Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics Every

Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics

Every journalist follows a code of ethics – a set of guidelines that establishes the morals and behaviors for the profession. Breaking this code will not lead to a criminal charge, in most cases, but can lead to job dismissal depending on the publication you work for.

Seek Truth & Report It Test the accuracy of all information & sources. ID those sources. Question motives. • Seek out your subjects & give sources a chance to respond to all comments, especially negative comments • Make sure all areas of a package are accurate • Avoid undercover methods

• • • Never plagiarize Tell the whole story, even if it is difficult Avoid putting your own beliefs into a story Avoid stereotyping Support others views, even if they seem wrong • Give a voice to the voiceless – look for sources • Distinguish news from advertising • Recognize your public obligation

Minimize Harm • Show compassion, especially with children • Be sensitive • Recognize your job may cause harm or discomfort, but do not be arrogant • Recognize the difference between private & public citizens. Only an obvious public need can justify an invasion of privacy. • Show good taste

• Be careful of naming juvenile suspects or sex crime victims • Be careful how you name suspects before formal charges or a guilty verdict • Balance a right to a fair trial vs. the public’s right to know

Right to a fair trial vs. the public’s right to know • Many people complain that a defendant cannot get a fair trial because of the pre-trial publicity • OJ Simpson • Laci Peterson Case • Michael Jackson • Reporter’s must work hard at balancing the two sides: what needs to be known vs. what doesn’t need to be known

Act Independently • Avoid conflict of interests, either real or not • Remain free of associations that can damage your credibility • Refuse gifts, favors, free items • Do not take on secondary employment, political involvement, public office, public service or anything that could question your integrity

Act Independently • Disclose the unavoidable conflict • Hold those in power accountable, no matter what • Deny special favors to advertisers Do not change coverage for them • Do not pay for or give benefits to sources. Avoid bidding for news

Be Accountable • Clarify and explain news coverage • Invite public dialogue over the journalism industry whether good or bad • Admit your mistakes and fix immediately • Expose unethical practices • Abide by the same standards you hold others to

Photography Issues • When readers looks at a photo, they assume that all the photo is accurate and true. • Objects in the photo were really in it • Objects not in the photo were never there • The action of the photo really took place • Readers must be informed if any of these changes take place • Some alteration is ok if it does not change the content of the photo • Color adjustments • Cropping a part completely out

Photography Ethics • Do not stage photos • Do not alter the content of digital photos • Digital photos may be repaired for contrast, balance, color, etc. But never alter the content • If you alter a photo (collage, montage, etc) tell your readers

Photo Tests Students working on publications should consider the following tests devised by University of Oregon professors about whether and how to manipulate, alter or enhance photos.

The View Finder Test • Does the photograph show more than what the photographer saw through the viewfinder?

The Photo-Processing Test • A range of technical enhancements & corrections on an image after the photo is shot could change the image. Do things go beyond what is routinely done in the darkroom to improve image quality – cropping, color corrections, lightening or darkening?

The Technical Credibility Test • Is the proposed alteration not technically obvious to the reader?

The Clear-Implausibility Test • Is the altered image not obviously false to the readers?

If YES to any test JEA urges student journalists to • Not manipulate news photos • Not publish any image in question • Clearly label altered images as photo illustrations only if the photo is needed for the story’s content.