Society of Professional Journalist Code of Ethics: "Give voice to the voiceless."

Sarah Parker
sp482113@ohio.edu

The Guiding Principles

The Society of Professional Journalists created four guiding principles all journalists should use as a guideline for every step of the journalistic process.

While reading SPJ's code of ethics, one sentence spoke out to me the most and it was, "give voice to the voiceless." This sentence came from SPJ's first principle: Seek the truth and report it. 

This sentence stuck out to me the most because I think it perfectly sums up our number one job as journalists and professional communicators. Our job is to provide our audiences with the information they need to know. 

Simply put by SPJ, our one goal is to seek the truth and report it. Giving a voice to those who otherwise would not have a voice is our way of holding people accountable. 

As journalists, we must take the seriousness of our job very seriously. We have an outlet unlike any other to share information. We cannot take that for granted. We are doing an injustice to the public if we do not conduct ourselves in the most honest and professional way. 

Finding Balance

Journalism is a way to expose the truth, but SPJ's second principle is to minimize harm. At what point do we stop being truthful in order to prevent doing any harm to someone? Could we possibly do harm to someone by giving them a voice that might be dangerous to be heard? 

It feels as if sometimes these principles conflict and it's our job to find a balance. 

I think finding that balance is a test of your ethics as a journalist. Give a voice to the voiceless, but do not do harm to someone because we owe subjects of our stories the utmost respect. 

Authenticity and Respect

Respect is key to ethical decisions. We, as journalists, are to be respectful of ourselves, of our organization, our readers and our sources. If we respect ourselves as journalists and the work that we do, ethical decisions may be a little easier because we respect our work. 

Journalists are in the field of public service. We serve the public by being a reliable and trustworthy outlet to look to for truthful information. 

We cannot authentically be public servants if we give false information or take money or favors from sources or advertisers. 

Not only should we hold ourselves to this standard of ethical responsibility, but we should hold others accountable if they are acting unethically. 

It's important to expose unethical behavior out of respect for the field of journalism and our readers. By doing this, by not tolerating unethical decisions by other journalists, we can help improve the ethical conduct in the field of journalism. 

Can we enforce ethics?

No, we cannot enforce these principles because they are not rules, they are guidelines you are encouraged to follow. 

The first amendment is just as important as ethics to a journalist. We are allowed to be journalists and write freely because of our right to speak given to us by the first amendment.

 Law is what you can do and ethics is what you should do. There is a line one cannot cross and that is trying to enforce ethical decisions on a journalist. 

PRSSA put it simply:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/117445502760187496/

SPJ made this video about their 4 ethical principles:

Source: YouTube

Alphabet Soup: The Various Ethical Codes in Mass Media

Lucas Macce-Feiler
lm824912@ohio.edu

Photo courtesy of womenforschapelle.blogspot.com

In an increasingly digital age of mass media, ethical guidelines are paramount in steering professionals to uphold a high standard.

However, there is an ever-growing number of guidelines to accommodate various media professionals. There are specific rules or guiding principles for journalists, advertisers and public relations personnel. On top of that, within these professions, there are several different, yet equally respected guidelines.

For a journalist, one can refer to the RTDNA Code of Ethics, the SPJ Code of Ethics, or ONA Values statement. These guidelines may seem like a word scramble, but each is reputable and important in its own right.

Honing in further, there are separate regulations for specific journalistic professions, such as the National Press Photographers Association and American Society of Magazine Editors.

These various organizations and their accompanying acronyms are enough to make heads spin. Fear not, though. Many ethical guidelines for journalism overlap in significant ways.

Independence

Both the RTDNA (or Radio Television Digital News Association) and the SPJ (or Society of Professional Journalists) Code of Ethics dedicate principles of remaining independent of outside influences as a member of news media.

Independence in news media requires professional journalists to be wary of individuals looking to influence or "spin" news stories. Rejection of gifts and favors, refusing preferential treatment to advertisers, and objectivity are all examples of being independent.

Accountability

Just as news media holds the public, corporations and the government accountable, media professionals must be held accountable for the published content.

Proper attribution and publishing mistakes are examples of accountability by journalists.

Respect/Damage Mitigation

Another shared ethical principle is respect toward persons involved in a news story--particularly private individuals (think: Richard Jewell). Invasion of privacy can be a serious issue not only from a legal standpoint, but also the moral implications of betraying one's right to privacy.

Along similar lines, news outlets should also look to minimize the amount of damage they cause. Instances of exposing corporate greed are obviously an instance in which public good outweighs any possible fall out.

However, a mother grieving the death of her daughter is not an appropriate time to expose said mother's financial shortcomings or criminal past.

Other Ethical Guidelines in Media

Public relations and advertising agencies also have a set of ethical guidelines.

