cg918217@ohio.edu
Creator: Marek Uliasz | Credit: Marek - Fotolia
Source: The Compliance & Ethics Blog
The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism has taught me to be an ethical and curious journalist. I have been challenged to question systems, structures, and functions within societies. I have also learned about the responsibility journalists have to the truth and how that responsibility can come with high stakes and consequences. As mentioned in the readings this week, journalism is intrusive. It pushes boundaries and exposes nitty-gritty details of peoples' lives, which many oppose. However, intrusiveness isn't exactly a cause of the more recent distrust of journalism. Instead, the idea of fake news that has emerged over time can be attributed to the decline in trust. Yet, the basic principles of ethics haven't changed. Journalists have always had a responsibility to report accurately, fairly, and truthfully. I want to explore how a code of ethics and watchdog journalism can help expose fake news and corruption within newsrooms and digital society.
Checks and Balances
In this week's readings, we learned that there are essentially no "checks and balances" in journalism. Newsroom staff must implement a code of ethics to ensure they are upholding their morals and values. Managers also have a responsibility to create a culture that encourages journalists to voice their conscience and constructively disagree with editors, owners, donors, and the public when necessary.
When managers establish this kind of culture and follow a code of ethics, the newsroom's internal structure becomes more unified. From the bottom to the top, everyone will be more inclined to uphold the organization's values.
Upholding a Code of Ethics
Journalism requires mental toughness. Tension can run high when journalists are chasing down stories and the truth can often be difficult to uncover. Establishing a code of ethics and studying other organizations' values can help journalists stay true to themselves while on the job.
Studying SPJ's Code of Ethics has informed me of the basic principles every journalist should follow. According to SPJ's Code of Ethics, as ethical journalists, we should seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable and transparent. When these guidelines are followed, there is less chance corruption will occur.
Watchdog Journalism
The Elements of Journalism discussed the outcome of a corrupt journalist who disregarded the truth and threw the code of ethics out the window. Jayson Blair was a fraud. He fabricated stories and plagiarized from other news outlets. Journalists like Blair add greatly to the distrust of journalism.
After this incident, more media watchdogs were on the rise. Watchdogs are organizations or individuals that keep an eye on certain entities to ensure they aren't internally corrupt. These organizations look out for the public's best interest and the well-being of communities.
The Digital Society
The internet and social media are outlets for watchdogs because they make it possible for everything caught on film to be exposed to the world with the click of a button. Today, no organization or individual is safe from being exposed. Anyone can snap a photo or video and upload it to the internet, where it will be viewed by millions or even billions of people. But, with greater power comes greater responsibility.
Today, individuals have many platforms to voice their opinions and share information, which has led to new discoveries, informative conversations, and knowledge sharing. However, it has also had serious impacts on the contribution of fake news and disinformation. It can be tricky for individuals to decipher which sources are credible and which are not. When participating in the digital society, individuals must have basic internet skills. Internet Skills and Why They Matter by Eszter Hargittai and Marina Micheli discusses the importance of finding and evaluating information and assessing the information's credibility to minimize the spread of fake news.
Responsibility
When sharing information online, individuals must stay true to their code of ethics and ensure they are sharing credible sources. We all have a responsibility to the truth, whether we are a journalist reporting on current events or an individual contributing online. Following a code of ethics, evaluating sources, and staying curious can help stop the spread of fake news, expose corruption, and allow us to stay true to our morals and values.
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