Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
Read over the SPJ Code of Ethics again, either via the handout or at
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
and write a blog response about which of these you find most important, any you might disagree with, and explain your answer to both questions.
Worth 10 points, due by 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2.
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
and write a blog response about which of these you find most important, any you might disagree with, and explain your answer to both questions.
Worth 10 points, due by 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2.
I personally believe the most important code is to Seek Truth and Report It. The job of a journalist is to inform the public; therefore, each journalist must attempt to tell the truth in all cases. If a journalist was to intentionally report something that was not true the public would of course unknowingly receive and share false information to others. A situation like this would lead to a wide spread of false information and it would lower the credibility of the source that originally shared the information. There isn't a particular code that I fully disagree with because I think they cover the general basis of the ethics a journalist should hold while reporting. However, I believe the code of minimizing harm can be argued with. In the situation that a politician is doing something wrong, and a journalist discovers this then they should report it even though it will most likely severely harm his/her image.
ReplyDeleteI believe that being accountable and transparent is the most important code. Journalists need to be able to cover any story fairly without being bias. It is also important for journalists to be able to admit their mistakes and be able to correct them. Being an accountable and reliable source is extremely important. If you are not reliable, you will lose viewers and readers. Being transparent is also extremely important. Journalists need to be able to keep their own opinion separate from the news. Facts need to be the focus of every story. Overall, being accountable and transparent is the most important code, because it helps build the relationship with the viewers.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the most important code is "Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so." I think it is extremely important to present a story for what it is - no bias, no persuading, etc. A journalist should be bold in their writing and reporting in order to clearly tell the story. Give all the details and be raw! A journalist would be doing the subject of the story, the audience, and themselves a disservice if they were to report an untrue story. I also think it is important because when a journalist is covering a story they should report it in the same way they would want a story reported about them. No matter how uncommon the subject or story might be, they should still report it with the utmost respect. I don't find anything on the SPJ Code of Ethics that i necessarily disagree with, because I think all of them accurately define what a journalist is expected to do in their work. Many of the things listed go hand-in-hand.
ReplyDeleteRyan Bradford
ReplyDeleteI believe seeking the truth and reporting it is what is most important because that's what being a journalist is at its core. People read and watch the news because they trust that the truth is what you are giving them and betraying that trust is also betraying your profession.
"Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear." is another great one that I think of is standing up for the little guy. Giving voices to those who wouldn't normally have one is a great power that journalists hold and one that should be used for the greater good.
There isn't really anything I disagree with in the code of ethics. I think all reporters should follow them lest they sully the name of the profession.
In my personal opinion, I believe that seeking the truth and reporting it is the most important code. A journalist's sole purpose is to report the truth back to the public. If a journalist decides to fabricate a story, it damages the reputation of the profession and causes distrust among the people who depend on them to be honest. I also believe that minimizing harm is equally as important as seeking the truth but it doesn't really go hand in hand. If a journalist is reporting a money laundering scheme or crime; someone, whether that be the person being charged or the people close to them, will be harmed in some way. The best a journalist can hope for is to do their best to minimize the impact of harm done by reporting the truth and hoping it will set them free.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't a code that I disagree with. I believe they are all important.
I believe that to boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience is one of the most important codes a journalist can follow. Bringing truth to the public is also an important code. But if you bring the truth of one situation, but ignore others, you end up with biased journalism. One of the most important traits we have has human beings is empathy. By exposing the public to stories from diverse groups of people, it brings us one step closer to coming together. It is also important to highlight the voices seldom heard, rather than those who have the platform all the time. There isn't a specific code I disagree with.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the most important section on the code of ethics is to act independently to serve the public. If a journalist begins accepting bribes or favors, or reports on something that they have a conflict of interest with, then the story can't be expected to be objective and unbiased. Basically, without the independent action of ethical journalists, the other tenets of the code cannot be upheld, making it the backbone of the code.
ReplyDeleteI do not feel that any of the parts of the code of ethics are inherently disagreeable, they seem to be reasonable and not terribly obtrusive.
I believe the most important principle is to "Seek Truth and Report It". To me, there's no point of reporting false news and misleading the public. Journalists should no other motive than to find the whole truth and report it without throwing in any false information or mixing up the story just to draw more attention. Misleading the public can damage a journalist's reputation and credibility. The news is very important for many people and they rely on it daily for real, current, important stories. There are many reliable news stations/companies whose reputations could easily be destroyed with one bad story from one journalist. The consequences of reporting fake news are simply not worth it, which is why it is so important to "seek truth and report it."
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree with any of the other principles. I feel they are all important, as they all benefit the public and the journalists.
