15. Ethics

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15. Ethics
Christopher Burnett California State, Long Beach
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Origin of Ethical Concepts in Journalism

• From Ethos
• Greek word for governing traditions
• Privileges carry obligations
• Ethical issues in media
• Truthfulness
• Fairness
• No conflict of interest
• Privacy
• Not divulging potentially embarrassing items
• Responsibility
• Not exploiting

Andy Nelson/Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images
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Defining Ethical Dilemmas

• Truthfulness
• More than just accuracy
• Armstrong Williams
• Misrepresentation
• Jayson Blair, 2003
• Widespread plagiarism and fabrication
• Janet Cooke, 1980
• Won Pulitzer Prize
• Story was fabricated
• Disinformation
• Planting false stories in the media
• Government using media

AP/Wide World Photos
Jayson Blair
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Defining Ethical Dilemmas

• Fairness
• Implies impartiality
• No benefit for the reporter
• Insider Friendships
• Too close to the people in the story
• Conflict of Interest
• Division of loyalties
• Accepting freebies and junkets from story
  subjects
• Checkbook Journalism
• Paying for interviews with subjects

Ken James/Corbis
Maria Shriver had NBC connections
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Defining Ethical Dilemmas

• Privacy
• Balancing truth with rights to privacy
• Reporting on Illness
• Public figures and AIDS
• AIDS implies sexual orientation
• If the figure wants to maintain the information
  as private, should it stay private?
• Reporting on Rape
• Rape victims are not named
• Balancing benefit of printing the name vs. not
  printing it

Kevork Djansezian-Pool/Getty Images
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Defining Ethical Dilemmas

• Responsibility
• Not just what is reported, but how its reported
• Staged Accidents, 2006
• Lindsey Lohans car rammed by photographer
• Aggressive paparazzi
• Phony Web Story, 2004
• Fox forced to retract story
• Falsely reported Democratic presidential
  candidate John Kerry saying, Women should like
  me. I do manicures, after debate.

Evan Augostin/Getty Images
Lindsey Lohan
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Philosophy of Ethics

• Aristotles Golden Mean
• All things in moderation
• Kants Categorical Imperative
• What if everyone acted this way?
• Mills Principle of Utility
• The greatest happiness for the greatest number
• Rawls Veil of Ignorance
• Basic respect for everyone
• Judeo-Christian View
• Love your neighbor as yourself

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NAB Code of Ethics

• National Association of Broadcasters
• Member TV Stations
• Code covered news and entertainment
• Responsible handling of violence
• Consequences of violence shown
• Struck down in 1976
• Declared in violation of First Amendment
• Replaced by voluntary Guidelines

Andy Nelson/Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images
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SPJ Code of Ethics

• Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
• Major Points
• Seek Truth and Report It
• Identify sources
• No misrepresentation or distortion
• Avoid misleading staged events
• Never plagiarize
• Avoid stereotyping
• Distinguish between advocacy, advertising news
• Minimize Harm (Be sensitive)
• Act Independently (refuse gifts and favors)
• Be Accountable
• Admit mistakes

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RTNDA Code of Ethics

• Radio-Television News Directors Association
• Balanced, fair and accurate
• No sensationalism
• No deception
• Avoid conflicts of interest
• Respect dignity and privacy
• Protect confidentiality
• Respect the right to fair trial
• Broadcast other broadcasters only with permission
• Actively encourage observance of the code

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PRSA Code of Ethics

• Public Relations Society of America
• Deal fairly with clients, employers and general
  public
• Adhere to truth, accuracy and good taste
• Do not intentionally communicate false or
  misleading information
• Identify any client or employer
• Do not guarantee results beyond ones direct
  control

AP/Wide World Photos
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Media Response to Criticism

• News Councils
• Minnesota News Council
• Honolulu Community Media Council
• Dealing with public complaints
• Readers Representatives
• Ombudspersons
• Liaison with the public
• Correction Boxes
• Printed daily
• Used for retractions or modifications
• Editors
• Many deal with complaints directly

Michael Connors/morguefile.com
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The Importance of Professional Ethics

• Daily issues in the newsroom
• Issues usually dealt with publicly
• Information as a public trust
• Should not be weakened by untruth, bias,
  intrusiveness or irresponsibility
• Power with responsibility

The New Yorker Collection 2004 Annie Levin
cartoonbank.com
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Critical Discussion

• Reporting on rape cases typically does not reveal
  the identity of the victim. Critics say this
  secrecy favors the rapist. What do you think?
• Assess media handling of the shooting on the
  Virginia Tech campus in 2007. Did NBC News make
  the right call in airing portions of the photos,
  videos and text sent to them by the shooter?
  What other ways could the situation have been
  handled?