Ch. 14 Online Standards vs. Journalistic Standards
Ch. 16 Ethics in Cyberland
Why even ask the question? Doesn't anything go in cyberspace?
Putting things into perspective
Ethics goes beyond what is legal
What is legal may not be ethical
Where do ethics come from?
Biblical foundations
Love your neighbor as yourself
People are created in the image of God
People are of infinite value in God's eyes
People should be treated with dignity and respect
People are not to be used as a means to an end
Agape love - putting others above ourselves (Phil. 2:3-4)
What are the professional standards?
Society of Professional Journalists
American Society of Newspaper Editors
Radio-Television News Directors Association
How do they compare? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Link to article on Journalism and Ethics
A summary of some key ideals:
TRUTH - this is what is to be reported (but not in all instances!)
SOURCES - what agreements have been made? (shield laws)
ACCURACY - always double check, verify, confirm (is it better to be first or right?)
BIAS - is there such a thing as objectivity? (what is MY bias?)
HONESTY - in dealing with people, customers (and in terms of plagarism and attribution)
PRIVACY - respect for others (persons and property)
INTEGRITY - avoiding conflict of interest (disclosing ties when needed)
Above all, keep the GOLDEN RULE foremost. Biblical ethics trump industry standards.
Cases:
1. You are the creator of a new newsblog. However, no one seems to be reading your blog because no one knows it exists. You've tried several of the standard solutions to gain recognition but none have worked. You don't have the money to advertise, so that's not an option. Out of the blue, Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., the accused murderer of Dru Sjodin contacts you and says that he want to be interviewed by you for your newsblog. He promises a confession (and, to more than one killing). At first you think this is great, this could put your newsblog on the national map. A friend tells you however, that such behavior is common in the serial killer "world." The persons who are likely to become serial killers are often desperate for attention and are looking for their "15 minutes of fame." Obviously, Rodriguez believes that you can provide that for him. Your friend also tells you that those who are contemplating becoming serial killers are often influenced to do so by seeing serial killers interviewed on television or through other media. In seeing that, they think "wouldn't it be cool if I was on tv." So, here is the dilemma - this interview could catapault you onto the national stage. On the other hand, your coverage may directly contribute to someone in your audience deciding to act on their desires and become a serial killer. Further, you don't really know if Rodriguez is on the level, and, if you turn him down, someone else is sure to give him a platform to speak. What do you do? Why?
2. As a reporter, you are all set to go online with a real time chat discussion
on your news site about a breaking news story. It seems Gov. Pawlenty is being
accused of smuggling drugs from Canada into Minnesota, thus violating federal
law. You are going to be interviewing a leading Democratic State Senator. Before
you go online, he says to you that Pawlenty is corrupt, a fink, a fraud, a hypocrite,
incompetent, a liar, a moral degenerate, a pervert, a pocketer of public funds,
a scoundrel, unethical and a villain. Do you put this Senator online in real
time knowing that he might repeat these claims online? Why/why not? Such accusations
will make for great publicity for your news site, but, you also know that this
Senator has a reputation for speaking his mind too quickly and then later trying
to retract and apologize for his comments. He has asked reporters in the past
to give him time to cool off before interviewing him, but he has made no such
request in your case. As you are ready to go online, he is still clearly seething.
3. You are a reporter for the local newspaper's website. You pick up on a breaking story. Sen. Ted Kennedy has just been arrested for rape. National codes of ethics for newspapers state that the name of a rape victim should be withheld. Your paper also follows this policy. As you are ready to post the story online, your editor barges into your office and says "change the story! Kennedy is accused of raping Hilary Clinton!" Will you change the story to include the name of the supposed rape victim? Why/why not?
4. You have a friend who works for 3M. He tells you that he has information about some "funny accounting" going on there. You want to break the story but your friend says that he will only talk if you promise confidentiality. He fears that if his name leaks out, he will be fired. You decide to give confidentiality and your friend decides to speak. After the article is posted, you receive a call from an official at the Securities Exchange Commission. They read your article and would like to speak to your source. They want to open an official investigation of 3M but can't without your cooperation. They tell you that indeed if the story is true, then thousands of middle class investors have been cheated out of millions of dollars. If you disclose the source, these folks might be able to eventually get some of their money back. If you refuse, they have no chance of recovering anything. Further, if you don't disclose, the SEC official says he will subpeona you to testify in court. If you refuse to disclose the source under court questioning,, you will be fined and thrown in jail. If you do disclose the source, you will have broken your word and your friend may sue you for "breach of contract." - perhaps he isn't the friend you thought he was! What do you do and why?