I think it's most important to seek the truth and report it. I feel like reporters are responsible for informing other about certain news. no one wants to hear false news. I feel like the number one priority for a reporter is to make sure that the truth is being reported and not false information. fake news is very easy to come by so I think it's very critical that the truth is being delivered. many people are not good at understanding what's real or fake news. that is why I feel seeking the truth is very important. people could care less about what others think they want the fact first then they will pick a side or voice how they feel about the situation. I think the truth and fact should be reported. I think that is the most important thing for a reporter to do. I do believe that they all are important.
ReplyDeleteOut of all the ethical rules in the SPJ Code of Ethics, I believe that the most important one is “Seek Truth and Report It”. As journalists, we have an obligation to inform the public of what is going on in the world, and to do so, we have to be able to deliver complete and accurate news. In order to do so, we are responsible for seeking the truth, finding out the difference between real news and fake news, and doing all we can do to make sure the public gets it. I don’t have any arguments with any ethics listed, as I believe every one of them is important to live by, as journalists.
ReplyDeleteKennadi Harris
ReplyDeleteI believe "Seek truth and Report It" is by far the most important code of ethics in Journalism. Journalism is all about gathering valuable information and reporting it to the general public. Information is not at all valuable if it is not the truth. With that being said, the most important duty of a journalist should be to get accurate information from credible sources and avoid spreading fake news at all cost. One code that I don't completely agree with is "Act Independently," This is only because receiving gifts or favors doesn't necessarily mean you have to be biased.
I would say the first of the four categories of ethical journalism, "Seek Truth and Report It", is the most important rule. All of the others sort of build upon the foundation of a truthful reporter. "Journalists should be honest, fair, and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting information", is the founding principle for the entire Code of Ethics. If you are dishonest and have no credibility, you can cause harm in many ways, you are overstepping boundaries and depending on lies, and you are not holding yourself accountable or taking responsibility for your actions. There is only one rule on the code of ethics that I would somewhat disagree with. I do believe it may, under certain extreme circumstances, be quite necessary and helpful to use undercover reporting to gather information that is being wrongly withheld from the public. These circumstances must have great reason to call for such action, but there are some circumstances in which I believe them to be necessary in order to expose bad things happening that the public should have knowledge of.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the most important code is to "Seek Truth and Report it." I think this because as a journalist you are put in situations where you could use your own opinion instead of telling the real story. Journalists should avoid being biased or fabricating a story because there is no point to be misleading to the public. It is important that journalists are honest and accurate to rid out false news. If you are dishonest it takes away the value of reporting the news and as a journalist you are responsible for your credibility. There isn't a code I disagree with. As a journalist you are expected to follow the codes in your work and I think all these codes should be followed.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal opinion, the most important code of ethics in journalism is "Seek Truth and Report it". A journalist has an obligation to gather information and accurately report it to the public. This also goes hand in hand with the code "Be Accountable". As journalists, we are held to a standard of seeking and reporting the truth, all of the truth, and to avoid spreading fake news. The public has a right to know everything. There isn't a code that I disagree with, all journalists should follow a set of codes and I feel all of these are acceptable and important to live by.
ReplyDeleteI think that in todays society one of the most important code of ethics is to avoid stereotypes. With everything that is going on in the world today and the sort of racial divide that continues to exist in this country, avoiding stereotypes is extremely important. Saying something wrong even just something small can have huge consequences and can even destroy a journalists career with the way things are today and the sensitivity of the world. I feel like all of these codes of ethics are very important and following them is an essential part of being a good and reliable journalist in todays media.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe that the most important ethical code for journalists is to seek the truth and report it. While the rest of the SPJ code of ethics contents are important as well; seeking the truth is the backbone to any form of real journalism. Without the pursuit of truth and public knowledge there would be no need for journalism, period.
ReplyDeleteIt is also important that we as a society always choose to seek the truth, and not fall victim to depict and corruption. Knowledge of the real truth in an argument, election, or global event can prevent further or new conflicts and the spread of lies and deception. So seeking and reporting the truth remains and always will remain a integral part of the process of order in not jut journalism, but society as a whole.
Although all of the code of ethics play an important role, the most important to me is to Seek Truth and Report It. To be more specific with this code, the most important rule is to support the open exchange of views, even views you may find repugnant. When different perspectives are expressed through journalism, readers are given the opportunity to read the truth throughout the whole story and must decide for themselves which take on the story they believe in and agree with. Without this opportunity, readers would be half-informed, which is not very helpful and defeats the purpose of journalism and news reporting. One that I do not agree with is Act Independently. I believe that a journalist can still support their own personal beliefs and interests without losing credibility. A journalist should only be judged by their work, not what they do on a personal level outside of the office.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the “Seek Truth and Report It” section of the SPJ Code of Ethics is the most important of the four. There is not one of these that I disagree with, although the first I agree with the most. I do not disagree with any of them because they all seem like reasonable responsibilities as a journalist. I believe that seeking truth and reporting it is the most important because of the corruption already present in the world. A journalist’s job is to inform the public of what is going on in the city, state, or country. Without this truth or reliance on journalism for truth, the world would not have a very strong source of reliability to follow.
