Academic Integrity

Journalism programs need to inculcate the ethics of the profession

from the first class.

Students need to know from the very first classes what the professional

ethics are and how they are expected to follow them.

And difference between good behavior – conduct – and ethics.

Not always so obvious to students. Need to incorporate ethics into EVERY course of

the curriculum!

• Example: Is it OK for a student to walk into class 20 minutes late and walk all the way to the front, making lots of noise and then slump down in their chair and open a newspaper?

• Is this an ethical issue?

Are these ethical issues?

• Is it OK for a student reporter to call a source and tell them they report for Tolo TV?

• Is it OK for a students to take free tickets to a concert if they are not covering the concert for a news outlet.

• Is it OK to copy part of a newspaper story and put it in your own story for an assignment? It won't be published - only for an assignment.

Policies• Universities have Codes of

Conduct - What is considered

unacceptable behavior • Academic Integrity

- What is considered cheating

• PLUS, Journalism programs usaully have their own set of policies that reflect professional codes of ethics.

We post our journalism policies on our website

• The UA posts all their policies on a website

• Academic Integrity Handbook includes sections on plagiarism, fabrication of sources, collaboration policies.

• The Reporter’s Handbook, updated regularly. This is mostly style issues, policies on fact-checking, use of internet interviews, fact-checking, Twitter policies.

From student handbook:

• If a student is caught cheating – as some are every semester in this school – s/he will face a range of possible sanctions that may include:

• A failing grade for the assignment• A reduced or failing grade for the class• A recommendation of suspension or expulsion from the

university.

• Appeal procedures through the university.

• So students know what will not be tolerated and what the consequences may be.

• More examples: The faculty is watchful for the following code violations:

• Failing to quote accurately, word for word, what a news source writes or says

• Failing to credit a news source when using an exact quotation [need to attribute to the news source]

• Copying sentences or paragraphs from a publication without putting them in quotes and using attribution

• Using the source’s own words too closely when paraphrasing• Making up sources. [I make students list their sources and their phone

numbers and I occasionally call them and check]• Making up quotes or other information• Collaborating unfairly with other students• Cheating on tests and quizzes• Submitting the same story, report or research paper to fulfill

assignments for two different classes, without prior permission from the second instructor.

In all your syllabi• State clearly what the university, department

and class policies are. • "Class Policies" should be the complete list of

policies that you follow in your class (absences, missing deadlines, collaboration).

We translated a basic journalism student handbook into Pashto

• On Afghan Digital Libraries under Academic Integrity http://www.afghandigitallibraries.org

• Your can change or add your own policies

• Emphasize the importance of professional ethics in every class of the curriculum.

• Clearly state the university, department and class policies.

• Then follow up and enforce the policies consistently and fairly for all students.

• Model those policies. Professors have to be absolutely ethical ALL THE TIME.

Take Away

Teach confidently knowing that your ethics and other policies are clear to your students!

Photos by UA students Gregory, Gudenkauf, Jordan, Knuth and Landeen.