of Ethics Online Collection:1975
Code of Ethics or Canons of Journalism
Appendix I
American Society of Newspaper Editors (1923)
The primary function of newspapers is to communicate to the
human race what its members do, feel and think. Journalism,
therefore, demands of its practitioners the widest range of
intelligence, or knowledge, and of experience, as well as
natural and trained powers of observation and reasoning. To
its opportunities as a chronicle are indissolubly linked its
obligations as teacher and interpreter.
To the end of finding some means of codifying sound practice
and just aspirations of American journalism, these canons
are set forth:
I. RESPONSIBILITY: The right of a newspaper
to attract and hold readers is restricted by nothing but considerations
of public welfare. The use a newspaper makes of the share
of public attention it gains serves to determine its sense
of responsibility, which it shares with every member of its
staff. A journalist who uses his power for any selfish or
otherwise unworthy purpose is faithless to a high trust.
II. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: Freedom of the
press is to be guarded as a vital right of mankind. It is
the unquestionable right to discuss whatever is not explicitly
forbidden by law, including the wisdom of any restrictive
statute.
III. INDEPENDENCE: Freedom from all obligations
except that of fidelity to the public interest is vital.
1. Promotion of any private interest contrary to the general
welfare, for whatever reason, is not compatible with honest
journalism. So-called news communications from private sources
should not be published without public notice of their source
or else substantiation of their claims to value as news, both
in form and substance.
2. Partisanship, in editorial comment which knowingly departs
from the truth, does violence to the best spirit of American
journalism; in the news columns it is subversive of a fundamental
principle of the profession.
IV. SINCERITY, TRUTHFULNESS, ACCURACY: Good
faith with the reader is the foundation of all journalism
worthy of the name.
1. By every consideration of good faith a newspaper is constrained
to be truthful. It is not to be excused for lack of thoroughness
or accuracy within its control, or failure to obtain command
of these essential qualifies.
2. Headlines should be fully warranted by the contents of
the articles which they surmount.
V. IMPARTIALITY: Sound practice makes clear
distinction between news reports and expressions of opinion.
News reports should be free from opinion or bias of any kind
1. This rule does not apply to so-called special articles
unmistakably devoted to advocacy or characterized by a signature
authorizing the writer's own conclusions and interpretation.
VI. FAIR PLAY: A newspaper should not publish
unofficial charges affecting reputation or moral character
without opportunity given to the accused to be heard ; right
practice demands the giving of such opportunity in all cases
of serious accusation outside judicial proceedings.
1. A newspaper should not involve private rights or feeling
without sure warrant of public right as distinguished from
public curiosity.
2. It is the privilege, as it is the duty, of a newspaper
to make prompt and complete correction of its own serious
mistakes of fact or opinion, whatever their origin.
DECENCY: A newspaper cannot escape conviction
of insincerity if while professing high moral purpose it supplies
incentives to base conduct, such as are to be found in details
of crime and vice, publication of which is not demonstrably
for the general good- Lacking authority to enforce its canons
the journalism here represented can but express the hope that
deliberate pandering to vicious instincts will encounter effective
public disapproval or yield to the influence of a preponderant
professional condemnation.
