Doing Doing Ethics in Ethics in JournalisJournalis

mm

What is What is ethicsethics??

ETHOSETHOS = character = character– Personal foundations of decision making Personal foundations of decision making

in deciding between right and wrongin deciding between right and wrong

MORALITYMORALITY = doing ethics = doing ethics– Practice or application of ethicsPractice or application of ethics

Ethical IdeologyEthical Ideology

IdealismIdealism– The extent to which you believe that the best The extent to which you believe that the best

outcomes always result if broad, humanitarian outcomes always result if broad, humanitarian goals drive your actions.goals drive your actions.

RelativismRelativism– The extent to which you endorse and The extent to which you endorse and

individualistic approach—you reject the individualistic approach—you reject the possibility that there are universal moral possibility that there are universal moral standards that can help solve all ethical standards that can help solve all ethical questions.questions.

Ideological Approach to Moral Ideological Approach to Moral Judgment Based on Answers Judgment Based on Answers

to Ethics Position Questionnaireto Ethics Position Questionnaire

HIGHHIGH LOWLOW

HIGHHIGHSituationistsSituationists Reject moral rules; ask Reject moral rules; ask if the action yielded the if the action yielded the best possible outcome best possible outcome in the given situation.in the given situation.

AbsolutistsAbsolutistsFeel actions are moral Feel actions are moral provided they yield provided they yield positive consequences positive consequences through conformity to through conformity to moral rules.moral rules.

LOWLOWSubjectivistsSubjectivistsReject moral rules; base Reject moral rules; base moral judgments on moral judgments on personal feelings about personal feelings about the action and the the action and the setting.setting.

ExceptionistsExceptionists Feel conformity to Feel conformity to moral rules is desirable, moral rules is desirable, but exceptions to these but exceptions to these rules is often rules is often permissible.permissible.

RelativismRelativism (R score)

Idealism

Idealism

(I

score

)

Law ≠ EthicsLaw ≠ Ethics

Certain professions adopt guidelines Certain professions adopt guidelines for ethical behaviors that “should” be for ethical behaviors that “should” be followed by members of that followed by members of that profession:profession:– doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, doctors, lawyers, real estate agents,

journalistjournalist– Society of Professional Journalists Code of Society of Professional Journalists Code of

EthicsEthics– Public Relations Society of America Code

of Ethics

Society of Professional Society of Professional Journalists Code of EthicsJournalists Code of Ethics

Seek Truth and Report It Seek Truth and Report It Minimize HarmMinimize Harm Act IndependentlyAct Independently Be Accountable Be Accountable

http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

Public Relations Society of America Code of Ethics

AdvocacyAdvocacy HonestyHonesty ExpertiseExpertise

IndependenceIndependence LoyaltyLoyalty FairnessFairness

http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/ethics/preamble_en.html

Excellent Journalism Excellent Journalism vs. Ethical Journalismvs. Ethical Journalism

Doing ethics in Doing ethics in journalism must be journalism must be both learned and both learned and

developed.developed.

Excellent Journalism Excellent Journalism vs. Ethical Journalismvs. Ethical Journalism

Doing ethics in journalism is Doing ethics in journalism is reasoned, principled and reasoned, principled and

consistent thinking about how consistent thinking about how journalists can maximize their journalists can maximize their

truthtelling obligation while truthtelling obligation while minimizing harm to vulnerable minimizing harm to vulnerable news sources and consumers.news sources and consumers.

Excellent Journalism Excellent Journalism vs. Ethical Journalismvs. Ethical Journalism

Doing ethics in Doing ethics in journalism is about journalism is about

individual individual responsibility.responsibility.

Excellent Journalism Excellent Journalism vs. Ethical Journalismvs. Ethical Journalism

Doing ethics in Doing ethics in journalism is about journalism is about being accountable.being accountable.

Excellent Journalism Excellent Journalism vs. Ethical Journalismvs. Ethical Journalism

Doing ethics in Doing ethics in journalism is about the journalism is about the

critically important critically important contribution excellent contribution excellent journalism makes to journalism makes to

society.society.

Dual Role/Dilemmas of Dual Role/Dilemmas of Journalist & PR Journalist & PR PractitionersPractitioners

Rights Granted Rights Granted by First Amendment and by First Amendment and

various legal cases/rulings (acts/laws)various legal cases/rulings (acts/laws)

VS.VS.

Moral ObligationMoral ObligationWHY (and HOW) one makes WHY (and HOW) one makes

ethical decisions on the job (and in life)ethical decisions on the job (and in life)

Ask These 10 Questions to Ask These 10 Questions to Make Good Ethical Make Good Ethical

Decisions…Decisions…1.1. What do I know? What do I need to know? What do I know? What do I need to know?

2.2. What is my journalistic purpose?  What is my journalistic purpose? 

3.3. What are my ethical concerns?What are my ethical concerns?

4.4. What organizational policies and professional What organizational policies and professional guidelines should I consider? guidelines should I consider?

5.5. How can I include other people, with different How can I include other people, with different perspectives and diverse ideas, in the decision-perspectives and diverse ideas, in the decision-making process?making process?

Ask These 10 Questions to Ask These 10 Questions to Make Good Ethical Make Good Ethical

Decisions…Decisions…6.6. Who are the stakeholders -- those affected by Who are the stakeholders -- those affected by

my decision? What are their motivations? Which my decision? What are their motivations? Which are legitimate? are legitimate?

7.7. What if the roles were reversed? How would I What if the roles were reversed? How would I feel if I were in the shoes of one of the feel if I were in the shoes of one of the stakeholders? stakeholders?

8.8. What are the possible consequences of my What are the possible consequences of my actions? Short term? Long term? actions? Short term? Long term?

9.9. What are my alternatives to maximize my What are my alternatives to maximize my truthtelling responsibility and minimize harm? truthtelling responsibility and minimize harm?

10.10. Can I clearly and fully justify my thinking and Can I clearly and fully justify my thinking and my decision? To my colleagues? To the my decision? To my colleagues? To the stakeholders? To the public?stakeholders? To the public?