A notable code of ethics for public relations professionals comes from Public Relations Society of America. Parameters of this code include an open flow of communication with the public, government and media, as well as safeguarding the privacy of clients.

Advertising agencies often get a bad rep for deceitful tactics in pursuit of new customers. Conversely, the American Advertising Federation details a code of ethics including a need for transparency, fair consumer treatment, and adherence to federal law.

Concluding Thoughts

In a time when public trust in all media is low, it is vital for media organizations to behave in an ethical manner.

While these organizations should already strive to be ethical at all times, real world pressures--such as profits and the quest for audience expansion often create points of weakness.

Groups like RTDNA and PRSA provide non-binding guidelines for media professionals.

Ethics, Integrity & Journalism? What.

Sarah Newsad
sn845312@ohio.edu

How many times have you been waiting in line at Kroger and see a magazine with an absurd quote and picture of a celebrity? Usually it's something like "Kanye West admits he is Jesus" or "Harambe really isn't dead." More often times than not, you come across these print or digital magazines and question "who approved this? I mean really."  At times, it can be contrary to popular belief, but editors and publishers do report to a code of ethics before hitting "submit."

Sustaining Trust

As a journalist, your readers have the power to make you a successful, trustworthy reporter or a liar who can never tell the truth.  In journalism, trust is the hardest thing to build but can take one mistake for that trust to be broken.

http://kimberlysnyder.com/blog/2013/01/12/ok-magazine-cover-january-2013/

This image above is one of the many reasons society has a hard time trusting magazines. Yes, this is an outlandish example, but let's be honest, does OK! Magazine really have the tips for how celebrities stay fit, or that Kim Kardashian fires her mom in public? More often times than not, magazine's don't stay loyal to the ethics they are suppose to follow.

 Journalists can fall under a multitude of stereotypes, most of the time we are considered liars, cheaters or that we can't spell correctly. The American Society of Magazine Editors holds journalists accountable before they hit submit, before they put out the information for people to read.

Many times people tell me "journalism is a dying industry. magazine writing is a dying subject. journalism will soon be extinct." When in fact, journalism is simply evolving into something new.

https://laurenely.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/meme1.jpg

With this day and age, journalism is available at the click of an app. By the time a magazine releases information, it can be considered old news. This is something we have to use to our advantage by using social media.

The Importance of Code Enforcement

The most potent part of our job is supplying the everyday consumer with information. Rather it's facts about a world issue, an interview for TIME Magazine, or how to cook a meal in 20 minutes; there is a topic for every consumer out there.

We are journalists, we are allowed to express the freedom of the
First Amendment. That's exactly what ASME is here to do. Help allow us to have that privilege, support the development of journalist, and help continue to provide accurate information to our readers.

Without different codes and ethics for journalists, we would not successfully be able to do our job. Over course, we can get over overzealous when we release our stories, but it's easy to get carried away when you have a passion for writing.

Are codes enforced? I think that is possibly the hardest question to answer. Some would say yes, they are, and others would arguably say no.

Readers want the fastest, easiest content. When something happens, we look to social media to see who has the latest news. Perhaps codes aren't enforced as much because the world is spinning at such a high demand.

A few weeks ago, the Dallas Police Department sent out a tweet asking for the public to help find the suspected shooter. Someone sent the tweet before having the accurate information; it was the wrong suspect. This is a perfect example on why following a code of ethics and taking a step back to realize what you're releasing to the consumer.

It is up to us, new, young journalists, to enforce these ethics. To keep the integrity and morality of our job. Journalism will always evolve as the world evolves. This is simply a challenge for us to fight back against the stereotypes and be the most genuine we can be.

The Ethics Code Trust Fall: Can Our Audience Trust Us?

Gabby Hollowell
gh262214@ohio.edu

Warning: the following statistic may be upsetting for anyone in the media profession. Journalists and advertisers are ranked as two of the most distrusted professions, with low honesty and ethical standards.

It is a journalist's job to be ethical. Our content is put in front of millions of eyes every second of every day. Journalism organizations, such as the Society of Professional Journalists, have their own ethics codes. They are all along the same lines: be honest, truthful, transparent, act independently, take accountability for consequences and show our expertise. If we aren't trusted, our publication fails, and we risk losing our jobs. The ethics codes don't necessarily apply to just print journalists. They apply to photojournalists, advertisers and public relations professionals, editors and publishers, and radio journalists. Each have their own ethics code.

The person falling is our audience, and they must trust us to catch their fall. Source: Ad Week

Journalism Ethics

As journalists, we deliver the news to society. We are faced with a wide range of ethical decisions that need to be made -- from deciding if a photo is too sensitive to be published on the front page of a newspaper, to purposefully publishing false or incomplete information in order to be the first source to break the news. Decision-making is hard and stressful, thus forcing us to sometimes make those decisions unethically.

