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Courtesy
the Society of
Professional Journalists
Code of Ethics - Society of
Professional Journalists
Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public
enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of
democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by
seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events
and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties
strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional
integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of
the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code
to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering,
reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
- Test the accuracy of information from
all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate
distortion is never permissible.
- Diligently seek out subjects of news
stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of
wrongdoing.
- Identify sources whenever feasible.
The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources'
reliability.
- Always question sources’ motives
before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise
made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
- Make certain that headlines, news
teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound
bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify
or highlight incidents out of context.
- Never distort the content of news
photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always
permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
- Avoid misleading re-enactments or
staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label
it.
- Avoid undercover or other
surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional
open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of
such methods should be explained as part of the story
- Never plagiarize.
- Tell the story of the diversity and
magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to
do so.
- Examine their own cultural values and
avoid imposing those values on others.
- Avoid stereotyping by race, gender,
age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability,
physical appearance or social status.
- Support the open exchange of views,
even views they find repugnant.
- Give voice to the voiceless; official
and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
- Distinguish between advocacy and news
reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not
misrepresent fact or context.
- Distinguish news from advertising and
shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
- Recognize a special obligation to
ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that
government records are open to inspection.
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human
beings deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
- Show compassion for those who may be
affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when
dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
- Be sensitive when seeking or using
interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
- Recognize that gathering and
reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news
is not a license for arrogance.
- Recognize that private people have a
greater right to control information about themselves than do public
officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an
overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
- Show good taste. Avoid pandering to
lurid curiosity.
- Be cautious about identifying
juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
- Be judicious about naming criminal
suspects before the formal filing of charges.
- Balance a criminal suspect’s fair
trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the
public's right to know.
Journalists should:
- Avoid conflicts of interest, real or
perceived.
- Remain free of associations and
activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
- Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free
travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political
involvement, public office and service in community organizations if
they compromise journalistic integrity.
- Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
- Be vigilant and courageous about
holding those with power accountable.
- Deny favored treatment to advertisers
and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news
coverage.
- Be wary of sources offering
information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and
each other.
Journalists should:
- Clarify and explain news coverage and
invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
- Encourage the public to voice
grievances against the news media.
- Admit mistakes and correct them
promptly.
- Expose unethical practices of
journalists and the news media.
- Abide by the same high standards to
which they hold others.
The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of
writers, editors and other news professionals. The present version of
the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months
of study and debate among the Society's members.
Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the
American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi
wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996.
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