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| Path: Main Street > Resources/Library > Research Articles > Feature Article |
A Reporter's Code of Ethics
July 30, 2001
By Al Rothstein
The question comes up frequently in my media training seminars. "Do reporters have ethical guidelines?"
More news organizations are adopting codes of ethics today. Most newspapers base their guidelines on the code developed by the Society of Professional Journalists (www.spj.org). Television stations usually derive theirs from the Radio Television News Director's Association's code (www.rtnda.com). A relatively new organization for Internet journalists, the Online News Association (www.onlinenewsassociation.org) has adopted a set of principles for its members.
Once a year the Florida Times Union in Jacksonville, Florida publishes a summary of its code of ethics. Reader Advocate Mike Clark has granted permission for us to reprint his Q&A summary in this newsletter. It will give you an idea of the tone of professionalism reporters set for themselves.
Q. Do your reporters accept free tickets?
A. No free tickets are accepted other than working press credentials that give assigned reporters and photographers access to restricted areas. If editors decide that regular-seat tickets are needed for staff members, the tickets are purchased by the newspaper. Reviewers of movies, restaurants, concerts and the like often purchase tickets and are reimbursed by the paper. Free trips are banned, too. The newspapers pays the cost of travel for news coverage.
Q. What do you do with gifts?
A. News coverage cannot be bought. Gifts, no matter how well-intentioned, are returned to the donor. If that is not possible, the gifts are turned over to the editor, whose office holds an auction among newspaper staff. The proceeds are donated to charities. Reviewers of books, CDs and computer software, for instance, may keep the items they review. The rest are used in the company library or donated to schools.
Q. Are reporters allowed to go undercover for a story?
A. Reporters and photographers should identify themselves, except in very rare circumstances that are approved by the editor.
Q. What are some of the main conflict of interest rules?
A. Staffers are not allowed to profit or obtain business advantages from information obtained as a result of their employment. Business staff must disclose all of their securities ownership. Free or reduced memberships in clubs are not accepted. Staffers are not allowed to provide publicity services for outside agencies or political causes. Outside work may not conflict with the staffer's work with the newspaper.
Q. Are news staffers allowed to show sensitivity for victims of crime?
A. The Times-Union as a general rule does not publish names of sexual assault victims, nor identify people who might be in danger if they were identified in the newspaper.
Al's advice:
- It is not a good idea to offer a reporter free tickets or even a free meal.
- Reporters are not allowed to profit from the information they obtain.
- Responsible reporters will not publish names of certain victims of crime.
- If you believe a reporter has violated his/her code of ethics, point it out to them.
- If you get nowhere complaining to the reporter, contact his/her immediate supervisor and ask that any mistakes be corrected.
Al Rothstein is a media trainer and consultant with Al Rothstein Media Services, Inc. For information, call (800) 453-6352, mediabrain@rothsteinmedia.com. Visit our web site at www.rothsteinmedia.com.
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