Code of Ethics for Professional Journalists
Journalists are the gatekeepers and transmitters of news that take place in societies all over the world. The public expects the journalists' truthfulness as well as their willingness to write the truth. The public also relies on journalists for the facts and anticipates that journalists will gather information towards that goal. They also expect journalists to apply their professional code of ethics as they sit down to craft a fair and balanced news story.
Other People Are Reading
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IFJ Code of Ethics
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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) crafted its own code of ethics known as the IFJ Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists. It lists as the first duty of journalists a respect for truth and for the right of the public to truth.
The code of ethics stresses that journalists report only on facts. The code submits that journalists should not suppress essential information or falsify documents.The IFJ code implores journalists to use only fair methods to obtain news and to always rectify any published information later found to be inaccurate..
Under the IFJ code, journalists are expected to exercise professional secrecy regarding confidential source of information. The IFJ explicitly states that media should not further the cause of discrimination. The code of ethics submits that journalists must avoid plagiarism and malicious misinterpretation. Acceptance of bribes is unacceptable, the code maintains.
Society of Professional Journalists
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In the United States, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) ethics code states its belief that public knowledge is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The organization adopted its code of ethics by declaring a shared dedication to the ethical behavior of journalists. Although the code is not a set of rules, the SPJ submits that its code is a resource for ethical decision-making.
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SPJ Code
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The SPJ code notes that journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Accuracy of information from all sources is necessary, and the organization stresses the need for care to avoid unintentional error. It maintains that deliberate distortion is never permissible.
Misrepresentations of any headlines while promoting news teases and other news material are unacceptable under the society's ethical codes. SPJ asks journalists to tell the story of diversity and the magnitude of people's experience boldly, even when it is an unpopular stand to take. The code submits that journalists should never impose their values on others.
Stereotyping that leads to discrimination of any group is unacceptable under the codes' ethics. According to the codes, journalists should give voice to the voiceless, and they should write news and not advertising. The code highlights the journalists' special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
SPJ Journalistic Responsibilities
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The SPJ ethic code encourages journalists to treat sources and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect. The society reminds journalists to exercise wisdom about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges. It states that private individuals have a greater right to preserve their privacy than do public officials and others who seek power and attention. Journalists should show good taste and avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, the SPJ code suggests. It submits that pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
Independence and Accountability
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The SPJ ethics code requests that journalists free themselves from any obligation to interest groups other than the public's right to know. The SPJ code reminds journalists to be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
The code states that journalists must clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct. Journalists should encourage the public to voice complaints against the news media. The code urges journalists to admit mistakes and correct them promptly and expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media while abiding by the same high standards to which they hold others.
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