age groups. I wanted to note that as younger generations are shifting to the Internet for most of their news and information needs, many TV stations might have to change their news agenda. The reason being, many Internet web portals offer everything from local community issues to national news feeds, but adults still read the local paper and watch news on TV. According to this study, adults watch TV for weather, traffic and breaking news, but with the slow death of local newspapers, where are other important local topics going to be found? It is interesting to think about how the downfall of one channel might change the presentation of another.