Advertising Ethics

As advertisers, we market a product or service. As a student studying advertising, I believe that ethics need to be taken into consideration when developing an advertisement of any kind. Deceptive advertising is. We need to be honest with our target market, because why would anyone buy Crest toothpaste if they found out 4/5 dentists do not recommend Crest toothpaste? It kills me to be in a profession that's so untrusted. We need to be careful not to confuse advertising with editorial content.

>> Check out the Principles and Practices for Advertising Ethics

Should ethics codes be enforced?

Quality journalism is a result of good ethical practice. Whether or not they are enforced by organizations, ethics codes should still be adhered to. Decision-making is tough, and journalists are faced with making ethical decisions day-in and day-out. Here are three perspectives on enforcing the ethics code:

No enforcement: The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) does not enforce its code of ethics. Why? It preserves journalists' freedom of expression. This I can agree with, as long as these codes are taken into consideration when making a decision.


Strict enforcement: The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has its members pledge to follow a code of ethics. Failure to comply with PRSA's ethics code can result in an end of membership.

Used as a guideline: The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) "does not dictate what journalists should do in every ethical predicament." Ethical codes are often used as guidelines and aid journalists in making the most ethical decisions.

I don't believe in strict enforcement of an ethics code, but I think they absolutely need to be used as a guideline. Even if it means we aren't the first to break the news, it is more valuable to be a trusted, respected journalist.

It's hard being a journalist, but if we hated this kind of critical thinking, we wouldn't be in this profession.

The Public's Code

Russell Heltman

rh160214@ohio.edu

Ethics would be nothing to journalists without the codes needed to guide them on their path to a truthful and just story. The codes of ethics in the journalism and strategic communication worlds may seem different but they share many similarities and one thing that binds them all, is the balancing act needed to juggle the conflicting responsibilities Ethics throws at us.

The Codes and Their Mechanics

There are a multitude of Ethics codes in the realm of communication, but whether or not its radio, photography, or advertising, they all share the same goal of producing truthful content through a fair and moral process.

For traditional journalists, they are told to follow the idea of seeking the truth from a story and reporting it accordingly. This means taking responsibility for what is reported, avoiding shady practices and deals to obtain information and asking the questions other people have overlooked.

In public relations the same truth values are held with the added twist of advocating on behalf of another entity. This wrinkle can sometimes present a challenge to the industry when looking at the validity of some advertisements and their agenda.

The Odyssey

The pursuit of truth in journalism is greatly important, but it cannot come at the expense of the public’s well being. Just because something can be published doesn’t mean it should be if someone can be harmed in the process, this violates the moral components of the codes.

In Photojournalism, it is crucial not to invade the privacy of vulnerable people, while not altering the event being photographed in a way that would change the audience’s reaction

The same rings true in public relations, one should always protect confidential information gained from a client or other party with care and avoid conflicts of interests in the workplace.

The final main theme that all of these codes share is the idea of acting independently and transparently. This means presenting stories without bias, avoiding in dealings with sources that could damage the credibility of a story, and above all else take responsibility for the work and explain how the conclusion was met.

Public relations idea of transparency resides in telling the public who is represented and distinguish between sponsored content and news.

The Importance of the Codes and Enforcement

Without the codes of ethics, journalism would fail to meet its number one responsibility, providing people with the news they need to shape an informed view of the world and how they want to experience that world.

Journalism would end up crumbling into useless information steeped in lies and people wouldn’t know what to think of everyday events and their effect, making these codes that much more important.

With an alternative I just described, it may seem that these codes are strictly enforced sets of rules, but in reality the fact that these codes must often compromise with one another makes them very hard to enforce at a high level.

This paired with an ever expanding world of digital storytelling, makes the probability of strict enforcement more and more unlikely, leaving the future of ethical codes in the hands of journalists.

Make Journalism Great Again

Nathan Lors

nl962012@ohio.edu

Following a code of ethics was, is, and always will be critical to any journalist's success. A code of ethics helps build trust in any audience. If your audience questions the truthfulness of your content, it has little value to them or the rest of society.

Serving The Public

Most codes of ethics are similar and mostly simple, but their value to any journalist is anything but. It strives to be a constitution of sorts to hold content creators accountable. Just as our founding fathers fought for a fair and transparent government with the constitution, a code of ethics serves the same purpose for an organization that creates media content. The biggest similarity for these two documents is that they both fight for democracy in this country.

These principles remind an organization's journalists of their obligation to always place the public's interests first. 

In today's world, where trust for journalists is very low in the general public's opinion, it is more important than ever to follow a code of ethics strictly. Any reader with internet access can fact check an article and ruin the reputation of a journalist, advertiser, or public relations professional. Once your name is tainted as an untrustworthy source, it is very difficult to earn back your credibility.