ReplyDeleteI feel like stories must have context so i think that is the most important of the ethics in my eyes. If there is no context then i feel like the story would be pointless. Also it makes the story more clear and less likely to get changed as it is told. May get add on to for sure as details come but its hard to change a story when we know why this story at this moment in time is happening.
ReplyDeleteI do have one that i dont really agree with. I think a story that is there that is of major importance needs to be found out and i think that if a newspaper or a paper or whoever has to put a "spy" almost to get that story i say let it happen. If a government official is doing something wrong like an affair or something that isn't going to be just opened up to everyone so i think you need to find stories out by anyway possible sometimes.
I believe that Seek Truth and Report it part if the SPJ code is the most important part. As a journalist it is your responsibility to inform the public about what is going on and part of that is making sure that it is true. I especially think its important in todays world with social media and fake news. Growing up in a city like Chicago, I've seen quite a bit of corruption and I appreciated the journalist who reported the truth.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the most important role of a journalists' ethical code is to be accountable and transparent. As a journalist, if you do not have viewers or readers, you're out of a job. But more importantly, if you do not have self-accountablitiy, you do not have anything. Building trust between the viewers and their sources is crucial in journalism. They need to be able to report a story in a fair and unbiased manner.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the codes of ethics. Following all of them would make for a great journalist.
I believe that the most important parts of the SPJ code of ethics are the points that deal with making sure that you report truthfully and take responsibility for the accuracy of your reporting. It is essential that journalists report objectively and that they don't skew the facts or lie in order to advance their own opinions or views. This has become a huge issue today, and I would be delusional to say that its not happening on both sides of the political spectrum. But what is worse than reporting subjectively to advance your own views, is reporting subjectively to advance someone else's views or agenda. That is why the section on acting independently is the section that I find to be the most important beyond Seeking Truth and reporting it. If Journalists take bribes or gifts, advertising under the guise of journalism, or have conflicts of interest, that undermines journalism as a whole, and is just bad for society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that, "Seek Truth and Report It" is the most important principle of ethical journalism. My reasoning for this is because all reports should be truthful but also fair. They need the correct information if they're going to inform the public of a topic, without credible sources and and correct context it may really effect the information that is being put out for the public. I also agree with supporting the open and civil exchange of views because although you have your own belief's someone reading it may have another so you need to cover all angle's of a story. There's not an ethic I disagree with because all cover being ethical well.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most important part of SPJ code of ethics is being vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. By doing do, we can give a voice to the voiceless. Now that social media has become a widely ranged source for news, everyone, in a sense, has the power to write anything they want to. It's up to true, ethical journalists to provide reliable information about what is actually happening instead of incorporating our opinion and, most of the time, false or misleading information. We should be exercising our first amendment right by informing the public of what is happening regardless if the person in power will be held accountable or not.
ReplyDeleteThere really isn't anything I personally disagree with on the SPJ code of ethics. The only thing I'm a little confused on is where is says to be careful when making promises and to always keep the ones that are made. How can a journalist promise something to the public knowing they have to keep that promise to the entire public? I think there are way too many possibilities for a journalist to lose trust if they are making promises to the public without being 100% sure they can keep it.
I believe the most important SPJ ethics rule is to seek truth and report it. Without truth, news is nothing. Seeking and reporting truth is the very essence of news. Providing context is also very important. Recently The Hill ran an article titled "Betsy Devos uses private jet for work related travel". For many people who don't bother to click the link and read the article, they would assume that her travel is being funded by taxpayer money. For the people who did click the link, they would have learned that Devos herself pays for the cost of travel. This is an example of unethical journalism, whether intentional or not. The Hill mislead people with the title of their article. This is why providing context is important. Context, especially in article titles shared on the internet, prevents the dissemination of false information, as with The Hill's misleading title.
ReplyDeleteAgree with both of the sections, Seek Truth and Report It, and then the Be Accountable and Transparent. When looking at the Seek Truth and Report It section, what caught my attention was when it talked about how a reporter must keep an open mind. I find this extremely important while reporting especially due to the many opinions and accounts people may make about any given situation. Another idea that was talked about was how a journalists should take responsibility for how right or wrong their report may be due to the sources they may use information from or even when using their own personal opinion. From the other section Be Accountable and Transparent, one of the rules that seems super important to me was that of explaining ethical choices and processes to audiences. This is important due to the fact that a lot of people may question a reason why a journalist wrote about something a certain way or spoke about it, this is a reason a journalist should explain the reason behind each of their ideas and reports that they may write.
ReplyDelete