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Ethics Enduring“As the national media—and the citizenry—hunker down in economic survival mode, individual journalists and news organizations remain willing to take risks to uphold the integrity of the news.”
—Tim Gleason, dean, UOregon School of Journalism and Communication,
announcing the 2009 Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism
announcing the 2009 Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism
Editorial Comment: Press Ethics—a staple in the social survival kit.
This Week on “Uncle Jay Explains the News”: Socialism
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Journalistic ethics are largely illusory, and the lack thereof is one of the primary objections to the enactment of shield laws.
ReplyDeleteEthics for lawyers, doctors, architects and other professionals are universal within a given jurisdiction and enshrined in law; violate them, and one loses the right to practice the profession. In contrast, there is no legally enforceable code of ethics for journalists -- and my guess is that journalists would squawk like an ensnared Illinois governor at the mere suggestion of imposing one -- nor is there a canon that is acknowledged by all elements of a profession that encompasses both the New York Times and The Enquirer.
Yet, while journalists scurry for the protection of the law in pursuing >>their<< interests, they have not shown an equivalent fervor for the imposition of mandatory ethical controls on them to protect the public's interests.
The ethical standards of the profession should not be judged by the likes of the NY Times; those are okay to use as goals, though even they fall far short of what is expected of other professions. The actual standards of the profession should be judged by organs such as The Enquirer.
Hugh Nations, retired attorney and former journalist
I hope this is true. I see too many news organizations willing to toss out ethics or some part of ethics in order to keep going. The paper I was working at in San Diego was pretty much advertorial instead of editorial. Yes, they are doing great and haven't laid anyone off, except part time staff, but working there always put such a bad taste in my mouth, like "am I really doing journalism?"
ReplyDeleteBut if a paper dies with its head held high, it still dies. So I don't know.
Nats