SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS - Code Of Ethics
Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional journalists believe that public enlightenment
is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the
journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and
comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all
media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty.
Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members
of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare
the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It
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.
Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond
to allegations of wrongdoing, identify sources whenever feasible. The public is
entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
Always question sources' motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions
attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
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.
Never distort the content of news photos or video. image enhancement for technical
clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary
to tell a story, label it.
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
Never plagiarize.
Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly,
even when it is unpopular to do so.
Examine their own cultural values
and avoid imposing those values on others.
Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual
orientation, disability, physical appearance or social sum.
Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
Give
voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be
equally valid.
Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should
be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between
the two.
Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted
in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
Minimize
Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings
deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use
special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
fie sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected
by tragedy or grief.
Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort.
Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about
themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or
attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's
privacy.
Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes. Be judicious
about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
Balance
a criminal suspect's fair trial rights with the public's right to be informed.
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's
right to know.
Journalists should:
Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived
Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or drainage credibility.
Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations 9 they compromise journalistic integrity.
Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable,
Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for
news.
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
Journalists should:
Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue
with the public
over journalistic conduct.
Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
Admit mistakes and correct them promptly
Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
Abide
by the same high standards to which they hold others.
Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984 and 1987. The present version of the Society of Professional journalists' Code of Ethics was adopted in September 1996.
