DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALISM

GROUP ASSIGNMENT

Title: ETHICS IN JOURNALISM

GROUP MEMBERS: ID NO_

RUFAEL GETACHEW UGR/8552/14

DEBORAH YOSEPH UGR/7151/14

SUBMITTED TO: MR. BEREKET A.

SUBMISSION DATE: NOV 20, 2023

Table of Contents Page No_

1. Definition of ethics......................................................................

1.1. What are Ethics?.......................................................................

1.2. What are Ethics in journalism?................................................

2. Historical Influences on Journalistic Ethics..............................

3. Standard Ethical Principles for journalists.................................

4. Major Ethical Dilemmas faced and

committed by Journalists.............................................................
1. Definition of Ethics

1.1. What are Ethics?

Ethics, in general terms, refers to a set of moral principles and guidelines that govern individuals'
behaviour and decision-making, distinguishing right from wrong and determining what is morally
acceptable in various situations.

1.2. What are Ethics in journalism?

Journalistic ethics specifically pertains to the standards and principles that guide the conduct of
journalists and the practice of journalism. It encompasses the ethical responsibilities and obligations
journalists have towards their readers, viewers, and society as a whole; that are designed to ensure
fairness, accuracy, objectivity, and integrity in reporting news and information.

2. Historical Influences on Journalistic Ethics

The historical evolution of journalistic ethics spans centuries, shaped by cultural, societal, and
technological changes that have impacted journalism practices.

The roots of journalistic ethics can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where scribes and chroniclers
recorded events. In ancient Greece, the concept of truth-seeking emerged, with philosophers
emphasizing the pursuit of objective knowledge. This laid the foundation for the journalistic principle of
accuracy and truthfulness.

The other major influence of journalistic ethics was the 17th and 18th centuries rise of press freedom
and the concept of the Fourth Estate. In countries like England and America, the printing press became a
powerful medium for disseminating information and expressing dissent. However, this newfound
freedom also led to the spread of misinformation and partisan reporting.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a shift towards objectivity and professionalism in
journalism. This period saw the establishment of codes of ethics and professional organizations like the
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE). The aim
was to promote accuracy, fairness, and accountability.

In the late 19th century, sensationalism and propaganda took hold with the advent of "yellow
journalism." Newspapers competed for readership by prioritizing scandalous stories, exaggerated
headlines, and biased reporting. This era highlighted the ethical pitfalls of prioritizing profit over
truthfulness.

The early 20th century witnessed the emergence of investigative journalism, driven by muckrakers like
Upton Sinclair, Ida B. Wells, and Nellie Bly. Exposing corruption, social injustices, and corporate
malpractices, investigative journalists navigated ethical challenges related to privacy invasion, use of
anonymous sources, and maintaining objectivity.
The advent of the internet in the late 20th century revolutionized journalism. Social media platforms,
blogs, and online news outlets allowed for greater access to information but also introduced challenges
related to misinformation and the erosion of traditional gatekeeping practices. Ethics in the digital age
include concerns over verification, source attribution, and the spread of "fake news."

Contemporary journalism faces numerous ethical challenges. These include issues like maintaining
impartiality in a highly partisan environment, navigating the 24/7 news cycle without sacrificing
accuracy, ethically using user-generated content, handling conflicts of interest in an economically
challenging industry, and responding to the demands of a globalized and interconnected world.

3. Standard Ethical Principles for Journalists

There are several key ethical standards that appear across global news organizations. At the highest
level, they call on journalists to seek the truth, act in the public interest, and minimize harm. Some of
these are:

1. Honesty: Journalists have an obligation to seek out the truth and report it as accurately as possible.
This requires diligence: this means making every effort to seek out all the facts relevant to a story.
Journalists should also corroborate any information with multiple sources.

2. Independence: Journalists should avoid taking political sides and should not act on behalf of special
interest groups. Any political affiliations or financial investments that might constitute a conflict of
interest with the subject they are writing about should be declared to editors and readers. Some
organizations characterize this principle as “objectivity,” while others, especially non-profit civic
journalism projects, reject this term, as they position themselves explicitly on the side of public interest.

3. Fairness: In addition to being independent, journalists should show impartiality and balance in their
reporting. Most news stories have more than one side, and journalists should capture this. That said,
they should not place two different perspectives on equal footing where one is unsupported by
evidence. The exception to the impartiality rule is opinion writing, as well as “gonzo” journalism and
creative nonfiction.

