Squash Skepticism with Transparency and Accountability

Ethan Gates
eg330214@ohio.edu

There is no template or blueprint on how to be the perfect journalist.

No, there are merely tips and guides from experiences that have been compiled over the years to help model a good journalist. It's impossible to claim to be a perfect journalist in a practice that is constantly changing due to shifts in a wide variety of influences, including societal expectations and advances in technology.

Consistency is among the most important goals that can always be sought after. Over the years, various ethical codes have arisen in hopes to help journalists maintain these consistencies. And even as the paradigms in journalism change, these practices cannot be forgotten or ignored.

The Society of Professional Journalists has compiled a universal code of ethics that every would-be journalist should have memorized. On this code, accountability and transparency stand out to me the most.

We find ourselves in the first generation of people truly acclimated to the internet. Granted, access to it is still slightly limited, but there is a greater widespread understanding of it than 15 years ago. Our generation has seemingly unlimited access to the folds of the internet with hours of content to ingest at our fingertips. But with so much content out there, it's hard to sift through what is believable and what is deceitful.

Screenshot from 2016 Broadband Progress Report by the FCC

This is why it is imperative we continue to uphold our ethical values.

I mentioned earlier how accountability and transparency are incredibly important in my own ethical codes and this is because we can no longer rely on people trusting us solely because of the title "journalist." Even while maintaining a commitment to the truth, an average reader might--and quite often should--be skeptical of the information they are absorbing. We have to prove what we know.

Transparency is a vital step in reducing skepticism and replacing it with unquestionable truths.

By detailing all the steps that went into making a story, we can begin the necessary climb toward an irrefutable narrative.

I've always considered myself a methodical thinker; I always want to know the interlocking parts that complete the whole. This transfers well in journalism because so often when I read a story, I read all the attributions that establish credibility of a source, the captions on photos and where they were taken, and so on.

I believe this innate curiosity to know as much of the truth as possible is inside more of us than typically thought. By establishing that transparency with readers, it allows for a foundation of truth to be created that builds a healthier bridge for the future with our audiences.

This isn't a plea for unequivocal transparency, however, I understand the importance of withholding certain pieces of information in times of dire constraint. For instance, there is an absolute duty to protect any and all sources, should the information released pose any threat to their health or safety.

Alongside transparency, there is a moral obligation to remain accountable. 

This is a maxim instilled in our heads from an early age: "you must be responsible for your own actions." That innocuous statement may have just been brushed off at a young age, but its meaning has rooted itself deeply in our brains. Our individual actions are tied to and help define our personal identities. You can't distance yourself from them; so what makes you think you could online?

Photo via "Managing the Art Classroom" article by Mrs. Anna Nichols

As soon as a story is published, all criticisms should be welcomed. This includes any questions of clarity the reader may have for the author. It is imperative that the author be available to either defend or admit any errors within the article, as this shows a willingness to humanize oneself in the eye of the public.


There is no perfect journalist. 

We all make mistakes; it's in our nature. How we choose to address those mistakes defines us. An ethical journalist should always admit when he or she is wrong and move forward with life. One should also always give the reader all the information to allow them to develop the trust on their own. Attempting to skirt these responsibilities in the field of journalism only hurt the bonds between the public and the media that have been established generations ago.