The mission of Media Eye is to monitor all types of communications
media with the intention to insure accuracy, fairness, access, ethics
and accountability for
the benefit
of all sentient beings.
___________________
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 status.
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.
Be 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 damage credibility.
Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special
treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public
office and service in community organizations if 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 by 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.
.......