Journalists and Their Ethics

In spite of the First Amendment giving one of the greatest privileges to the journalism world, freedom of the press, there are still several ethical issues that journalists face every day while at work.

Journalists must always be honest in getting a story, never being deceitful. Relying on such a tactic could result in a journalist losing not just his or her job, but his or her credibility and reputation as well.

Another ethical issue seen among journalists is conflict of interest. If a journalist has even the slightest connection to a story subject or issue, it can result in a story containing unprofessional emotions and a very strong bias-a big no-no in journalism. Conflicts of interest include friendship, which can often be the biggest obstacle when obtaining information, and taking payments from other than their employer.

Plagiarism is also a large issue in the journalism world. If a reporter is caught plagiarizing another person's work, he or she immediately loses all credibility and, more than likely, his or her job.

To avoid such ethical issues, journalists should follow the model of moral reasoning developed by Dr. Ralph Potter. This model, known as "The Potter Box," includes four elements: appraising the situation, identifying values, appealing to ethical principles, and choosing loyalties.