From Start the Press! How to Start a High School Newspaper
By Lauren Branas, Auburn University
Ethics are principles. In the field of journalism, ethics are vital not only to avoid lawsuits, but to maintain the credibility that will allow a paper to flourish. Readers must trust the paper. Therefore, the staff must adhere to a code of ethics in order to make the purpose of the paper clear.
The Society of Professional Journalists outlines a code of ethics at spj.org/ethics-code.asp.
Here is a brief outline from SPJ:
1. Seek truth and report it.
The truth is the most important aspect of a newspaper. Do everything in your
power to verify facts and report in a straightforward manner.
2. Minimize harm.
Be fair and cautious about what you print. If printing something will cause the
subject harm or pain, make sure printing the story is essential to the public. An
example is publishing a photograph portraying someone in emotional pain.
3. Act independently.
Don't give favors and don't take bribes. Try not to get in situations where there is
a conflict of interest. For example, if a reporter is personally involved with a
story, don't assign him/her to it.
4. Be accountable.
Take responsibility for any mistakes. For example, if a reporter gets a name of
fact wrong, run a correction as soon as the mistake is discovered.
Be clear to all staff members about what is expected ethically. Use common sense
and think things through before printing.
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