Journalism Ethics

Summary

In this video lecture, Professor Mark Robaski delves into journalism ethics, addressing the public's distrust in media and exploring if such skepticism is justified. He discusses historical shifts in journalism, from the biased early American press to the rise of objectivity. Robaski scrutinizes contemporary issues like media bias, sensationalism, and the role of journalists in democracy. He also highlights the importance of ethical guidelines for journalists and the public's role in supporting quality journalism, emphasizing the media's vital function in a thriving democracy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The media's reputation is under attack, with figures like Donald Trump and Joe Biden criticizing media outlets for spreading 'fake news' or showing bias.
• 🧐 The public's distrust in the media stems from high expectations of accuracy and objectivity, which have only been a standard for about a century.
• 📰 The early American Press was known for being partisan and biased, with a significant shift towards neutrality occurring after events like the Civil War.
• 🔍 The term 'yellow journalism' emerged from unethical practices in the late 1800s and early 1900s, leading to a public demand for fair and accurate reporting.
• 🤔 Walter Lippmann criticized the New York Times for biased coverage of the Russian Revolution, arguing journalists were more focused on political narratives than facts.
• 🔄 The concept of journalistic objectivity involves being neutral, unbiased, and balanced, despite the inherent challenges due to human subjectivity.
• ✅ Journalists adopted codes of ethics in response to criticism and public backlash, emphasizing principles like objectivity and verifying facts.
• 📉 A decline in public trust is evident, with a 2018 Gallup poll showing a significant drop in Americans who believe the media separates fact from opinion.
• 🌐 The perception of media bias is a global issue, with the U.S. ranking lower than other countries in public trust, according to a 2022 survey.
• 🗣️ The media's role as the 'fourth estate' is crucial for democracy, with journalists having a duty to hold government officials accountable and inform the public.

Q & A

What is the main reason for the public's disappointment in the press as mentioned in the script?

The public has high standards for journalists, expecting them to be accurate and objective in their reporting. However, the notion of journalists being honest and fair is relatively recent, leading to disappointment when these standards are not met.

How did the Civil War influence the reporting style of journalists during the 1860s?

The Civil War led to a transformation in journalism where reporters from newswire organizations like the Associated Press reported on battles in a neutral and factual manner, avoiding injecting pro-north or pro-south opinions into their coverage.

What is 'yellow journalism' and how did it impact public perception of the media?

Yellow journalism refers to the unethical practices of sensationalism and inaccurate reporting during the late 1800s and early 1900s, particularly by newspaper publishers like Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. It led to a public backlash and a push for accurate and fair reporting.

What did Walter Lippmann criticize about the New York Times' coverage of the Russian Revolution?

Walter Lippmann criticized the New York Times for distorting its coverage of the Russian Revolution due to the staff's bias, arguing that journalists were more concerned with political narratives than with facts.

What does 'objectivity' mean in journalism?

In journalism, objectivity means being neutral, unbiased, balanced, and without personal ideology, values, and opinions. It involves practices like presenting both sides of a controversy, identifying sources, putting information in context, and verifying facts.

According to the script, why did the public's confidence in newspapers and television news reach an all-time low in 2022?

The public's confidence in newspapers and television news reached an all-time low due to a perceived increase in partisan, biased, and unreliable reporting, as well as a decline in media literacy among the public.

What role does the press play in a democracy according to the U.S. Constitution?

The press plays a crucial role in a democracy as it is considered the fourth estate, serving as a check on the government beyond the three branches. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees press freedom and freedom of speech.

How does the lack of diversity in newsrooms contribute to bias in journalism?

The lack of diversity in newsrooms, particularly in terms of race, socio-economic status, and political views, can lead to structural bias. A homogeneous group of journalists may not adequately cover the diverse population of the United States, leading to underrepresentation and skewed perspectives.

What are the four principles of the Society of Professional Journalists' code of ethics?

The four principles of the Society of Professional Journalists' code of ethics are: 1) Seek the truth and report it, 2) Minimize harm, 3) Act independently, and 4) Be accountable.

