Online Journalism Transforming Journalistic Standards

Kirsten Kueser
kk500312@ohio.edu

In a State of The Media 2009 Survey, “a solid majority (57%) say the Internet is “changing the fundamental values of journalism” rather than “transferring those values online.” Like radio, television, and print journalism, online journalism is its own entity. Just as ethical guidelines specific other mediums of journalism exist, online journalism needs a specific set of ethical standards to refer to. 

While all types of journalism share fundamental values, in order for them to be upheld they need to be amended to fit specifically to different mediums.

Accuracy

In the aforementioned survey, “When asked how it was altering the values, most (45%) cited a loosening of standards and less careful reporting” and  “25% of respondents [cited] the shift in values related to the growing emphasis on speed.” 

The fast paced nature of the Internet gives journalists the opportunity to post and stream content ‘live.’ Journalists must work at a fast pace in order to post content with real-time coverage. News travels fast on the Internet, and sloppy or incorrect news is no exception. Due to this fact, a reporter or institution’s credibility is more directly effected when they make a mistake. “The focus is more on getting the news out before checking its accuracy, and this is weakening journalism’s credibility. A reversion to checking and double-checking is needed, especially since mistakes can last forever online,” an online editor and content manager who participated in the survey wrote.

There are a number of different ideas on how to handle these journalistic mistakes. Some news organizations, like Buzzfeed, note their mistakes and follow with corrections. Others simply correct the mistakes later without acknowledging they were made. As stated in Stephen J.A. Ward’s “Digital Media Ethics,” “The ethical challenge is to articulate guidelines for dealing with rumors and corrections in an online world that are consistent with the principles of accuracy, verification, and transparency.” Regardless of the organization, online news must have some sort of ethical standard to refer to when dealing with corrections and rumors.

                             The New York Times lists articles that have been recently corrected on it's website. 

                             (Source: New York Times)

Citizen Journalism 

31% of survey participants cited “giving more voice to others and reducing the clout of journalists” as to how the Internet is changing the values of journalism. Due to how largely accessible the Internet is, anybody can post information, making it possible for citizens to report on news events. With traditional news mediums decreasing, and the use of online news increasing, “organizations are increasingly able, and willing, to collaborate with citizens in covering disasters, accidents, and other breaking news. Citizens who capture events on their cell phones can transmit text and images to newsrooms,” said Ward. 

While this relationship gives the public more of a voice in journalism than ever before, there are issues that arise from it. Citizen journalists may be biased, or factually incorrect in their reports. Not only does this discredit the news organization, it also presents the organization with an ethical dilemma. Does the organization require the same impartiality from citizens as they do professionals? Or does eliminating this bias and putting standards on citizens hinder their freedom of speech? This is why it is necessary for ethical guidelines specific to citizen journalism to be put in place.