jp888711@ohio.edu
It is often said that one of the core principles in any profession is the idea that personal relationships and business relationships should not coincide. However, in a profession that is largely about making and keeping connections, the line between personal and business is frequently blurred. As a profession that has a direct influence on public opinion, there will always be organizations and individuals who believe that gaining the affection of a journalist is an easy way to get positive publicity. This may seem unethical, but the logic behind this way of thinking cannot be ignored. If we were to switch roles, many of the journalists who do not like the idea of receiving additional benefits may also be the type of businessmen to offer these same benefits if they had the opportunity. It is solely the responsibility of the journalist to be able to remain unbiased in their reporting and not let any additional factors compromise their professional integrity.
As someone who is interested in pursuing a career in music journalism, the possibility of becoming too close with a particular artist is an issue that I may face in the future. The idea of a friendship interfering with ethical journalism is a controversial topic throughout the music journalism industry as well as other areas where critical reviews are often reported. Whatever relationships may develop as a result of interviews or investigations must not cause biased reporting. It is not an obligation of anyone but the journalist to present fair and balanced news. Additionally, developing relationships people inside the business will provide much more information that will be able to be relayed to the public. If journalists only limit themselves to the access to information that every citizen has, it is going to be difficult to report on a story any better than a regular citizen could.
Although it is not wrong to develop relationships, everyone involved should be informed that you are responsible for presenting an unbiased, fair product and that any personal connection will not override that responsibility. In some cases, the conflict of interest may be so strong that the most responsible course of action a journalist can take would be to simply remove themselves from any reporting on the situation. In some cases, a conflict of interest is unavoidable and should not be treated as if anyone is to blame. Making the issue known beforehand will often help in avoiding possible repercussions in the future during the reporting of the story. The American Journalism Review acts as a strong guideline for how to handle situations where a conflict of interest may be present, but our own personal discretion is always needed.
In an age where trust in journalists continues to fall, it is important that any story, video, or article does not appear to promote anyone in order to gain unwarranted attention or monetary benefit. An appearance that even raises the question of a conflict of interest is enough to put off some readers as well as cause the news source to lose credibility with the public. The RTDNA code of ethics section on conflict of interest repeatedly states that any appearance of conflict of interest, whether legitimate or simply perceived, is detrimental to the credibility of the source. In all cases where a conflict of interest could be perceived, it is best to take the necessary measures to eliminate any suspicion that an ulterior motive might be overriding the responsibility to report the truth.
Human nature often makes it difficult to be completely unbiased when reporting on a story that either praises or critiques someone who we consider to be a friend. However, as journalists, we must only recognize people we may consider friends as simply a source when writing on a professional platform. Blurring the lines between friendship and a professional relationship is a slippery slope that must be avoided at all costs. Biased compromising not only compromises one's integrity but also puts in jeopardy the credibility of the entire organization and the whole journalism community.
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