The fundamentals of media credibility

1. Ethics in journalism 2018
The fundamentals
of media credibility

2. Society of Professional
Journalists’ Code of Ethics
www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
and
Linked from class website

3. 1. Don’t make things up
• The most basic rule in journalism

4. 1. Don’t make things up
• The most basic rule in journalism
• Mike Barnicle, Patricia Smith, Jayson Blair,
Jack Kelley, Stephen Glass, Janet Cooke,
Kevin Cullen and on and on and on

5. 1. Don’t make things up
• The most basic rule in journalism
• Mike Barnicle, Patricia Smith, Jayson Blair,
Jack Kelley, Stephen Glass, Janet Cooke,
Kevin Cullen and on and on and on
• Non-fiction is the heart and soul of what
we do

6. 1a. Don’t plagiarize
• Along with fabrication, one of the two
capital offenses in journalism

7. 1a. Don’t plagiarize
• Along with fabrication, one of the two
capital offenses in journalism
• Easier to get caught than ever before
because of Google and news databases

8. 1a. Don’t plagiarize
• Along with fabrication, one of the two
capital offenses in journalism
• Easier to get caught than ever before
because of Google and news databases
• The “Romenesko effect”

9. 1a. Don’t plagiarize
• Along with fabrication, one of the two
capital offenses in journalism
• Easier to get caught than ever before
because of Google and news databases
• The “Romenesko effect”
• Background doesn’t have to be attributed
— but what is background?

10. 3. Exact quotes are exact quotes
• What’s inside quotation marks is exactly
what the person said

11. 3. Exact quotes are exact quotes
• What’s inside quotation marks is exactly
what the person said
• Don’t use quotation marks for indirect
quotes

12. 3. Exact quotes are exact quotes
• What’s inside quotation marks is exactly
what the person said
• Don’t use quotation marks for indirect
quotes
• Use fragmentary quotes when you only get
a few pithy comments

13. 4. Avoid conflicts of interest
• Do not quote your family members unless
you’re writing a personal essay

14. 4. Avoid conflicts of interest
• Do not quote your family members unless
you’re writing a personal essay
• Do not report on story in which you or
family members are directly involved

15. 4. Avoid conflicts of interest
• Do not quote your family members unless
you’re writing a personal essay
• Do not report on story in which you or
family members are directly involved
• Do not accept gifts from sources

16. 5. Be fair and neutral
• Seek out the truth and report all sides

17. 5. Be fair and neutral
• Seek out the truth and report all sides
• Always contact someone who is being
criticized by others

18. 5. Be fair and neutral
• Seek out the truth and report all sides
• Always contact someone who is being
criticized by others
• Write in the “objective” voice — keep your
opinion to yourself

19. 6. Identify yourself
• Always tell a potential source that you’re a
reporter working on a story

20. 6. Identify yourself
• Always tell a potential source that you’re a
reporter working on a story
• Never turn a conversation into an interview
without permission

21. 6. Identify yourself
• Always tell a potential source that you’re a
reporter working on a story
• Never turn a conversation into an interview
without permission
• Undercover assignments must be approved
at the highest level

22. 7. Anonymous sources
• Urge them to go on the record; use them as
little as possible

23. 7. Anonymous sources
• Urge them to go on the record; use them as
little as possible
• Your editor has a right to know your
source’s identity

24. 7. Anonymous sources
• Urge them to go on the record; use them as
little as possible
• Your editor has a right to know your
source’s identity
• You are bound by the promise you made

25. 7. Anonymous sources
• Urge them to go on the record; use them as
little as possible
• Your editor has a right to know your
source’s identity
• You are bound by the promise you made
• Ex post facto requests to go off the record
must be handled with care

26. 8. Recorder protocol
• Massachusetts is a two-party state

27. 8. Recorder protocol
• Massachusetts is a two-party state
• First thing we should hear is, “I’ve just
turned on the recorder”

28. 8. Recorder protocol
• Massachusetts is a two-party state
• First thing we should hear is, “I’ve just
turned on the recorder”
• Your news organization may wish to
publish the audio of your interview

29. 9. Admit your mistakes
• We all make them

30. 9. Admit your mistakes
• We all make them
• Prompt and willing correction can help
avoid libel suit

31. 9. Admit your mistakes
• We all make them
• Prompt and willing correction can help
avoid libel suit
• Adds to media credibility

32. 10. Have fun!