Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, 2014.

/in /by

Joel Seppala

ThursdayOct 19 at 1:21am

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To complete this discussion post I chose to use some of the principles from the SPJ Code of Ethics.

Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information unless traditional, open methods will not yield information vital to the public– Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, 2014.

So often media outlets publish stories based on administration sources, aides, or some other jargon describing insiders who were somehow talked to the press on condition of anonymity.

By not properly identifying sources, media organizations are less credible in their capacity to shape policy through mutually informing the public of government positions, and informing civic officials of public opinion (Graber & Dunaway, 2015).

Recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government. Seek to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open, and that public records are open to all. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. — Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, 2014.

I think the reporters that cover the federal government do an excellent job in promoting transparency. Through aggressive questioning dutiful journalists publish up-to-the-minute reports on hot topics and scandals.

Through transparent reporting and covering issues of the day, media organizations are fully able to execute their role by informing the public of government positions, and allowing public officials platforms from which to discuss their positions (Graber & Dunaway, 2015).

Label advocacy and commentary (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. . — Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, 2014.

Distinguishing advocacy from commentary is continuously blurred on cable news. Depending on the network, the bias is clear. In some cases, the host will allow one guest to finish an argument while silencing the other if the second individual does not agree with the host’s thoughts on an issue.

By disguising opinion as news, journalists and their media organization employers deceive the public regarding the nature of government positions. The news outlets can also mask or distort issues the public deems important in favor of political ideology (Graber & Dunaway, 2015).

– Joel Seppala

 

References

Graber, D., Dunaway, J. (2015). Mass Media and American Politics, Ninth Ed. Sage Publications, Inc:Â Thousand Oaks, California.

Society of Professional Journalists. (2014, September 6). SPJ Code of Ethics. Retrieved October 18, 2017 from https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp.

 
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