Why is it important for journalists to correct their mistakes and be accountable according to the ethics code?

Correcting mistakes and being accountable is important for journalists to maintain credibility and trust with the public. It ensures that the media remains a reliable source of information and upholds the ethical standards of the profession.

How can the public help improve the quality of journalism?

The public can help improve the quality of journalism by becoming media literate, supporting good journalism, and being discerning consumers who demand accurate and fair reporting. Consumers' choices can influence which stories get attention and which do not.

Outlines

00:00

📰 The Erosion of Trust in Media

This paragraph discusses the historical context and current state of public distrust in media. It highlights the role of figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden in criticizing the media. The public's perception of media as unscrupulous is explored, along with the historical evolution of journalistic ethics. The paragraph explains how the concept of journalistic objectivity emerged in response to events like the Civil War and the rise of 'yellow journalism'. It also touches on the influence of propaganda and the call for an objective press to counteract bias in news reporting.

05:00

🔍 Pursuing Objectivity in Journalism

The paragraph delves into the concept of journalistic objectivity, emphasizing the need for neutrality and balance in news reporting. It discusses the importance of verifying information, using credible sources, and providing context to allow readers to form their own judgments. The paragraph also addresses the challenges of achieving complete objectivity due to human biases and the influence of emotions and experiences. It outlines the historical shift towards objectivity in response to public demand and the adoption of ethical codes by journalists to ensure better practices.

10:02

📉 The Decline of Public Confidence in Media

This section highlights the decline in public confidence in media, particularly in the United States. It references a Gallup poll that shows a significant drop in the percentage of Americans who believe the media separates fact from opinion. The paragraph discusses the perception of political bias in news coverage and the inability of many to name an objectively reporting news source. It also addresses the historical importance of a free press in democracy and the role of the media as the 'fourth estate', responsible for holding government officials accountable.

15:02

🌐 Bias and Challenges in Modern Journalism

The paragraph examines various forms of bias in modern journalism, including language, structural, commercial, visual, expediency, and narrative biases. It discusses how these biases affect news coverage and public perception. The paragraph also touches on the debate over journalistic objectivity versus activism, with some journalists advocating for a more engaged role in reporting. It highlights the complexity of the media landscape and the challenges faced by journalists in maintaining ethical standards and public trust.

20:03

📜 Ethical Guidelines and the Future of Journalism

This final paragraph focuses on the ethical guidelines that journalists should follow to ensure truth, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable. It connects these principles to classical ethical frameworks and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a free and responsible press for a healthy democracy. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging the challenges faced by journalists and the role of the public in supporting quality journalism and improving media literacy.

Keywords

💡Journalism Ethics

Journalism Ethics refers to the moral principles and guidelines that govern the practice of journalism. It encompasses the responsibility of journalists to report the truth, minimize harm, and maintain independence. In the video, Professor Mark Robaski addresses journalism ethics by examining the reasons behind public distrust of the media and discussing whether criticisms against journalists are justified. The video also delves into ethical guidelines for journalists, emphasizing the importance of accuracy, objectivity, and fairness in reporting.

💡Distrust in Media

Distrust in Media is a concept that highlights the skepticism and lack of confidence that the public has in the media's ability to provide accurate and unbiased information. The video discusses how this distrust has been fueled by instances of fake news and biased reporting. It mentions that even former U.S. President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have criticized the media, and surveys show a significant decline in public trust in news outlets over the years.

💡Yellow Journalism

Yellow Journalism is a term used to describe sensationalist journalism that prioritizes eye-catching headlines and exaggerated stories over accurate and in-depth reporting. The video references the historical context of yellow journalism, particularly the competition between newspaper publishers Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, which led to the spread of unethical practices and fake news stories, such as those that contributed to the U.S. entering the Spanish-American War.

