Conscience Coverage

Rachel Arnold
rachelarnold77@gmail.com

Journalism exists to inform. To provide citizens with the information they need to live their lives and make informed decisions in various areas of life. It is of the utmost importance that journalists use their conscience to provide citizens with the truth. 

Cartoon by Michelle Phillips 

A Matter of Character 

“In the end, journalism is an act of character...” (Kovach & Rosenstiel 271). It takes character for journalists to report only the truth, especially in the ever-changing climate of news media. When reporting the news is your livelihood, it can be tempting to become caught up in competition, for survival's sake. It requires character for journalists to keep the goal of their profession at the forefront of their mind and report only truth for the benefit of the citizens and ultimately a nation.  

Integrity

Mentioned in “The Elements of Journalism” by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, and summarized here in the American Press Institute’s website, “[Journalist] must be willing to question their own work and to differ with the work of others if fairness and accuracy demand they do so.”  Accurate reporting produces an informed public that makes good decisions in voting, investments, etc., simply based on the information to which they have access.  

The Human Side of Journalism 

There is a human side to reporting the news. Mentioned in the Ethical Journalism Network's video, “The 5 Core Values of Journalism”,   “What we publish or broadcast may be hurtful, but we should be aware of the impact of our words and images on the lives of others”. 

There is a human side to journalism that should always come into reporting. Journalists should act upon their conscience and keep in mind the negative implications their words may have on someone’s life. Keeping in mind someone’s humanity can avoid later vitriol towards their subject and themselves. Journalists owe it to the citizens to use their conscience and report only truth. Truthful reporting builds both trust and viewership and readership.