Ethics in journalismPresented by Dr. Kay Colley

Who am I?

• Former reporter and editor • Former public relations director at UNT

Health Science Center • PhD in higher education, minor

journalism; Master of International Journalism; Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

• 15 years of college teaching experience

Today’s objectives• To define ethics in journalism• To discuss the tenants of the Society of

Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics• To understand what it means to “Minimize

Harm”• To understand the importance of personal

responsibility in ethical decisions and behavior

• To review possible ethical dilemmas

What is ethics?• Ethics (from the Ancient Greek ἠθικός ēthikos, the adjective of ἤθος ēthos "custom, habit"), a major branch of philosophy, is the study of values and customs of a person or group. It covers the analysis and employment of concepts such as right and wrong, good and evil, and responsibility.

• General advice that is consistent across time and circumstances

Ethics in journalism• Society of Professional Journalists’ code

of ethics has 4 main tenants– Seek truth and report it– Minimize harm– Act independently– Be accountable

www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

Minimize harm• April 22-28, Ethics week • This year’s theme: Minimize harm

www.spj.org/ethicsweek.asp• What does that mean?

– Sensitivity– Privacy– Good taste– Identification of individuals– Balancing of rights

Personal responsibility• If something is legal, is it ethical?• Learning ethics• Ethics and credibility• Ultimately, the decision to do or not do

something is yours.

Possible ethical dilemmas• Sources • Quotes• Slant/Angle• Actual words used• The role of objectivity

Review of today’s objectives• To define ethics in journalism• To discuss the tenants of the Society of

Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics• To understand what it means to

“Minimize Harm”• To understand the importance of

personal responsibility in ethical decisions and behavior

• To review possible ethical dilemmas