💡Objectivity

Objectivity in journalism means presenting news in a neutral, unbiased, and balanced manner without personal ideology, values, or opinions influencing the reporting. The video explains that while the concept of journalistic objectivity is only about a century old, it has become a cornerstone of ethical journalism. It also acknowledges the challenges of achieving complete objectivity due to human emotions and perceptions.

💡Media Literacy

Media Literacy refers to the ability of individuals to critically analyze and understand the messages they receive from various media sources. The video points out the decline in media literacy as a contributing factor to the public's negative perception of the media. It emphasizes the importance of the public being able to distinguish between fact and opinion, and between credible and non-credible news sources.

💡Bias in News

Bias in News is the presence of prejudice or favoritism towards one side or aspect of a subject, which can distort the way news is reported. The video discusses various forms of bias, including language bias, structural bias, commercial bias, visual bias, and narrative bias. It argues that these biases can lead to a skewed representation of events and issues, undermining the credibility of the media.

💡First Amendment

The First Amendment is a part of the U.S. Constitution that guarantees freedom of the press and freedom of speech. The video mentions the First Amendment in the context of the importance of a free press for democracy and the historical efforts to ensure that the press remains independent and不受政府干预.

💡Fourth Estate

The Fourth Estate is a term used to describe the press or the media as an independent and essential check on the three traditional branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial). The video highlights the role of the press as the fourth estate, emphasizing its duty to hold government officials accountable and inform the public about political decisions.

💡Master Narratives

Master Narratives are overarching storylines or frameworks that journalists use to interpret and present news. The video discusses how these narratives can lead to a biased and simplified view of complex issues, as journalists may be reluctant to challenge established narratives or consider alternative perspectives.

💡Activist Journalism

Activist Journalism refers to a journalistic approach where journalists take on an advocacy role, often promoting specific viewpoints or causes. The video mentions a debate within the profession about whether journalists should maintain traditional objectivity or adopt a more activist role, reflecting a shift in some media outlets towards more opinionated and less neutral reporting.

Highlights

The media's reputation has been under attack, with figures like Donald Trump and Joe Biden expressing criticisms.

Professor Mark Robaski addresses journalism ethics, exploring public distrust and the roots of criticism.

The public expects journalists to be accurate and objective, a standard that is roughly a century old.

Early American Press was partisan and biased, with the Civil War influencing a shift towards neutral reporting.

Yellow journalism emerged in the early 1900s, with publishers like Hearst resorting to sensationalism for readership.

Walter Lippmann criticized the New York Times for biased coverage of the Russian Revolution.

Lippmann advocated for an objective press, using a method akin to the scientific method to reduce subjectivity.

Journalists began adopting codes of ethics to ensure better behavior, emphasizing principles like objectivity.

A 2018 Gallup poll found a significant decline in Americans' belief that the media separates fact from opinion.

Media literacy among the public is declining, with many unable to distinguish fact from opinion.

Bias in journalism can manifest in language, structural, commercial, visual, expediency, and narrative forms.

Some journalists question the need for objectivity, advocating for an activist role instead of impartial coverage.

The Society of Professional Journalists' code of ethics outlines principles for truthful, fair, and accountable reporting.

The public has a role in improving journalism by being media literate and supporting high-quality reporting.

Journalism is necessary for a successful democracy, despite its imperfections and ethical challenges.

Transcripts

foreign

[Music]

