The Importance of helping a community recognize ethical journalism

Melaina Lewis
ml662610@ohio.edu

More than 30 years ago, people gathered around their T.V. sets and listened to Walter Cronkite read the news headlines of the evening. According to "Blur: How to Know What's True in the Age of Information Overload" by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, in the 1970's polls rated Walter Cronkite as "the most trusted man in America." This time in journalism is best described as the "trust me" era. If Walter said it, it must be true.

occasionalplanet.org

Now, we have entered a new era of journalism called the "show me" era. Today, news comes from a multitude of sources, varying styles and formats and it's more difficult to tell if news comes from journalist or non journalist. More people want to be self-informed and are craving information by the hour rather than the day. I argue that this is not a bad thing. People asking questions, wanting answers and looking for justice in dark situations holds more people accountable for their actions, including our government. As journalists, we have a greater ethical responsibility to help communities recognize ethical journalism. "I read it on the Internet, so it must be true?" Maybe not.

Transparency

"News" can be published by anyone, but news is published by journalist. Notice the quotation marks? Transparency is one of the most important aspect to remember as a journalist, because it helps a community recognize and identify ethical journalism. First, make it easy for your audience to read your sources and evidence. This will limit confusion. Second, never blur your journalistic approach. Be forthright with your point of view. As journalists, we want to make it easier for readers to understand information and make decisions. Show readers step-by-step how you wrote your story. In the "New Guiding Principles for a New Era of Journalism" by Kelly McBride and Tom Rosenstiel, they describe transparency in three bullet points:

• Show how the reporting was done and why people should believe it. Explain your sources, evidence and the choices you made. Reveal what you cannot know. Make intellectual honesty your guide and humility (rather than false omniscience) your asset. 

• Clearly articulate your journalistic approach, whether you strive for independence or approach information from a political or philosophical point of view. Describe how you select the topics you cover and the sources that inform your work.

• Acknowledge mistakes and errors, correct them quickly and in a way that encourages people who consumed the faculty information to know the truth. 

In the end, transparency determines trust. 

Living in a digital world

The digital age has shifted from journalist as the masters of information to everyday citizens as his or her own editors. Now more than ever, journalist have a greater responsibility to help communities identify skeptical journalism. Everyday people are deceived by sartorial sites like The Onion, and because of social media platforms, stories spread like wildfires. In May 2011, The Onion published an article called "Planned Parenthood Opens $8 billion Abortionplex." The article was so confusing to readers, even a Congressman published the article on his Facebook page. The digital age also questions how much we should be sharing as journalists. The world is talking about the tragic death of two journalists by the ISIS. Just because we have the information, doesn't mean we headline the painful details. Be respectful and empathetic. 

theonion.com

Dialogue with communities

As journalists, we must never forget to engage with communities as an ends, rather than as a means. The community is who we work and try to provide voices for. When we lose sight of what a community needs, then we as journalists lose our way. Their interest should be top of mind. Always push for answers, and never be deterred by power. Keep dialogue open with a community, so everyone can stay informed and engaged. When communication closes, that's when people look elsewhere for information. During heavy reporting of the Michael Brown tragedy, many people asked if reporters kept in mind what the citizen's actually needed. To make decisions, we need answers. So provide ethical answers for questions being asked.