News EthicsNews Ethics

Today there are four basic Today there are four basic sources for Newssources for News

1.1. TelevisionTelevision

2.2. RadioRadio

3.3. NewspaperNewspaper

4.4. InternetInternet

Which news source do you Which news source do you trust the most?trust the most?

1.1. TelevisionTelevision

2.2. RadioRadio

3.3. NewspaperNewspaper

4.4. InternetInternet

Do trust TV News more today Do trust TV News more today than yesterday?than yesterday?

Walter Cronkite

EthicsEthics

R.T.N.D.AR.T.N.D.ARadio and Television News Directors AssociationRadio and Television News Directors Association

R.T.N.D.A.R.T.N.D.A.Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

PreamblePreambleProfessional electronic journalists should operate as Professional electronic journalists should operate as

trustees of the public, seek the truth, report it farily and trustees of the public, seek the truth, report it farily and with integrity and independence, and stand with integrity and independence, and stand

accountable for their actions.accountable for their actions.

Public TrustPublic TrustProfessional electronic journalists should recognize Professional electronic journalists should recognize

that their first obligation is to the public. that their first obligation is to the public.

R.T.N.D.A.R.T.N.D.A.Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

TruthTruthProfessional electronic journalists should pursue truth Professional electronic journalists should pursue truth

aggressively and present the news accurately, in aggressively and present the news accurately, in context, and as completely as possiblecontext, and as completely as possible

FairnessFairnessProfessional electronic journalists should present the Professional electronic journalists should present the news fairly and impartially, placing primary value on news fairly and impartially, placing primary value on

significance and relevance. significance and relevance.

R.T.N.D.A.R.T.N.D.A.Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

IntegrityIntegrityProfessional electronic journalists should present the Professional electronic journalists should present the

news with integrity and decency, avoiding real or news with integrity and decency, avoiding real or perceived conflicts of interest, and respect the dignity perceived conflicts of interest, and respect the dignity

and intelligence of the audience as well as the subjects and intelligence of the audience as well as the subjects of news.of news.

IndependenceIndependenceProfessional electronic journalists should defend the Professional electronic journalists should defend the independence of all journalists from those seeking independence of all journalists from those seeking

influence or control over news content.influence or control over news content.

R.T.N.D.A.R.T.N.D.A.Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

AccountabiltyAccountabiltyProfessional electronic journalists should recognize Professional electronic journalists should recognize

that they are accountable for their actions to the public. that they are accountable for their actions to the public.

ConflictConflict

Since it’s beginning news Since it’s beginning news organizations have always worked organizations have always worked

under the umbrella of conflictunder the umbrella of conflict

ConflictConflict

William Paley, President of CBS William Paley, President of CBS told an RTNDA convention in told an RTNDA convention in

1958….1958….

ConflictConflict

““One of the basic trouble with One of the basic trouble with radio and TV News is that they radio and TV News is that they

have grown up as an incompatible have grown up as an incompatible combination of show business, combination of show business,

advertising and news.”advertising and news.”

ConflictConflict

The day before Paley had fired The day before Paley had fired Edward R. Murrow host of “See It Edward R. Murrow host of “See It

Now” for not running a story in Now” for not running a story in favor of an advertiser.favor of an advertiser.

ConflictConflictNews Directors over the past few News Directors over the past few

years say that their biggest years say that their biggest challenge is with the sales challenge is with the sales

department who are looking for department who are looking for new ways to increase revenue new ways to increase revenue and new approaches to entice and new approaches to entice

advertisers.advertisers.

With what you now know do you With what you now know do you think Ethic’s in News exist today?think Ethic’s in News exist today?

The factsThe facts

Network news watching is up over last yearNetwork news watching is up over last year Cable news viewing is upCable news viewing is up 31 million Americans demonstrate each 31 million Americans demonstrate each

night they want to watch a newscast that night they want to watch a newscast that effectively and fairly tells them what is effectively and fairly tells them what is happening in the world.happening in the world.

Producing News has never been as Producing News has never been as expensive as it is today. expensive as it is today.

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

Amendment IAmendment I Congress shall make no law respecting Congress shall make no law respecting

an establishment of religion, or an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or

abridging the freedom of speech, or of the abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.Government for a redress of grievances.

Your Role As A ReporterYour Role As A Reporter

ACCURACYACCURACY This is your religionThis is your religion An error is a mortal sin.An error is a mortal sin. Journalism is non-fictionJournalism is non-fiction

Your Role As A ReporterYour Role As A Reporter

Don’t FUDGEDon’t FUDGE Don’t ASSUMEDon’t ASSUME Don’t be SLOPPYDon’t be SLOPPY Don’t trustDon’t trust

Libel and SlanderLibel and Slander

If something you say or write defames If something you say or write defames someone. An untruth. someone. An untruth.

LIBEL used to be for print-MORE LIBEL used to be for print-MORE SERIOUS.SERIOUS.

SLANDER for broadcast-LESS SERIOUSSLANDER for broadcast-LESS SERIOUS THIS HAS CHANGED IN RECENT YEARSTHIS HAS CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS YOU CAN BE SUED FOR LIBEL FOR A YOU CAN BE SUED FOR LIBEL FOR A

BROADCASTBROADCAST

WORDS TO AVOIDWORDS TO AVOID

AdultererAdulterer Confidence manConfidence man CorruptCorrupt CrookCrook DefaulterDefaulter CheatCheat DrunkardDrunkard Ex conEx con nazinazi

BigamistBigamist BriberBriber Drug addictDrug addict DefaulterDefaulter CommunistCommunist FoolFool GangsterGangster Mentally illMentally ill

LIBEL/SLANDERLIBEL/SLANDER

If something said or written exposes If something said or written exposes someone to public hatred, contempt or someone to public hatred, contempt or ridicule: or causes them to be shunned or ridicule: or causes them to be shunned or avoided: or tends to injure them in their avoided: or tends to injure them in their occupationoccupation

Fair CommentFair Comment

Film critic says: “The director of this film is a Film critic says: “The director of this film is a moron”moron”

This is a “Fair Comment” and protected This is a “Fair Comment” and protected under law because it is not based on fact under law because it is not based on fact but instead opinion. but instead opinion.

Fair CommentFair Comment

The rule on Fair Comment:The rule on Fair Comment: The statement must be purely comment or The statement must be purely comment or

criticism and not an allegation of factcriticism and not an allegation of fact

UNDERCOVERUNDERCOVERINVESTIGATIVE REPORTINGINVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

SECRET CAMERAS AND MIC’S ARE ILLEGAL SECRET CAMERAS AND MIC’S ARE ILLEGAL UNLESS ONE OF THE PARTIES KNOW A UNLESS ONE OF THE PARTIES KNOW A RECORDING IS TAKING PLACERECORDING IS TAKING PLACE

THAT PARTY CAN BE THE REPORTER OR THAT PARTY CAN BE THE REPORTER OR ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE NEWS ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE NEWS ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

THE RECORDING DEVICE MUST BE ON THE THE RECORDING DEVICE MUST BE ON THE PREMISES. NO TRANSMITTING IS ALLOWED.PREMISES. NO TRANSMITTING IS ALLOWED.

THIS TYPE OF REPORTING SHOULD ONLY BE THIS TYPE OF REPORTING SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR CRUCIAL NEWS STORIES. USED FOR CRUCIAL NEWS STORIES.