Journalists face a metaphorical fork in the road every time they produce a piece of content. They have the power to influence the general public for good or bad. Being able to manipulate the audience’s opinion on any topic is a lot of responsibility for a single person to have. A code of ethics keeps writers and editors in line so that the ethical decision is made more often, most of the time a gut feeling is not enough.

(https://i.embed.ly/1/display/resizekey=1e6a1a1efdb011df84894040444cdc60&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimgur.com%2FhA0q17m.jpg&width=810)

Keeping The Promise

It is easy to say you will follow a code of ethics when it is your first week on the job as a new journalist. The real challenge is maintaining that same high standard of ethical decision making over a long career in the field.

It seems as though pressures from organizations to keep churning out content that readers want at a fast pace and the false promise of getting ahead from being dishonest are two of the biggest motivators for journalists to act unethically in today's world.

As the picture below depicts, moral dilemmas are nothing new in the world of Journalism.

(http://www.journalismdegree.com/wp-content/uploads/journalist-in-moral-dilemma-645x362.jpg)

Strengthening the Field of Journalism

The end goal of all of these codes of ethics is to strengthen the field of Journalism. If all journalists followed these ethical guidelines, the credibility of Journalists would not be in question like it is now.

Since the community are the ones that read our content, they are the ones that we must strive to always be truthful with to earn their trust and respect. Most of the general public does not treat journalists as real professionals that work hard everyday to make the most transparent content possible. This is a fact that we want to change as the up and coming news writers in the world.

A code of ethics does not solve every problem that goes along with being a journalist, but it is a good start to what we want to do in the future, to better ourselves, the profession as a whole, and ultimately enlighten the public.

Ethics in Journalism are a constantly evolving field, with new forms of media and standards to uphold changing all the time. It is a journalist's responsibility to democracy to stay current and always seek to improve.

r/SpeakYourMind or A Redditor's Take on a Journalist's Consciousness

Blake Dava
bd078813@ohio.edu

Within the profession of journalism, and the overarching industry of media, restrictions on content are everywhere. Just in the united states alone, TV and radio has the FCC, film has the PMAA and even video games have the ESRB to monitor content as it's published and to establish guidelines for future media in development. But a possible exception to this widely popular trend is the digital superhighway and its John Milton "total freedom of expression" ideology.

The internet has risen to become a top source of information and news, and has become a massive competitor to the traditional forms of media. According to a study done by www.americanpressinstitute.org, the average american now checks media on four separate devices or technologies.

This wide spread availability of media is only further enhanced by the usage of smartphones. In the same study, it was found that 69 percent of all Americans use their smartphones for their news throughout the day.

All of this indicates an increase in activity in the form of media that inherently has fewer restrictions placed upon. This begs a question that's unique, and precarious, for current journalists that previous generations haven't had to experience: How much is a personal consciousness worth in the midst of so many outspoken opinions?

Reddit, a popular blogging site, is an example of the endless depth of knowledge accessible to the general public. It contains subreddits, such as r/funny and r/askscience, which filter content and discussions down to more specific topics. But the most widely viewed part of the site is the Front Page, which takes the most upvoted content from all subreddits and displays it for every Reddit user to see. Sometimes it's comedic but other times is highly professional news being shared.

Just This morning, on September 1st, 2016 at 1:56 am, the front page had a link to a scientific journal regarding a breakthrough in Alzheimer's studies. This isn't internet garbage, or fluff content meant only to entertain. This is journalism, and it's being shared and discussed in a way no other media outlet can offer.

It's still true that the internet has its own forms of censorship, as websites like Facebook and Twitter actively monitor their content. Even Reddit has moderators to ensure that the subreddits all stick to their niche topics, but it's undeniable that the internet is "The Wild West" of news and media, and can offer an unprecedented potential for our freedom of speech. So for the reporters, and the journalists, and the editors that have to continually struggle for the attention of the audience, they have to fight an uphill battle. And I don't believe that a journalist's personal consciousness is going to be enough anymore.

It's easy to say that "Journalists have an obligation to exercise their personal consciousness"as Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel said in their book The Elements of Journalism, and this belief certainly still stands true. But with the presence of so many people able to say exactly what they think or believe, the value of one journalist's opinion could easily be lost in the swell of voices. So what can journalists do? There may not be a clear cut answer to this, but one solution is to maintain credibility where others cannot. Redditors are almost always exclusively anonymous, so a journal's greatest strength is the public's faith in their information being accurate.

A journalist's consciousness might be there bread and butter when they must make decisions for their work, but it's not a step ladder to stand above the rest of the world. We as an industry must maintain an ethical responsibility to deliver a higher quality of news than all others, but cannot expect ethics alone to keep us afloat in this sea of media. Simply making noise won't grab viewership and having an opinion isn't enough for people to hear you, but that's just my opinion.

http://feministing.com/2014/10/27/actually-its-about-ethics-in-games-journalism/