ly the media's reputation has been under

attack of course we all know how former

U.S president Donald Trump feels about

the media news now when you report fake

news which CNN does a lot you are the

enemy of the people go ahead likewise

President Joe Biden has also had his

criticisms of journalists

it's a great asset more inflation

what a stupid song

but they're not alone even the average

American doesn't hold a high opinion of

the press in short the vast majority of

the public believe the media is

unscrupulous

hi I'm Professor Mark rabaski and in

this video lecture I will address

journalism ethics I'll examine the

reasons why the public distrusts the

media and whether this criticism is

Justified I'll also discuss some of the

hot spots that raise ethical concerns

for journalists along with explaining

ethical guidelines for journalists

first let's begin with a little history

a big reason that the public is

disappointed in the Press is because

they have high standards for journalists

in short we've come to expect

journalists to be accurate and objective

in their reporting but it wasn't always

that way

the notion that journalists should be

honest and fair is only about a century

old

the early American Press was partisan

biased and often inaccurate events such

as the Civil War and public backlash

against dishonest journalism practices

led to a transformation of the

profession in America

the Civil War during the 1860s pitted

northern states versus Southern States

and newswire organizations such as the

Associated Press sold their stories to

newspapers in both regions as a result

their reporters simply reported on who

won battles in a neutral and factual

manner rather than injecting pro-north

or proth-south opinions into their

coverage

this new approach gained momentum in the

industry but problems persisted

around the beginning of the 1900s two

prominent newspaper Publishers Joseph

Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst had

been engaged in a competition for

readers and seemed to be willing to sell

newspapers at any cost for example the

United States entered in a war against

Spain in 1898 that was arguably due to a

fake news story that Hearst published in

his newspapers

these unethical practices became known

as yellow journalism

this led to a backlash and there was a

strong public push for accurate and fair

reporting in the 1920s a media critic

known as Walter lippman argued that this

crisis in journalism was undermining

democracy

he was particularly critical of the New

York Times and published a scathing

account of how its staff's bias had

distorted the newspaper's coverage of

the Russian Revolution he said that

journalists were more concerned with

political narratives than with facts

that they were telling readers how they

wished to see the world rather than how

it actually was in reality

and this in turn was a disservice to the

public who were relying on the news

media for information so that they could

make informed decisions

it was sort of a real life example of

Plato's parable of the cave and that the

public was Prisoners of an illusion

created by the media and they would be

shocked if they knew the truth

there was also a growing new problem

facing journalism around the same time

propaganda began to be more fully

understood and increasingly used by a

developing new occupation called public

relations

littmann worried about its impact on

journalism in short the world was

becoming a very complex place and people

were struggling to make sense of it all

so Littman and others argued for a new

form of Journalism that would rid the

Press of bias

he proposed having an objective press

what exactly does that mean

objectivity basically means being

neutral unbiased balanced and without

personal ideology and values and

opinions

that said we know that humans can't ever

be completely unbiased and neutral

our emotions perceptions relationships

and experiences get in the way and Cloud

our judgment

so littmann proposed using a method

similar to the scientific method that

would help journalists reduce their

subjective use and instead present the

news objectively

journalistically objective means doing

things like talking to both sides and a

controversy instead of presenting news

in a one-sided way

it means identifying sources so that

readers can judge whether they are

credible instead of using Anonymous

sources

objectivity also requires putting

information within context and verifying

facts

there's an old saying in journalism that

if your mother says she loves you verify

it

that basically means journalists should

never take any piece of information for

granted or assume anything they should

always double check to ensure accuracy

but when we talk about journalistic

objectivity it's really a careful

process of news Gathering and reporting

that helps reduce reporters biases

presenting news in this way allows

readers to make their own judgments

rather than being told what to think

in response to littmann's criticism and

the public backlash against the Press

journalists began to adopt codes of

Ethics to ensure better Behavior

principles such as objectivity telling

both sides of the story and verifying

rumors to ensure that they were actually

true became standard journalism practice

but now in the 21st century many believe

we are seeing a return to the old days

of a partisan biased and unreliable

press

a 2018 Gallup poll found that only 32

percent of Americans say the media is

careful to separate fact from opinion

compared to nearly 60 percent in 1984.

almost half of Americans see a great

deal of political bias in news coverage

up from 25 in 1989.

and a majority couldn't name a source

that reports news objectively

the trend appears to be getting worse by

the day Americans confidence in

newspapers and television news plummeted

to an all-time low in 2022.

