In class when I asked guest speaker, Richard Waters, from the Financial Times what he felt the differences in ethics were between English and American journalist he gave me an answer that surprised me. “American journalists have far greater self imposed ethics codes” he felt that “English journalists are looking for ways around the rules imposed on them, making them more unethical”. This was interesting but also made me think that for me to construct a code of ethics without ever being a working journalist may give my guidelines the appearance of seeming over idealistic, but I will attempt to create one anyway being as realistic as I can.
1. Firstly you should ‘Never Fabricate A Story’. Journalism is the art of truth and it is the journalists’ duty to the readers to give them, to the best of their ability, a factually accurate account of the events of the story.
2. I do not believe in complete objectivity but I do believe a journalist can be fair, giving all the facts to paint a picture of wrong or right. I believe it is unethical to omit facts to give a false picture of an event.
3. I believe it is unethical to use a headline that paints a false picture of a story, or take a quote from someone completely out of context.
4. Photos that are used should never be photoshopped unless it is made 100% clear that the photo is not original or its maybe a comedy photo and it is made clear.
5. The news should never be advertising there should be a clear line between the two. If there is advertising in the style of a newspaper layout it should be clearly labeled.
6. Undercover journalism should be avoided unless it is in the best interest of the public, and you should always disclose you are a journalist if asked unless it puts you in danger. If you are recording people you should tell them so again unless the information is in the safety of the public.
7. Be utilitarian in your approach to everything in journalism, do what helps the most while hurting the least, I feel this will help you stay ethical.
