Ethical Journalism in the Trump Era

Jeff Wunderly

jwunderly@gmail.com

deadline.com

The Problem: 

     The lies told by our current President since taking office are well documented, and highlight the need for a model of normative ethics in society as a whole, and particularly in the field of journalism. 

    In their book, The Elements Of Journalism, by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, the authors suggest that a significant part of reestablishing trust and confidence in journalism is recapturing the original meaning of objectivity as transparently conveyed methods as opposed to the concept of personal non-bias. They point out that journalism today is subjected to more reflection and scrutiny than ever before. As our country negotiates a pandemic and widespread social unrest, the need for accurate news reporting becomes particularly impacting and urgent. 

Background: 

    The text goes on to explain that the role of journalism has remained consistent with its primary purpose of providing citizens with the information needed to be free and self-governing. Societies that want to suppress freedom, they say, must first suppress the press. It is disturbing to consider this idea as the current Commander In Chief repeatedly threatens to silence media sources that refuse to peddle his obfuscations and untruths. 

    People share similar definitions of news across cultural and historical boundaries. Humans enjoy a shard sense of discovery as well as a basic instinct to be aware of their environment. The information provides the basic necessities of life, including safety and security.  As the traditional gatekeepers to that information, journalists enjoy significant power and influence. 

    Kovach and Rosenstiel also point out that the government can now supplant as well as censor information, in effect offering a competing view of reality. They go so far as to say that the First Amendment is under serious threat, and that situation would seem to be made worse by the looming threat of high-tech disinformation and Deepfakes. An informed electorate is essential to democracy, and so the institution will obviously suffer if people do not know what to believe.

The Solution:

    Journalists have an obligation to exercise personal conscience and not to neglect the moral dimensions of their profession. A culture of honesty must be nurtured in the newsroom and intellectual diversity must be valued. Journalists should feel their work transcends the institutions they serve, and an obligation to preserve and strengthen their mission. 

    Citizens must also accept their responsibility in promoting a free and ethical press, and be willing to negotiate a new relationship with journalists and journalism. The role of citizens is more vital than ever in the internet age, and particularly in the Age of Trump.  

    The disincentives and obstacles to ethical journalism are daunting, but not nearly as bleak as the alternative.