according to a Gallup survey only 16

percent of Americans have confidence in

newspapers and only 11 percent have

confidence in television news

2022 survey of people in 40 Nations

found that media bias was perceived as a

bigger problem in the United States than

in any other country

Finland ranked highest with about 70

percent of its citizens confident in The

Finnish media

but such significant distrust in the

media is particularly concerning in the

United States where the Press has always

been considered essential to democracy

in fact America's Founders believe that

a free and vigorous press was so vital

to democracy that they wove it into

America's social contract

the First Amendment of the Constitution

guarantees press freedom and freedom of

speech

U.S Founding Father Thomas Jefferson

said the Press is the best instrument

for enlightening the mind of man in fact

he added that if I had to choose between

government without newspapers and

newspapers without government I wouldn't

hesitate to choose the latter

the American Press is often described as

the fourth estate because it serves as a

final check on Democracy beyond the

three government branches

it has an obligation to its moral

claimants who are the public to put

pressure on government officials and

hold them accountable

it is journalists duty to inform the

public about how politicians are voting

and spending their tax dollars so that

they could decide whether to re-elect

them when the next election rolls around

but most Americans don't think the Press

is fulfilling that role

a 2020 survey found that 84 percent of

Americans believe the news media is

critical for democracy but only 28

percent believe the news media is

fulfilling its role

the poll also found that 84 believe the

Press plays a role in creating political

division in the United States

now In fairness to journalists they're

not entirely to blame for this negative

perception

part of the problem can also be

attributed to a decline in media

literacy among the public

there's often confusion over who's a

journalist

today's media consists of a diverse

group of news outlets including

newspapers TV and radio shows and of

course websites and bloggers and

podcasters

everything including tabloids partisan

news sites gossip bloggers infotainment

websites and even comedians get lumped

in under the media umbrella even though

many of them don't identify as

journalists or they lack the standards

of professional journalists

studies show that many Americans

particularly younger Americans can't

distinguish fact from opinion

they can't even tell fake news from Real

News

keep in mind that in America anyone can

be a journalist you don't need a license

to practice

and there are no laws requiring fairness

and objectivity at one point in time

there was a fairness Doctrine which

required broadcast journalists to

present both sides of a controversial

issue but Congress eliminated that

policy decades ago

so as news consumers we must be careful

to not demonize the entire media

which is a really broad group of people

and organizations

and even at a specific news organization

such as the New York Times and Fox News

there are hundreds of journalists and

some are more committed to journalistic

Excellence and upholding High ethical

standards than others

so we must avoid negatively stereotyping

all journalists

that said there are some troubling

Trends and patterns in the profession

that can't be ignored

bias can be seen in today's news

coverage in many ways

first simply communicating by written or

spoken words introduces bias into news

language cannot be neutral it reflects

and structures our ideologies and World

Views for example whether a journalist

uses the term pro-life or anti-abortion

or whether they say undocumented migrant

or a legal immigrant is bound to anger

some of the news consumers who may view

their word choices evidence of political

bias

but most journalists do their jobs with

little or no thought given to language

Theory which is to say how language

works and how humans use language

second there is structural bias baked

into newsrooms

press suffers from a lack of diversity

in all forms particularly racial

socio-economic and political diversity

among today's journalists nearly 80

percent are white only seven percent are

conservative

very few come from poor backgrounds and

a significant number live in one of

three major cities so this is a

demographic that's completely

unrepresentative of America

can such a homogeneous group of

like-minded people adequately cover the

diverse population of the United States

beyond that there is also commercial

bias in journalism

the news media are money making

businesses as such they must deliver a

product to their customers to make a

profit

customers of the news media are

advertisers

the most important product the news

media delivers to its customers our

readers or viewers therefore the media

often engages in sensationalism click

baiting and other practices to attract

an audience

topics like conflict violence and sex

straw readers and viewers Harmony is

boring one poll found that more than 80

percent of Americans think the media

often sensationalizes stories and

doesn't cover important topics that

really matter

relatedly

the media has a bad news bias

