In 2000, American journalist Charles J. Hanley and a couple of his colleagues from the Associated Press (AP) won a Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting for their research and writing on the then little-known massacre at No Gun Ri during the Korean War. Thanks to their thorough and impartial work, they raised more awareness than ever before on the tragic event while championing key principles of journalistic ethics.

How do ethics shape the trust and reliability of news journalism, especially in today’s digital landscape? News reporting—via newspapers, magazines, television, the internet, and more—has a huge influence on the general public, helping to shape their perception of reality and influencing their opinions. News stories based on truth and published with an ethical mindset are essential to guiding public opinion in healthy, productive ways.

For news journalists to succeed in their role, they should make every effort to adhere to a code of ethics. This blog discusses why ethics matter for news journalists and their audiences. Read on to learn about several ethical principles of journalism, ethical challenges in the industry, and the future of news journalism and media ethics.

The Principles of Journalism Ethics

Ethics in journalism refers to the moral guidelines and best practices that enable journalists to report the truth to the public. These ethics call for journalists to be as unbiased and honest as possible while encouraging them to do right by their readers, watchers, and listeners. Journalists who uphold ethical standards preserve their credibility and strive to facilitate what the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) describes as “public enlightenment.”

Several fundamental principles of journalism ethics have been adopted to help steer news journalists in the right direction. These principles include the following:

• Truthfulness. This means that content is rooted in fact. Truthfulness in stated facts should be top of mind both during the writing process and after publishing a piece of news. Ignoring the truth perpetuates “fake news,” a common term referring to false or misleading information.
• Accuracy. Journalists need to carefully review their sources and cite them, as well as write according to the most up-to-date stylistic conventions. Fact-checking is a must before publishing any story.
• Impartiality. Being impartial allows journalists to remove their biases toward a given topic, helping them create objective, balanced, and unprejudiced coverage—even of sensitive topics. Advertisements of any kind should typically not be included in news content.
• Fairness. Upholding the principle of fairness involves acting independently, avoiding conflicts of interest, and rejecting any favors or benefits that may damage journalistic integrity or audience trust. If possible, journalists should acknowledge both sides of an issue or viewpoint without favoring either.

Ethical Challenges in the Digital Age

The news media industry—especially in the current digital landscape—has its fair share of ethical challenges that encourage news journalists to apply the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, impartiality, and fairness. Some of the most prominent dilemmas involve misinformation, privacy and confidentiality concerns, and the ever-blurring lines between advertising and editorial content.

Ethically minded journalists and news organizations need to confront these issues with vigilance, courage, and empathy toward individuals who engage with their content.

Misinformation and Fact-Checking

Due to the growing unease regarding “fake news” over the last decade or so, news journalists should work diligently to combat misinformation and implement comprehensive fact-checking measures throughout their research and writing processes. Though convenient, the widespread availability of social media, podcasts, and online news sites has encouraged many individuals and groups to spread false information and half-truths. Even misrepresentative headlines can be enough to warp the public’s view of reality.

News journalists can turn to a variety of methods to help stop the spread of misinformation, including the following:

• Avoiding oversimplified, skewed, or clickbait-filled news headlines.
• Verifying information—especially hard data and statistics—before sharing or publishing content.
• Updating stories as needed, even well after they’re published.
• Providing necessary historical, political, or social context within stories.

 Privacy and Confidentiality

Sometimes, news journalists must walk a fine line between nurturing public interest and respecting individual privacy. While many journalists may seek to raise awareness on a hot topic or sensitive issue, they should always remember to minimize harm toward their audience, sources, and subjects. Ethical reporters should respect privacy boundaries and be sympathetic to anyone who might be particularly affected by a story’s content.

When news journalists interview individuals as part of their work, they should always obtain permission before citing names, occupations, or other personal information in a story. If interviewees prefer to remain anonymous, journalists must abide by their right to refuse information. The freedom of speech afforded by the First Amendment does not give journalists license to abuse a person’s legal right to privacy.

Advertising vs. Editorial Content

News that expands knowledge or instructs about current events is not the same as advertisements for products or services. Since advertisements in this context are distracting and irrelevant, news journalists should avoid including them or alluding to them. According to the SPJ, sponsored content (if required) should be prominently labeled in order to “distinguish news from advertising.”

The integrity and consistency of news coverage suffers if advertising becomes the primary reason for sharing a given story. Pure editorial content devoid of advertisements can build public trust and goodwill.

Ethical Dilemmas: A Case Study

Countless real-life scenarios can help illustrate the many ethical challenges inherent to news media and journalism.

One example involves the story of a hapless fan present at a Chicago Cubs baseball game in 2003. During a game in which the Cubs were just a few outs from advancing to the World Series, a young man in the crowd tried to claim a foul ball from out of the air, preventing a Cubs outfielder from catching it. The Cubs eventually lost the series to the Marlins, with many attributing—at least in part—the Cubs’ unfortunate loss to the fan’s overzealous catch.

Several well-known news outlets, including the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, published a story about the incident naming the fan who tried catching the ball. This prompted some backlash from journalists and newsrooms that thought identifying the fan by name was irresponsible and potentially harmful.

Luckily, the Cubs fan encountered no real danger and apologized for his action in a statement. While some journalists outed the fan by his name, others chose to keep his identity anonymous. This scenario examines the careful ethical balance that journalists often confront—that of reporting the truth while seeking to minimize potential harm to subjects involved. Did the general public need to know that fan’s name? The ethical principles of journalism exist to help clarify these types of dilemmas.

The Future of Journalism Ethics

As methods of news journalism adapt to evolving technology and digitization, those in the industry must continue to apply ethical principles in newer and more flexible ways. A prime example of current technology that carries major ethical implications in journalism and news media is artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is used.

Many news organizations have begun incorporating AI to increase operational efficiency and optimize content creation. However, relying too much on AI could negatively impact audience engagement and trust—as well as adversely influence the hiring process of living, breathing journalists applying for jobs in the industry.

Next Steps

If you’re looking to become a news journalist or hoping to advance in the field—and if you’re passionate about journalism ethics—consider studying at WGU. Our online, accredited bachelor’s in communications is designed with input from industry experts and is a great option for aspiring journalists. At WGU, you’ll learn only the most relevant, career-oriented skills throughout your degree program.

In addition, WGU’s competency-based learning model lets you advance through coursework as quickly as you show mastery of the material, so you can potentially graduate faster and save money. Learn more today.