Journalists have many ethical codes to abide by when writing a story. They have these ethical codes because the businesses in which they work for do not want to offend anyone with their stories and they can be sued if they do.
One ethical code journalists have to follow is accuracy and standards for factual reporting. Reporters are expected to be as accurate as possible given the time allotted to story preparation and the space available, and to seek reliable sources. Journalists aren't allowed to just make up stories because it would be a lie and would not be ethical.
Another ethical code journalists have to follow is slander and libel considerations. Reporting the truth is almost never libel, which makes accuracy very important. Private persons have privacy rights that must be balanced against the public interest in reporting information about them. Public figures have fewer privacy rights in U.S. law, where reporters are immune from a civil case if they have reported without malice. Basically if the company reports with libel and slander they can be sued.
These ethical issues are resolved by the journalists following them. If they don't follow them it could involve legal issues.
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