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| Photo by Poynter's News University |
Journalists today have more pressure than ever to produce ethical and transparent material. With fake news sweeping the nation and giving journalism a bad reputation, it is important for writers to run through an ethical "self-check" before submission. The photo I chose represents the crossroad/ gray area that can exist when in a sticky situation. The two practice case studies we received are great examples where decisions could be split at a newspaper, or a journalist could be in a personal battle of ethics. Here is a quick checklist a journalist can run through when making a hard decision:
"Who am I?"
Journalists need to refer back to their own ethical code and focus on the facts they collected and what facts they hope to collect. Journalists should be worried about reporting with transparency and without bias. All view-points and parties involved should appear throughout the story. Lastly, to protect oneself a journalist needs to ask: "Am I following all company policies, and if I am not what are the consequences?"
"Who Am I Influencing?"
Sensitivity to the public is important in reporting, and especially important when victims are involved. Journalists need to realize the things they say affect themselves, their company, their colleagues, their stakeholders, their community, and potential victims involved depending on the situation. "How would I feel if the roles were reversed and the media reported this?" is an easy way to deal with how to report about victims in crimes.
BBC "Ethical Guidelines" contains a section that reporters can refer back to when reporting crime and anti-social behaviors. BBC Editorial Guidelines section 8 discusses how Journalists should deal with witnesses and victims of crimes via interview. The article discusses how to ethically report about children and young people, disguising identities, and payments. The first practice case study involves both victims and payments. Crime is a beat that is difficult to cover and takes a journalist with a very strong ethical code, sensitivity to others, and an understanding of company policies.
"How do I React Post-Decision?"
Scenario: you followed your ethical code, you ran through all of your self-check questions, your editor and your team at your newspaper back you 100%. But, you still received a large enough amount of negative feedback for it to be brought to your attention. Recognize that you upset your readers and apologize or admit if there was a mistake made. Honesty and owning up to your mistakes 9/10 helps a situation more than it hurts. Journalists are also humans, and human readers understand that mistakes are made. If a writer is honest and open with readers, "I said this, or I pictured this photograph because this and this, I did not intend to hurt anyone with this decision or cross the line." Readers will most likely sweep it under the rug vs. following an insensitive, unapologetic spokesperson for what is happening in the community.
Risks and Distrust
Journalists are at risk for cyber-bulling and threats. Whether their decisions are ethical or not, their life is public and reporters are targets in a time of distrust in the media. Colorado Public Radio discussed with young professionals the threat that reporters face in 2017. CPR and NPR Decision Makers held a question and answer session involving ethics and the dangers involved in reporting today. Journalists today need to carefully follow ethical codes, be sensitive to their community's needs, and stay strong in times of threat and criticism.
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