Navigating Sticky Situations

David Griffin
dg835214@ohio.edu

Decision making... something that we have to do every single day of our lives. Do I get the combo meal, or do I get something off the dollar menu? Decisions like these are the small ones that we make everyday and usually put some thought into it, but not too much. You wouldn't stand in a fast food line for 30 minutes trying to decide what to get, but there are some decisions that may be a little bit more difficult than just what food to order. When speaking about journalism, and the kinds of decisions that journalists have to make, the term "ethical decision making" comes up quite a bit.

Ethical Decision Making
If you are not very familiar with the term ethical decision making, it can be a little bit confusing. By definition, ethical decision making is the process of evaluating and choosing alternatives for an ethical dilemma in which there is no right or wrong answer. In other words, ethical decision making is weighing out your options when faced with a question that doesn't have a clear answer. You may be thinking to yourself, "That can't be too hard, just go with your gut," but it is much more difficult than just that. This is one of the big things that journalists face every day in their profession.

Ethical Decision Making for Journalists
Ethical decision making is something that journalists have to take into account more than almost any other profession. The decisions they have to make could be, "Should I write this story, even though I know that it could hurt someone," or "Should I use this source in my story even though they shouldn't have given me this information?" These are examples of choices journalists have to make. One of the big things that help guide journalists when they are faced with these tough situations is having a code of ethics for themselves. This gives them a little guidance of how they personally think they should do their job, and how to do it fairly as well. Along with personal codes of ethics, the Society of Professional Journalists, a representative body for journalists in the United States, has their own code of ethics that they believe all journalists should follow.

Photo via Sasha Grutzeck for My Learning Solutions

Making Ethical Decisions in your Life
Making these tough ethical decisions in your everyday life can once again, be a little bit more difficult than just choosing what to get at a fast food restaurant. Every person should be prepared for the day when you do have to make a decision that doesn't really have a good outcome regardless of which side you choose. When that time does come, ask yourself questions like, "How does this decision affect me, and other people involved," and "How would I feel if the roles were reversed?" These may seem like simple questions out of context, but may become useful if you are faced with an ethical decision. Along with asking yourself these questions, it is a good idea for everyone to have their own personal code of ethics. By doing so, navigating the "sticky situations" that we all face in life might be a little bit easier.