4. Public accountability: News organizations should listen to their audience. To enable the public to hold
them accountable, journalists should write under their own by-lines and accept responsibility for their
words. When news outlets publish factual errors, they need to issue a correction.

5. Harm minimization: Not every fact that can be published should be published. If the amount of harm
that could come to private individuals—particularly children—as a result of disclosure exceeds the
public good that would come of it, then news outlets might choose not to publish the story. This is less
of a consideration when it comes to public figures. It is huge, however, in matters of national security,
where lives could be on the line.
6. Avoiding libel: This is a legal as well as a moral imperative for journalists. Journalists cannot print false
statements that damage a person’s reputation. In most jurisdictions, true statements cannot be
libellous, so journalists can protect themselves by rigorously checking facts.

7. Proper attribution: Journalists must never plagiarise. If they use information from another media
outlet or journalist, they need to attribute it to them.

4. Major Ethical Dilemmas faced and committed by Journalists

4.1. Conflicts of Interest

Journalists face conflicts of interest when their personal or professional relationships, financial interests,
or affiliations interfere with their impartiality. These conflicts can compromise the objective nature of
their reporting. Journalists need to be transparent about any potential conflicts and take measures to
ensure their reporting remains unbiased and independent.

4.2. Invasion of Privacy

Journalists often wrestle with the ethical dilemma of intruding on people's private lives to obtain
newsworthy information. Balancing the public right to know with an individual's right to privacy is
challenging. Ethical journalists strive to minimize harm by considering the relevance and importance of
the information, weighing it against the potential harm caused by invasion of privacy.

There are several common methods through which invasion of privacy can occur in journalism:

Intrusion: This occurs when journalists physically encroach upon an individual's private space, such as
entering their home, workplace, or private property without permission. Additionally, using hidden
cameras, recording devices, or surveillance equipment to capture personal activities can also constitute
intrusion.

Publication of private information: Journalists may invade privacy by publishing facts or details that are
private and not related to a public interest. This includes revealing personal medical information,
sensitive financial data, or other personal facts that are not directly relevant to the public's right to
know.

Imaging and photography: Unauthorized use of photographs, images, or videos of individuals in non-
public settings can be a violation of privacy. This includes capturing someone's image without consent in
private spaces, during personal activities, or in a manner that misrepresents or invades their privacy.

Sensationalizing personal tragedies: Exploiting personal tragedies, such as accidents, deaths, or

unfortunate events, by publishing excessively graphic or intrusive details without a legitimate public
interest can infringe upon an individual's privacy and dignity.

4.3. Sensationalism and Tabloid Journalism

Sensationalism refers to the deliberate exaggeration or distortion of certain aspects of news stories to
capture attention and boost ratings. Tabloid journalism often thrives on sensational topics, focusing on
gossip, scandals, and personal affairs rather than substantive issues. Ethical journalists prioritize
accurate, balanced reporting that serves the public interest, avoiding undue sensationalism or tabloid-
style coverage.

4.4. Advertising Pressure

Journalists may encounter ethical challenges when advertisers or sponsors exert pressure on news
organizations to influence the content or tone of reporting. This pressure can compromise journalistic
integrity and independence. Maintaining a clear separation between editorial and advertising
departments is crucial to prevent undue advertiser influence on news coverage.

Journalism and advertising can work together — if the advertiser is buying an audience, not a story.

4.5. Withholding Information

Journalists grapple with the decision of whether to withhold certain information or protect sensitive
sources in the interest of national security, ethics, or public safety. This is particularly relevant in cases
involving intelligence agencies or matters of public interest with potential risks. Journalists must
carefully weigh the repercussions, balancing the public's right to know against potential harm or
national security implications.

4.6. Checkbook Journalism

Checkbook journalism is the practice of paying sources for exclusive information or interviews. This
raises ethical concerns because it can compromise the journalistic principles of independence and
objectivity. It may incentivize sources to provide biased or unreliable information solely for financial
gain. Ethical journalists prioritize obtaining information through impartial means and avoid engaging in
checkbook journalism.

4.7. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of passing off someone else's work or ideas as one's own, without giving proper
credit. It undermines the principles of honesty and integrity in journalism. Journalists are expected to
attribute sources accurately and provide proper citations when using the work of others. Plagiarism
damages credibility and trust, and ethical journalists adhere to high standards of attribution and original
reporting.