Society of Professional Journalists Code Of Ethics That The Main Stream Media Is Not Abiding By

Please share this on all of the websites of Left-Wing media outlets that profess to be reporting news accurately.  Please also share on the Facebook page, Twitter account, or any Website etc. of individual reporters, bloggers that are espousing lies to cover for the corruption of this administration and inaccurately reporting the news to their viewers.

After reading through the Code of Ethics they should be abiding by, I have concluded Obama and his talking heads don't have any ethics and need a refresher course. 

Sept 29, 2011

Obama: 'I Don't Think Ethics' Was My Favorite Subject
Obama told an audience of high school students in Washington, D.C. that he was "not always the very best student" and that ethics "would not have made it on the list" of his favorite subjects.

Relationship with freedom of the press

In countries without freedom of the press, the majority of people who report the news may not follow the standards of journalism. Non-free media are often prohibited from criticizing the national government, and in many cases are required to distribute propaganda as if it were news. Various other forms of censorship may restrict reporting on issues the government deems sensitive.

 That sure sounds like the majority of the media in the United States of America, doesn't it?

*****************************************

These guidelines inspired Society of Professional Journalists which is the current version of media ethics that were adopted in 1996.

Society of Professional Journalists: Code of Ethics

The Society of Professional Journalists created a code of ethics that are in effect today. The main mantra of the code is "Seek truth and Report it!"(Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478) The code also states that: "Journalists should be honest, fair, and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting information. Journalists should:"

• "Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible."(Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing."(Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Always question sources' motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Make certain that headlines, news teases, and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites, and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Avoid misleading reenactments or staged news events. If reenactment is necessary to tell a story, label it." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Never plagiarize." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even, when it is unpopular to do so." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, or social status." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or content." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Distinguish news from advertising, and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)

Minimize Harm "Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects, and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect. Journalists should" (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)

• "Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or guilt." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves that do public officials and others who seek power, influence, or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Be cautions of identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Balance a criminal suspect's fair trial rights with the public's right to be informed." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)

Act Independently "Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. Journalists should" ." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)

• "Avoid conflict of interest, real or perceived." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel, and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office, and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 478)
• "Disclose unavoidable conflicts." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)

Be Accountable "Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers, and each other. Journalists should:" (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)

• "Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Admit mistakes and correct them promptly." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)
• "Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others." (Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport, Pg 479)

All of these guidelines are for the betterment of society and regulation of media.

*************************************** 
REVISED 2014 VERSION:

Ethics Code Revision: Final Draft as approved by the SPJ Ethics Committee Updated 1:30 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014

Preamble

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity.

The Society declares these four principles as the foundation of ethical journalism and encourages their use in its practice by all people in all media.

Seek Truth and Report It

Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

– Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it. Use original sources whenever possible.

– Remember that neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy.

– Provide context. Take special care not to misrepresent or oversimplify in promoting, previewing or summarizing a story.

– Gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story.

– Be cautious when making promises, but keep the promises they make.

– Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.

– Consider sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Reserve anonymity for sources who may face danger, retribution or other harm, and have information that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Explain why anonymity was granted.

– Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond to criticism or allegations of wrongdoing.

– Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information unless traditional, open methods will not yield information vital to the public.

– Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. Give voice to the voiceless.

– Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

– Recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government. Seek to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open, and that public records are open to all.

– Provide access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate.

– Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear.

– Avoid stereotyping. Journalists should examine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.

– Label advocacy and commentary.

– Never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information. Clearly label illustrations and re-enactments.

– Never plagiarize. Always attribute.

  Minimize Harm

Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

– Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness.

– Show compassion for those who may be affected by news coverage. Use heightened sensitivity when dealing with juveniles, victims of sex crimes, and sources or subjects who are inexperienced or unable to give consent. Consider cultural differences in approach and treatment.

– Recognize that legal access to information differs from an ethical justification to publish or broadcast.

– Realize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than public figures and others who seek power, influence or attention. Weigh the consequences of publishing or broadcasting personal information.

– Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.

– Balance a suspect’s right to a fair trial with the public’s right to know. Consider the implications of identifying criminal suspects before they face legal charges.

– Consider the long-term implications of the extended reach and permanence of publication. Provide updated and more complete information as appropriate.

Act Independently

The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public.

Journalists should:

– Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Disclose unavoidable conflicts.

– Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.

– Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; do not pay for access to news. Identify content provided by outside sources, whether paid or not.

– Deny favored treatment to advertisers, donors or any other special interests, and resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage.

– Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two. Prominently label sponsored content.

Be Accountable and Transparent

Ethical journalism means taking responsibility for one’s work and explaining one’s decisions to the public.

Journalists should:

– Explain ethical choices and processes to audiences. Encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage and news content.

– Respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness.

– Acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently. Explain corrections and clarifications carefully and clearly.

– Expose unethical conduct in journalism, including within their organizations.

– Abide by the same high standards they expect of others.

The SPJ Code of Ethics is a statement of abiding principles supported by additional explanations and position papers that address changing journalistic practices. It is not a set of rules, rather a guide that encourages all who engage in journalism to take responsibility for the information they provide, regardless of medium. The code should be read as a whole; individual principles should not be taken out of context. It is not, nor can it be under the First Amendment, legally enforceable.

Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987, 1996 and 2014.

Other Sources of Ethics In Journalism:
Reuters Handbook Of Journalism

Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance - Journalists' Code of Ethics