Aastha Trivedi
To maintain professional integrity, credibility and respect, journalists must uphold strict ethical standards and values. We’re here to help you understand the importance of these principles and how to apply them to your career.
The National Union of Journalists established the Journalist’s Code of Ethics to provide reporters with a moral framework. It was first written in 1935 and has since been updated several times, most recently in 2011. Its purpose is to ensure that all journalists based in the United Kingdom and Ireland produce content that is truthful, accurate and reliably sourced.
This code ensures all members involved in the research process, including the journalist and interviewees, are treated with respect. The Journalists Code of Ethics exists in all countries and is established by media legislation. So, which principles need to be followed?
Upholding Truth and Accuracy
An essential aspect of journalism is fact-checking information published or broadcast. Fact-checking data means examining a wide range of media sources and research publications to ensure all information gathered is accurate. When the fact-checking process is complete, information will be classified either as true, false or misleading.
The fact-checking process ensures all essential information is included. It also identifies whether photos or videos have been manipulated through artificial intelligence. Overall, fact-checking is important to make sure all members of society have access to truthful, accurate news.
Staying Impartial
It is important content published is impartial and free from any conflict of interest. This means to resist the pressure of publishing media that feeds the interests of political parties or commercial groups. It is especially important to avoid promoting entities or causes you have personal relationships with. When there is a personal relationship, you may create a “conflict of interest” that ultimately undermines the credibility and objectivity of your published media.
Media agencies are responsible for ensuring the material they publish is closely examined so conflict does not arise. Journalists need to be transparent about whether they have a personal relationship with the subject they are writing or broadcasting about. For a media agency like the BBC, strict guidelines are provided to illustrate the risks of choosing not to declare a conflict of interest. This includes damaging the image of the agency by casting doubt on its neutrality, independence and integrity.
“Journalists should consider the trauma experienced by individuals”
When resisting biases, it is important for a journalist to demonstrate an understanding of all perspectives and give readers access to these different view points. This enhances the reliability of statements made and builds readers’ trust.
Journalists can avoid biases by refraining from making generalisations based on the characteristics of a person or group’s identity or exaggerating stereotypes about a specific social group. For example, this could be refraining from using “essentialising” language such as saying that women are “naturally” more nurturing than men. It is crucial to avoid assumptions about social groups based on characteristics such as class, age, sexuality, ability and gender.
Respecting Vulnerable People
The Journalists Code of Ethics urges journalists to have compassion and respect for interviewees, particularly those from marginalised communities. Journalists should consider the trauma experienced by individuals, their level of vulnerability or innocence and the grief they may be experiencing. This is known as trauma-informed reporting. US-based Crime reporter, Tamara Cherry, says: “Trauma-informed reporting means understanding trauma, understanding what a trauma survivor is experiencing before you show up at their door, and understanding how your actions [as a journalist] will impact them after you pack up and leave.”
In essence, reporters need to understand how their position as researchers can cause harm to the people they are interviewing or the populations they are examining. A responsible journalist will avoid causing re-traumatizing already distressed individuals or groups.
“Preconceived assumptions about people can cause us to fail in reporting a story authentically”
Journalists must also be comfortable with the potential of their own subconscious biases. This can be an embarrassing or humbling feeling but it is one that all journalists should be prepared for. According to the former editor of the Washington Post, Marty Baron, “We do need to go into stories with an open mind with a recognition that we don’t know everything.” Put simply, our preconceived assumptions about people can cause us to fail in reporting a story authentically.
Demonstrating respect for vulnerable sources is crucial. They should be made fully aware of why an interview is being conducted and how the report may impact their own circumstances. For instance, when interviewing survivors who may have experienced abuse or sexual violence, it can help to take the conversation slow, avoid asking questions that may be jarring or triggering for victims. We should avoid asking for specific details or trying to complete the interview on a positive note by asking survivors how they are coping now.
Privacy and Safety
The privacy of people’s stories should be respected. Therefore, the information about or images of victims should not be published or broadcast without their consent. We must not sensationalise the stories of vulnerable communities and be careful not to exaggerate their story or publish graphic images that dehumanise, alienate or disempower populations.
Telling stories from a survivor’s perspective rather than a victim’s is a method that helps ensure you do not sensationalise. Journalists should describe people’s stories by highlighting their resilience in overcoming a major obstacle in their lives.
Protecting Yourself
As a journalist, it is your right to decide whether or not you want to participate in an investigation, meaning that you do not necessarily have to report in areas of conflict or civil unrest if you do not wish to. If you choose to do so, you should be provided with training to ensure your safety and should prepare precautionary measures to prevent injury to yourself or your co-workers. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, “Freelancers should not hesitate to turn down a risky assignment”.
It is also important to prioritise your own mental health and well-being. Media agencies must provide safety and mental health support to reporters. Journalists are also encouraged to practice self-care techniques regularly to avoid experiencing burn-out. If they do not feel safe or fear that the investigation will provoke a conflict of interest, they do not have to engage in it.
Embracing the Journalists Code of Ethics
By embracing the Journalists Code of Ethics, reporters can deliver impartial, accurate, independent and unbiased news. They can further empower vulnerable populations by representing them authentically instead of harming them. Adhering to such principles not only upholds the reputation of agencies but strengthens democracy. Ethical, quality journalism grants the public access to information that is balanced, reliable and truthful.
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Featured image courtesy of Tyler Franta on Unsplash. No changes made to this image. Image license found here.