good news is boring

this bias makes the world look a lot

more dangerous than it really is

plus this bias makes politicians look

far more crooked than they really are

another example of this bias can be seen

in shark attack stories shark attacks

are rare but there's so much news

coverage about them that most people

probably think it's a much bigger

problem than it actually is

another common form of bias in

journalism is visual bias

television news is especially prone to

visual bias but even newspapers and news

websites are biased toward visual

depictions of News television is nothing

without pictures legitimate news that

has no visual angle is likely to get

little attention much of what is

important in politics and policy cannot

be photographed though so it doesn't get

adequately covered and explained

there's also expediency bias

journalism is a competitive deadline

driven profession reporters compete

among themselves to break news first in

today's 24 7 News cycle where stories

are often first reported on social media

this can lead to journalists

prioritizing getting the story first

over getting it right

some journalists figure they can always

delete the Tweet later if it turns out

to be wrong

even the most respected news

organizations have been guilty of

rushing stories to press before they

adequately verified and fact checked

them

in some cases this is not only resulted

in story retractions but also huge

defamation lawsuits

finally journalism suffers from a

narrative bias

the news media covered the news in terms

of stories that must have a beginning

middle and an end in other words a plot

with antagonists and protagonists much

of what happens in our world however is

ambiguous the news media apply a

narrative structure to ambiguous events

suggesting that these events are easily

understood and have clear cause and

effect relationships

good storytelling requires drama and so

this bias often leads to journalists to

add or seek out drama for the sake of

drama

controversy creates drama lastly

narrative bias leads many journalists to

create and then hang on to master

narratives or set story lines with set

characters who act in set ways once a

master narrative has been set it is very

difficult to get journalists to see that

their narrative is simply one way and

not necessarily the correct or best way

of viewing people and events

and now on top of all these biases and

making matters worse many journalists

are questioning whether they should

still try to be objective

many journalists believe they should

take on more of an activist role instead

of covering news in an impartial and

balanced way

a 2022 poll by Pew Research Center found

that 55 percent of journalists believe

that when reporting the news every side

does not always deserve equal coverage

in contrast 76 percent of Americans

believe that journalists should always

strive to give equal coverage

journalists who favor abandoning the

traditional approach of a balanced news

coverage argue that some views shouldn't

be Amplified

as NYU journalism Professor Jay Rosen

observed if we say the world is round we

won't feel obliged to find someone to

argue the Flat Earth position

but other media critics including me

contend that's a straw man fallacy how

often do journalists tackle a settled

issue like the Earth's shape they

practically never do

the biggest news stories usually involve

controversies that reasonable people can

disagree on and require difficult

solutions for example experts have

debated and flip-flopped on how to

handle the Coronavirus

journalists undermine their search for

the truth when they deprive their

coverage of critics who ask different

questions and make different background

assumptions

studies show that group think leads to

poor problem solving conservatives and

liberals alike can fall victim to

motivated reasoning and confirmation

bias

so what can be done to fix this problem

how can we make journalism more fair

neutral and accurate so that it lives up

to Walter lippman's vision

unfortunately there is no easy fix

new laws can't fix journalism government

regulation would violate the First

Amendment and could hinder the press's

independence and Watchdog roll

imagine if the president decided who

could be a journalist or what

constituted fake news Donald Trump and

Joe Biden would likely have very

different opinions on what's legitimate

news and both would probably censor some

truthful stories they don't like

with very few government regulations the

profession instead must rely on ethics

to govern its own behavior

many media Outlets follow the code of

ethics written by the Society of

professional journalists

it's organized around four principles

first and most important principle is to

seek the truth and report it

journalists should be honest fair

objective and accurate this means that

facts should be verified and based on

solid evidence quotes from sources

should be accurate and unaltered and

sources should be identified and

attributed in stories a truthful story

should promote understanding given time

and space constraints the goal should be

to provide an account that is

essentially complete

enough relevant information should be

included as to preclude misunderstanding

of either the facts or the context of

