JOURNALISM ETHICS

• Related question:
  •   As a journalist, are you under no restraint to inform, entertain and educate the public on any news or information?
  
  
  Introduction
  Mass media freedom is one of the major guarantees of the freedom of speech, an obligatory element for ensuring other civil rights and freedoms. The freedom of the press involves the possibility to freely discuss and criticize the activities of both the authorities and civil and private structures. Journalists contribute to the realization of the right to express unpopular opinions or agree with the point of view expressed by the majority. Respect for truth and the public's right to information are overriding principles for all journalists. Hence, in pursuance of these principles, journalists commit themselves to ethical and professional standards.
  
  
  What is Journalism Ethics?
  Journalism ethics and standards comprise principles of ethics and of good practice as applicable to the specific challenges faced by journalists. Historically and currently, this subset of media ethics is widely known to journalists as their professional "code of ethics" or the "canons of journalism". The basic codes and canons commonly appear in statements drafted by professional journalism associations and individual print, broadcast, and online news organizations. While various existing codes have some differences, most share common elements including the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability, as these apply to the acquisition of newsworthy information and its subsequent dissemination to the public.
  Freedom of the press and journalistic ethics is an important topic today in especially developed societies, with the word ‘press' encompassing the electronic media also. There are serious discussions on the topic which includes issues of the responsibilities of the press, since the media have become very prominent and very powerful. The importance of the freedom of the press lies in the fact that for most citizens being continually familiar with newsworthy events is unrealistic. So, in seeking out news, the media therefore acts for the public at large. It is the means by which people receive free flow of information and ideas, which is essential to intelligent self-governance, that is, democracy.
  For a proper functioning of democracy, it is essential that citizens are kept informed about news from various parts of the country and even abroad, because only then can they form rational opinions. A citizen surely cannot be expected personally to gather news to enable him or her to form such opinions. Hence, the media play an important role in a democracy and serve as an agency of the people to gather news for them. It is for this reason that the freedom of the press has been emphasized in all democratic countries, while it was not permitted in feudal or totalitarian regimes.
  Like many broader ethical systems, journalism ethics include the principle of "limitation of harm." This often involves the withholding of certain details from reports such as the names of minor children, crime victims' names or information not materially related to particular news reports release of which might, for example, harm someone's reputation. Hence, the media has a great responsibility also to see that the news they present is accurate and serves the interest of the people. If the media conveys false news that may harm the reputation of a person or a section of society, it may do great damage, since reputation is a valuable asset for a person. Even if the media subsequently corrects a statement, the damage done may be irreparable. Hence, the media should take care to carefully investigate any news item before reporting it.
  Also, sometimes the media presents twisted or distorted news that may contain an element of truth but also an element of untruth. This, too, should be avoided because a half-truth can be more dangerous than a total lie. The media should avoid giving any slant to news, and avoid sensationalism and yellow journalism. Only then will they gain the respect of the people and fulfill their true role in a democracy.
  
  
  Our Critique: Journalists’ Code of Ethics
  Journalists' main goal is to ensure the rights of citizens to truthful and important information, which allows them to form adequate impressions about social processes, their essence and importance, and about the situation in the modern world. The journalist bears responsibility before the society in general, before the law and before the professional association. The social responsibility of the journalist requires that he acts in accordance with his personal ethical standards.
  According to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, all members of the Union engaged in gathering, transmitting, disseminating and commenting on news and information shall observe the following Code of Ethics in their professional activities:
  (a) They shall report and interpret the news with scrupulous honesty by striving to disclose all essential facts and by not suppressing relevant, available facts or distorting by wrong or improper emphasis.
  (b) They shall not place unnecessary emphasis on gender, race, sexual preference, religious belief, marital status or physical or mental disability.
  (c) In all circumstances they shall respect all confidences received in the course of their occupation.
  (d) They shall not allow personal interests to influence them in their professional duties.
  (e) They shall not allow their professional duties to be influenced by any consideration; gift or advantage offered and, where appropriate, shall disclose any such offer.
  (f) They shall not allow advertising or commercial considerations to influence them in their professional duties.
  (g) They shall use fair and honest means to obtain news, pictures, films, tapes and documents.
  (h) They shall identify themselves and their employers before obtaining any interview for publication or broadcast.
  (i) They shall respect private grief and personal privacy and shall have the right to resist compulsion to intrude on them.
  (j) They shall do their utmost to correct any published or broadcast information found to be harmfully inaccurate.
  A breach of this Code shall be a breach of the Union's Rules and thus may give rise to disciplinary procedures under the Rules. If a member is dismissed from employment or otherwise disadvantaged by an employer, and a breach of this Code is claimed by the employer as justification for the dismissal or disadvantage; then the Union, following proper and adequate inquiry, and if it is satisfied to a reasonable degree that the employer's actions are justified, may decline to pursue a personal grievance on behalf of the member.
  Clearly, from the above analysis it is clear that as a journalist, one is under no restraint to inform, entertain and educate the public on any news or information.
  
  
  
  
   Back to "300 LEVEL- FIRST SEMESTER"
  Back to "ARCHIVES AND RESOURCES"
  Back to "PHILUZOPHY"