Code of ethics in media

The code of ethics in media was created by a suggestion from the 1947 Hutchins Commission. They suggested that newspapers, broadcasters and journalists had started to become more responsible for journalism and thought they should be held accountable.

Original Guidelines

The guidelines were set up around two important ideas. The first guideline is that "whoever enjoys a special measure of freedom, like a professional journalist, has an obligation to society to use their freedoms and powers responsibly." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 477) This guideline is useful so that people in power are able to be held liable in case their actions are not professional. People that have high media attention should not abuse the power. The second guideline that was established is "society's welfare is paramount, more important than individual careers or even individual rights." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 477) Again, holding people responsible for their actions and stating that society is more important due to the vast number of people that could be affected by poor behavior.

The Hutchins Commission added another five guidelines specifically for the press.

1. "Present meaningful news, accurate and separated from opinion". (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 477)
2. "Serve as a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism and to expand access to diverse points of view." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 477)
3. "Project "a representative picture of the constituent groups in society" by avoiding stereotypes by including minority groups." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 477)
4. "Clarify the goals and values of society; implicit was an appeal to avoid pandering to the lowest common denominator." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 477)
5. "Give broad coverage of what was known about society". (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 477)

All of these guidelines are important because the press is needed to maintain a neutral viewpoint, providing the basic facts and allowing for readers to come up with their own opinins from the news that they report.

These guidelines inspired of Professional Journalists which is the current version of media ethics that were adopted n 1996.

Society of Professional Journalists: Code of Ethics

The Society of Professional Journalists created a code of ethics that are in effect today. The main mantra of the code is "Seek truth and Report it!"(Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478) The code also states that: "Journalists should be honest, fair, and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting information. Journalists should:"

• "Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible."(Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing."(Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Always question sources' motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promis made in exchange for information. Keep promises." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Make certain that headlines, news teases, and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites, and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Avoid misleading reenactments or staged news events. If reenactment is necessary to tell a story, label it." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Never plagiarize." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even, when it is unpopular to do so." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing on those values on others." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, or social status." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or content." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Distinguish news from advertising, and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Recognize and special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)

Minimize Harm "Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects, and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect. Journalists should" (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)

• "Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperiences sources or subjects." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or guilt." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves that do public officials and others who seek power, influence, or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Be cautions of identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Balance a criminal suspect's fair trial rights with the public's right to be informed." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)

Act Independently "Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. Journalists should" ." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)

• "Avoid conflict of interest, real or perceived." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel, and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office, and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Disclose unavoidable conflicts." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)

Be Accountable "Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers, and each other. Journalists should:" (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)

• "Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Admit mistakes and correct them promptly." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)

All of these guidelines are for the betterment of society and regulation of media.

References

Straubhaar, Joseph D., Robert LaRose, and Lucinda Davenport. Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.