the facts the article should be fair and

balanced and it should be free of

plagiarism and Fabrication which is to

say give other credits if you copy the

words or use their ideas and never ever

make facts up

lastly journalists should try to avoid

using deceptive news Gathering practices

get information

the second principle is to minimize harm

journalists must realize that they're

covering human beings so they should be

respectful tasteful and sensitive note

that the code says minimize harm and

this precept is ranked second behind

telling the truth in terms of priority

here's why journalists may not be able

to completely avoid causing harm if

you're doing investigative reporting for

example your story May expose corruption

and cause someone to get fired but in

the end the greater good will be served

by your reporting

the third principle in the ethics code

is to act independently so don't accept

gifts or favors or bribes your only

obligation is to serve the Public's

interest

this is why it's so important to avoid

conflicts of interest and avoid covering

people in organizations that you may

have a relationship with either good or

bad doing so would make it difficult to

be objective and even if we are

objective there will be a perception

that we aren't

the final major principle of the

journalism ethics code is to be

accountable that means correct mistakes

and expose unethical practices by

journalists

too many news organizations ignore

unethical Behavior inside their own

Newsroom where they cover it up which

Hurts The profession's credibility for

example a troubling common practice is

stealth editing in which journalists

change incorrect information in a news

story on their website but don't note

the correction to readers

it's four ethical principles and the

Society of professional journalists code

of ethics sound familiar to you it's

because they are rooted in classical

ethical Frameworks

for example the notion of Truth being

important is a well-established moral

value that can be found in Greek

philosophy

the Bible and really just most ethical

Frameworks and religions

the precept to minimize harm is a bit

utilitarian you know we should try to

achieve the outcome that will bring the

greatest good for the greatest number or

inflict the least harm on the fewest

people

you can also see John Stuart Mill's

ideology reflected in the code if you

read the entire code which goes into

detail well beyond the summary I

provided it says that journalists should

support the open and civil exchange of

ideas even views they find repugnant

recall that Mill was a big supporter of

the marketplace of ideas and strongly

opposed censorship

meanwhile Emmanuel Khan's philosophy can

also be seen in the code Kant emphasized

that we need to treat people with

dignity and as ends in themselves rather

than as a means to an end

the journalism ethics code similarly

states that ethical journalism treats

sources subjects colleagues and members

of the public as human beings deserving

of respect so the Society of

professional journalist code of ethics

is a carefully thought out set of

ethical guidelines for professionals

working in the media and that's because

the profession understands that its most

valuable asset is its reputation

if the public distrusts the media to

tell the truth and to be fair they're

going to stop listening to them and

instead get their news elsewhere

however as we all know the ethical

Heights journalists set for themselves

are not always reached which is one of

the big reasons many Legacy news outlets

are hemorrhaging readers and viewers

but all in all journalism is an

honorable profession practice for the

most part by people trying to do the

right thing

having worked as a journalist for

several years before I became a lawyer

and journalism Professor I can tell you

that most journalists especially those

outside the Beltway aren't evil most

don't commit journalistic sins such as

fabrication and plagiarism most want to

get the facts right but they may be

understaffed or overworked deadline

pressures can affect accuracy and

judgment and sometimes hairy situations

are unavoidable being a journalist often

involves a conflict between providing

information the public wants or needs to

know and respecting individuals privacy

this isn't to excuse all of the media's

problems America's press is far from

perfect

but it is necessary for a successful

democracy

as journalism Professor Jonathan Peters

observed journalists write draw design

record and make photos ensuring that

freedom of thought is possible some are

killed for it others arrested most work

hard to produce Fair inaccurate reports

mistakes are made too many of them but a

free and responsible press however

imperfect is the lifeblood of a healthy

democracy

that said there's still plenty of room

for improvement and that's where the

public comes in the public has an

important role to play in fixing the

problem

journalism is an institution but it's

also a business as I mentioned

ultimately consumers will be The

Gatekeepers by deciding which stories

get clicks and shares and which stories

don't get attention so be part of the

solution not the problem become media

literate support good journalism

well this has been Professor Mark

robowski and thanks for watching

[Music]

foreign