Journalism ethics and the importance of maintaining them

Kara Fedurek

kf588719@ohio.edu

Though free speech is a fundamental right in the United States, its broadness allows people to take advantage of their rights and say things that might be untrue or offensive. That is the case with journalists who use the 1st Amendment to spread false or biased information.

"Fake news" has been an issue in the United States for many years; however, the Society of Professional Journalists does not enforce its code of ethics, which may help to prevent "fake news." Without enforcement, there are no consequences for journalists who cause harm by spreading false information.

Why not enforce the code?

The Society of Professional Journalists says that while a judicial system would be able to enforce the code of ethics, there is a risk of "actions by governments, courts or their proxies that would restrict the rights to free speech and free press."

The Society of Professional Journalists believes that the law is too "black and white" to consider ethical nuances. The lack of nuance within a judicial system is vital to consider when thinking about certain situations. Though it is important to provide the public with information, it is also essential to respect the privacy of those who may not want to share their story or name.

Additionally, the Society of Professional Journalists does not have the resources to gather the detailed provisions and cases necessary for enforcing clear ethical rules.

The importance of ethical journalism

According to a 2021 study about government trust done by the Pew Research Center, public trust in government is almost historically low. For example, the April 11, 2021 poll resulted in a 24 out of 100 for the average public trust in the government. 

A large part of public perception of the government comes from information provided by news sources. If news sources supply false or biased information, the public will have difficulty understanding what is true and what was created to persuade them. 

Also, in the 2020 study on public trust in the news conducted by Pew Research Center, 72% of American adults believe that news organizations are unclear about where their money comes from. A lack of clarity about funding for news organizations can lead people to believe the organization is being bribed to spin a story in a biased way. 

Statistics on what U.S. adults believe news organizations are too vague about.
Graph from Pew Research Center.

According to the journalism code of ethics, journalists must never compromise their integrity by accepting bribes "that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility."

Enforcing the code of ethics may decrease distrust in news organizations regarding unclear information on the organization's sources and finances.

Journalists are essential to society as they provide the public with information about the world around them. It is also essential that the public trust that journalists are not providing false information to support their own biases. Enforcing the journalism code of ethics may help the public regain their faith in journalists while not an easy task.