Logan Humphrey
lh129720@ohio.edu
Ethics in journalism have adapted more and more as there has been an increased lack of trust in news media within recent years. As the ethics code for the American Advertising Institute states, "In today's often hostile environment, with revelations of wrongdoing in particular industries and government programs resulting in an erosion of public confidence and trust in all our institutions." It's fair to say that now more than ever, we need to remind ourselves of these ethical behaviors to generate change.
Since these adapted codes are more important than ever, they should be recognized and strived by every aspiring journalist. Though these codes are not enforced, reflecting and following these ethics can be revolutionary, possibly having a significant (hopefully positive) effect on how the public views the news media.
A rise in the trust won't magically happen without the aspiration of a journalist. It has to start within; we have to prove that we are not what the public deems us to be. Each tiny decision journalists make pivotal. Though we have to watch our every step constantly, we should recognize that our dedication to our field will allow for more confidence from the public. We become journalists to give a voice to the people who need it most. The more we allow those voices to be heard, the more we are heard and respected.
If these codes were to be set in place, it would be harder for journalists to follow them. Who would enact them? These ethics are broken so often; how would they be identified? Journalists shouldn't have to be told to follow the rules; we should already follow them wholeheartedly. Every journalist is different; some codes might apply more to some while not as much to others.
Journalists need to establish their own ethics code to be more comfortable with the rules we set on our own. Journalists can feel more dedicated to their craft when setting their own rules. Journalists can't just set any rules for themselves; the public's interest should be in OUR interest as well.
Even though these codes aren't enacted, it's still important to hold ourselves and others accountable. Not only can journalists shape themselves, but they can bring up or inspire other journalists. Our dedication moving forward will move other future journalists forward as well.
There are so many different ethics codes already for every specialized area, which helps create more advocacy and transparency. Having one's code promotes individualism, terminating the possibility of the public to provide a stigma to all journalists. We can expect more respect and support as we promote our individualism.
It's our duty as journalists to shape how the public thinks about us. We can also shape the public's interests and beliefs just by the media we generate. The power placed into our hands should not be abused and shall be used to gain trust and confidence in our profession.
Just like what the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics states, "act independently" and "be accountable." What are possibly the two most important principles? Unfortunately, they are also somewhat conflicting with each other. These principles aren't easy to enforce all of the time, but with enough patience and practice, the field of journalism can be more trusted and respected in the years to come.
These codes have made our jobs clearer but have also made them harder. But with the younger generation of journalists becoming more involved with the code of ethics, the future of journalism is to look brighter than it ever has before.
Sources:
https://www.spj.org/ethicsfaq.asp
https://instituteforadvertisingethics.org/principles-practices
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