Journalism Ethical Codes: The Foundation for the Distribution of Truth is a Slippery Slope.

 Grace Morris

Morrisgrace36@gmail.com / Gm245917@ohio.edu

Source: European Federation of Journalists

In today's day and age, we live in a world where we possess the ability to access vast amounts of information with a single click. With this, the spread of false, inaccurate and misleading information, alongside "fake news," continues to drive a wedge between the public and the media by dismantling the public's trust even further. 

Although that the public's trust with the media continues to diminish and the wedge continues to increase, this allows journalism professionals to strive to keep the ethical codes and the leading principle of journalism at the forefront of their minds. 

The primary principle of journalism and journalistic work is to provide the public with truthful and accurate information that allows them to make the best possible decisions about their lives and the societies they live in. To ensure that this leading principle is upheld, ethical codes have become the foundation for the distribution of truthful and accurate journalism. 

So, what are these ethical codes of journalism and how are they the foundation? These ethical codes are guidelines for journalism professionals to abide by to guarantee that the quality of their work is truthful, accurate, reliable and transparent. These codes also lay the foundation for good reporting and the distribution of accurate journalism by ensuring that ethical decision-making occurs during each step of the journalistic process. 

According to the Society of Professional Journalists' website, the society states that their voluntary ethical guidelines consist of four principles to ensure the production of ethical journalism. These principles include: seeking the truth and reporting it, minimizing harm, acting independently, remaining accountable and remaining transparent.  

However, the ethical codes of journalism are not comprised into one main list. This ethical guideline is one example of many that journalism professionals can use during the journalistic process. 

Many different journalism associations provide their own set of guidelines for different types of journalists. For example, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) is a professional organization for members of radio, television and digital journalism. While the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) is a professional organization for photographers, videographers, editors and students. 

Other journalism associations include the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME), the Online News Association, the Institute for Advertising Ethics and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). 

Since the ethical codes of journalism vary from association to association and are voluntary, increasing the public's trust becomes even more difficult. This is where the foundation of ethical codes turns into a slippery slope for journalists and journalism associations. If we were to enforce these voluntary ethical guidelines, it would infringe on the journalist's right to free speech and their First Amendment right.

 

If the field of journalism decided to enforce these guidelines to increase public trust, how could anyone put their trust in the media when the right to freedom of speech has been stripped away even if it is for the "greater good?" Taking away a journalist's right to free speech would not increase the public's trust but instead further the divide. 

In my opinion, the best way to increase the media's relationship with the public and their trust is to actively take and hold journalists accountable for their lack of ethics when producing journalistic work. Whether the media organization is large or small, media corporations need to implement disciplinary actions against those who generate harmful and misleading information; Instead of reprimanding journalists who produce ethical work that might not align with the outlets' personal beliefs. 

Once the media starts holding more professionals accountable for their work by implementing disciplinary actions instead of waiting for it to "blow over," the trust between the media and the public will flourish.