I have always known that there are ethics in journalism. However, I did not fully understand the depths of what it means to be an ethical journalist until this course. Two of the most important ethical lessons that I will take away from this course are rules/ends-based thinking and Kidder’s checkpoint. I plan to use both of these theories going forward in my career when needed.
You mentioned in a lecture that journalists can benefit from a blend of rules and ends-based thinking and that has stuck with me. Rules-based thinking is the idea of a journalist having an absolute duty to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences are. It’s a very simple theory, you just have to follow the rule. Ends-based thinking is the idea of choosing the course of action that brings the most good to the most people. I believe that I can use both of these theories going forward in my journalistic career. As a journalist, I will strive to do the right and most ethical thing in regards to my work. I will strive to follow the ultimate set of rules, also known as the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, to the best of my ability. I will also strive to follow the course of action that brings the most good or putting stories on that benefit the people. That in whatever story I’m assigned to, I’m reporting it in the best interest of the people.
The one case study that really stood out to me, this semester, was the case study of Jayson Blair. I used that case study for my original paper and the ethical lessons that it taught me, will stay with me forever. For as long as I’ve been in school, it has always been reiterated that one should not plagiarize. I know that (for the record, I never have). However, seeing what a mistake like that can lead to, really struck a note with me. Seeing how a journalist gets caught up in it all, frankly, scares me. Somehow, at the same time, it grounds me. The case study made me realize that I wanted to be the complete opposite of Jayson Blair. That I wanted to strive to not get caught up in the drama of it all and that people are relying on me, to tell the truth, and that I should not (and will not) let them down.
I’ve learned a lot from this course. Analyzing real ethical cases, helped me to truly understand the consequences of being unethical. Not that I was unethical in the first place, just that I know understand that I need to be more careful in my reporting. I need to understand that as a journalist my actions (and my stories) affect everyone around me. This course taught me that and I will continue to use that as a life motto for the rest of my journalistic career.