Ethical Codes

Earl Hopkins
eh032114@ohio.edu

Picture Courtesy of: Vision2Lead

Since the origins of journalism, the profession has endured many changes. During this time, the transmission of news went from newspapers and magazines to radio, television and the Internet. And recently, advances in technology have created innovative ways for reporters to gather and publicize information.

Despite the creation of these new media outlets, the ethical codes attributed to journalism haven't changed. Rather, these codes have evolved as news organizations have expanded into advertising and public relations. In doing so, organizations such as Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the Institute for Advertising Ethics have been established, developing ethical standards to fit the modern age of communication.

However, because of the legalities of the First Amendment, organizations can’t enforce these ethical codes. Forcing journalists to adhere to these codes would strip their rights to freedom of expression and an independent press. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) suggests that ethical codes are voluntary, and are then determined by a journalist to use or disregard.

Rise of Fake News

As a result, reporters have opted to ignore the code of ethics to gain notoriety and readership. Not only have their actions blurred the lines of accurate and biased reporting, but they have also affected the public’s trust in the media. The detachment from truthful and unbiased reporting has created the era of “fake news.”

The Aspen Institute held a seminar during the “Aspen Ideas Festival,” where journalists dissected how people’s trust in the media has diminished in recent years. During the seminar, former Russian reporter Galina Timenchenko discussed the importance of standing for truth, and how many reporters have disregarded its significance. 

But journalists aren’t solely to blame. The news organizations are also responsible, for they determine the standards and expectations their journalists meet. It’s their obligation to instill principles of integrity, which will then translate to the content they create. In doing so, it encourages people to trust the media and, eventually, the eradication of “fake news.”

The Future of Journalism

Though SPJ and PRSA can’t enforce ethical codes, they’ve continued to provide a framework of ethical standards for publications to follow. It’s the responsibility of journalists in public relations, advertising and digital media to use the framework these institutions have created to challenge publication’s that absent of ethical code. In turn, news organizations that have violated standards of truthful, fair and unbiased reporting, will expose themselves.

And for young journalists entering the field, it’s important to inherit the qualities journalists had before the emergence of social media and biased organizations. Rather than subjecting themselves to dishonest communication efforts, they can reach different resources as a tool to garner truthful, unbiased and fair reporting in a digital age.

Several institutions have continued to preserve the integrity of journalism. Poynter Institute offers college-level courses on the principles of ethical code, which helps further the development of young journalists’ careers. Furthermore, the Poynter Institute develops daily content based on the pillars of these codes. These resources, in the future, will continue to lay the framework for aspiring journalists to follow.