Prior to this course, I was exposed to journalism ethics in other classes that I have previously taken. However, those courses merely scratched the surface of detail. I was very glad that I was able to take a course that focused solely on ethics in the field, allowing me to gain a more in-depth understanding. I had not considered how I might react to various situations as a journalist before, such as if I would name a victim of a sexual assault in a story, take a photo of a grieving individual, or accept a paid plane ticket.
I have learned that a journalist should make each ethical decision on a case-by-case basis. Although it is vital for him to learn the standard practices of the field and the principles by which most professionals and media outlets follow, the process is not set in stone. A journalist must adopt a basic ethical foundation, then incorporate his personal morals and beliefs while accommodating to those of the publication for which he is working.
Recently, the media’s coverage of the tragic Boston bombings reiterated this lesson and compelled me to consider and examine my own set of ethics. Reporters who were present in the streets of Boston that afternoon were forced to make the decision of whether to join the thousands of people running away from the blast of smoke in fear of their lives or to remain in the war zone, surrounded by despair, suffering, and the bloody scene of bedlam that was before them. Is it humane for a journalist to interview or take photographs of victims while they are desperately in need of aid? When I saw the photo of the man who had lost both of his legs, along with the dozens of other disheartening photos, published on Twitter and online news stations, I initially was shocked and could not believe that someone would stand in the middle of the street and be able to concentrate on taking photos in the midst of the tragedy. However, then I remembered that it was the journalists’ jobs. I asked myself, “Would I have been able to place my job over my fears?”
Because of the marathon, there were hundreds of medical professionals and volunteers present helping those in need — that was their jobs. If the journalists’ attempted to help, and they did not possess sufficient medical knowledge, they may have simply been in the way. If there had not been other individuals to help those in need, it would be understandable for a journalist to feel responsible to offer aid. Nonetheless, in this situation, the journalists’ utmost purposes were to capture the authenticity of the catastrophic event so that other civilians, who were not present, would be able to learn precisely what had occurred. Had those journalists and photojournalists not complied with their professional reactions to cover the event, the FBI would not have had as much evidence to investigate, and the Tsarnaev brothers may not have been identified.
A journalist must understand each of his responsibilities — those to his audience, sources, and publication — and balance them accordingly. I have learned that the first obligation is to tell the truth, and to verify sources in order to ensure that he is telling the truth. He must learn to determine what is imperative to publish for the sake of informing the public, as well as what is important to keep private in order to protect civilians and society. An unwavering set of rules does not exist for this type of decision making — it is not black and white. A journalist may not accurately be able to say what he or she may do or publish in the occurrence of a particular event or the disclosure of particular information from a source. His responses will be purely situational. However, once the journalist studies the ethical options and learns the proper steps to take during the ethical decision process, he will be better equip to pull from the tools he has already acquired and consequently act in a thoughtful and determined manner.
These lessons will impact my future career and life.
Although I am a print journalism major, I do not wish solely to remain in the field. I am more focused on pursuing a career in public relations. I believe that my journalism background, foundational and ethical, will prove to be beneficial for my interactions with the media. If the company or business I am representing encounters a problem, I have learned that it is vital to admit every side of the error immediately. I must always tell the truth. I believe that my educational background and experience will prove to have provided me with a greater understanding of journalists and the media than my fellow employees who have only been exposed to the public relations, advertising, marketing, and business side of the spectrum. I will understand why journalists ask the questions that they do and why they write and publish what they do. They have an obligation to their readers to tell every side of the story that they can uncover. I believe that I will be able to interact with media professionals with prowess since I have studied the same methods and principles that they have. I will be able to predict how media outlets may cover the business I am representing during a crisis or how they will respond to any press releases I send them. Because I understand that members of the media cannot accept free drinks or lunch or act favorably toward any one entity, I know that I ethically must publicize my business and its newsworthy development or events in order to attract attention.
Overall reflections on the course
I really appreciated all of the detailed instructions and examples that the professor provided. In the majority of my classes, the professors simply give us the basics of what the assignment should be and include, and it is then up to the students to decide how to create and organize it by tailoring it to their own opinions and writing styles. However, in an ethics course, to which I, along with most of my classmates, have not been exposed in-depth, I would not have known where to begin my thoughts or how to rationalize them. I believe that I instantly would have become discouraged. Because the instructions were so detailed, it provided me with more confidence and more direction, while still permitting me to incorporate my personal opinions and style.
Because I do not respond well to cold solid facts and have difficulty placing them into perspective, it truly was helpful that the professor provided students with authentic case studies to accompany each lesson. Once I was able to envision past journalists encountering the issues we discussed in their careers and lives, the lessons had a lasting impact.