Most ethical professions?

Ethics and journalism

Ethics and journalism

Deontological ethics

Ethics and journalism

Deontological ethicsTeleological ethics

Ethics and journalism

Deontological ethicsTeleological ethicsSituation ethics

Ethics and journalism

Deontological ethicsTeleological ethicsSituation ethicsAntinomianism

Ethics and journalism

Deontological ethicsTeleological ethicsSituation ethicsAntinomianismDeontelics

Ethics and journalism

Deontological ethicsTeleological ethicsSituation ethicsAntinomianismDeontelicsUtilitarianism

Ethics and journalism

Deontological ethicsTeleological ethicsSituation ethicsAntinomianismDeontelicsUtilitarianismVeil of ignorance

What is our compass at LAF?

What is our compass at LAF?

What is our compass at LAF?

“Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you…”

Luke 1:3 NIV

‘Inside Reporting’ Ethics Survey

What is ethics?

What is ethics?

1. a system of moral principles 2. the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a

particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.

3. moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.

4. ( usually used with a singular verb ) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

What is ethics (Christian version)?

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

John 14:15 NIV

Christian ethics

“37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:37-39 NIV

What are ethical problems in journalism?

What are ethical problems in journalism?

Deceit: Can you lie, misrepresent yourself, use hidden camera or recorder, steal documents or receive stolen documents or emails?

Ethical problems in journalism

Conflict of interest: will you benefit from a story, are you involved in issues you cover, are you hoping for a job at a company you cover, do you own stock in that company?

Ethical problems in journalism

Fabrication: The writer must not invent… a quote, a ‘fact,’ anything that didn’t happen

Ethical problems in journalism

Freebies: Don’t take free trips, tickets, hotels, trinkets, fancy lunch or even a double-tall latte with medium foam, soy and a flavor shot (kiwi-lime-kumquat)

Ethical problems in journalism

Freebies: Don’t take free trips, tickets, hotels, trinkets, fancy lunch or even a double-tall latte with medium foam, soy and a flavor shot (kiwi-lime-kumquat)

Note: sports reporters typically don’t adhere to this so strictly

Ethical problems in journalism

Plagiarism: Passing off another’s work as your own

Ethical problems in journalism

Plagiarism: Passing off another’s work as your own

To avoid: rethink, rework or easiest of all just attribute it to the originator

Ethical problems in journalism

Friendships: Don’t cover stories involving your friends, beware getting too close to sources

Ethical problems in journalism

Payola: Don’t accept payment for a story other than from your employer or do promotional work for people/companies you cover

Ethical problems in journalism

Betrayal of a source: If you tell somebody it’s off the record, then never reveal that person’s name in print/on air. Ever.

Ethical problems in journalism

Betrayal of a source: If you tell somebody it’s off the record, then never reveal that person’s name in print/on air. Ever.

And that includes misleading somebody about what you’re planning to write so they will help you

Ethical problems in journalism

Checkbook journalism: A source demands payment to be interviewed, should you cough it up?

Ethical problems in journalism

Checkbook journalism: A source demands payment to be interviewed, should you cough it up?

Tabloids typically will pay for celebrity scandals such as Octomom, people who had affairs with celebs

Ethical problems in journalism

Checkbook journalism: A source demands payment to be interviewed, should you cough it up?

Tabloids typically will pay for celebrity scandals such as Octomom, people who had affairs with celebs

But New York Times, Time, NBC, ABC and many others have done “pay to play”… often under guise they are only paying for a private jet, for the use of private videos, etc.

One more problem

Advertising pressure: Most stations/publications have a “separation of church and state” between advertising and news… but it can and does happen at all news operations

Assignment 4/17

We launch into three weeks on public relations

Assignment 4/17

We launch into three weeks on public relations

Write 250 words: “What do I think a public relations person does on his/her job?” What’s a typical day in the life of a PR person, what’s their objective, who employs PR people, are they fabulously rich?

Assignment 4/17

We launch into three weeks on public relations

Write 250 words: “What do I think a public relations person does on his/her job?” What’s a typical day in the life of a PR person, what’s their objective, who employs PR people, are they fabulously rich?

Read pages 269-285 of “Telling the Story”