Over the course of the semester, I have learned so much about ethics in the world of journalism and beyond. I thought critically about the actions and responsibilities of someone who reports the news, while repeatedly asking myself one question: How can a journalist balance the need to inform the public with the principle of minimizing harm?
In searching for an answer to this question, I tried to step in the shoes of professional journalists and learn from their mistakes. Although plenty of grey areas exist in the field, analyzing case studies provided me with insight about how to handle certain situations. Now, I feel as though I am better equipped to tackle a future career in journalism and maintain a high standard of professionalism while doing so.
Ethical Lessons
There are two important ethical lessons I learned in this class. The first one is that it is vital to always tell the truth. Whether someone is writing an article to inform the public, or simply having a conversation with a colleague or boss; honesty is the best policy.
This became apparent to me after watching Shattered Glass. This movie chronicles the journey of a reporter for the New Republic who falsified numerous articles in a blatant act of deception. This ultimately ruined the reporter’s reputation and career.
As I listened to this story, my initial reaction was shock and disgust. I could not fathom how or why someone would go to such great lengths to make up facts and invent fake scenarios to write about. Through it all, I grasped just how dangerous and unacceptable it is to report inaccuracies in the news. I now know I must double check everything I write, use reliable sources, and never resort to lying no matter how convenient it may seem. The most important part of journalism is building a relationship of trust with readers. Without that trust, the words written on the pages don’t matter.
The second important ethical lesson I learned is that reporters must have compassion and respect toward the subjects they cover. In certain situations, compassion may mean not publishing a story, or refraining from asking specific questions during interviews. During lecture, we discussed two scenarios where these lessons can be applied.
For instance, a local news station televised a segment about a toddler who was raised by a single mother, in addition to a father in prison. The station followed the child as she went about her daily activities and even tagged along for her frequent visits to the jail, where she talked to her father through a glass window.
After plenty of class discussion, my peers and I decided that this story was extremely invasive of the toddler’s life and privacy. The child was too young to advocate for herself and thus was not an ideal subject for a news story, especially one that could potentially follow her for the rest of her life.
Another case study we analyzed involved an interview conducted by NBC News correspondents Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb. In the hours following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, NBC aired a live interview with one of the survivors. Guthrie and Kotb ask the survivor “how her friend was doing” only to hear the response “she didn’t make it.” The survivor then began breaking down, which was followed by a long, uncomfortable pause.
This interview raised many concerns from other professionals in the field, who couldn’t seem to fathom why NBC news decided to interview a young teenager that was clearly traumatized and in shock. Many people expressed their anger with NBC on social media, raising a question about how tragedies should be covered in the news. How far is too far? How much information should be shared with the public before doing so causes too much pain and horror for the people involved?
In this case, I learned that it is important to treat trauma victims with extra compassion and respect. They shouldn’t be forced to conduct interviews in the hours after enduring a mass shooting or answer tough questions that may trigger an emotional breakdown. These individuals deserve space, privacy, and most importantly time to grieve before being thrust into a position in which they are the subject of a breaking news story. I will carry this ethical principle of compassion and minimizing harm with me during my time at Penn State and beyond.
Case Study
The case study we discussed that impressed me the most involved the Boston Marathon Bombings and photographer John Tlumacki. Tlumacki was near the finish line when the bombs went off and ran toward the scene to document this significant moment in United States history. He effectively captured the blood, gore, pain, and horror from this tragedy so that the rest of the world would know what happened to the city of Boston.
One individual in particular, Nicole Gross, asked Tlumacki and the editors of the Boston Globe not to publish the photo that was taken of her. However, they did so anyways because they felt that the public’s right to know outweighed the individual’s right to privacy. They concluded that people need to be educated about the things that are going on in the world, as this is the only way to prevent history from ever repeating itself.
This case study struck a chord with me. We’ve all been in a position before when someone is telling you not to do something, but you feel like you have to do it anyways because it’s the right thing to do. In this scenario, the photos serve as an accurate representation of the ruthless grip of terrorism and its impact on citizens, and therefore, Tlumacki defended his decision to give a greenlight to publish.
I was impressed by how journalists are able to reach such difficult decisions in the midst of tragedies, knowing they may upset or offend some individuals along the way. This proved to me that there are always grey areas of uncertainty in this line of work, but one must look at the circumstances of the situation and use his or her best judgement to create an ideal outcome.
Reflection
COMM 409 was unlike any other course I have taken in my first two years at Penn State. Dr. Z challenged my classmates and I to think critically and ask important questions – questions that most people are too afraid to ask — each and every day. For the first time in my life, I looked at every situation and real-world problem through an ethical lens.
In the future, I will take the toolkit Dr. Z gave me everywhere I go. This toolkit contains the ethical principles of honesty, empathy, integrity, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, and fairness. I plan to never resort to lying or inventing facts to meet certain deadlines. Nor will I go undercover to scheme people for information I desperately need. Rather, I will uphold high standards for myself, colleagues, bosses, and the news organization that I work for. I will respect the privacy and emotions of others at all times, while also doing my best to deliver important information to the public that they deserve to know. In situations where I am confronted with a difficult decision, I will analyze the situation and use my best judgement.
From the first day of class to now, I feel like I have changed as a student. I am much more careful and conscientious about my actions and the effects they have on others. I now question my motives for doing something and think about the consequences that may result. This will help me immensely in my career as a journalist/lawyer. I will gain respect from others by being honest and ethical. People will trust me, and I will be able to produce quality work while minimizing harm.
On the last day of class, Dr. Z mentioned the quote “the world is changed.” To this I say, the world is always changing. Thanks to Dr. Z, I am ready to go on out in the world and make a difference. I will take the tools I learned in COMM 409 and use them to help others and make the world a better place. Maintaining ethical principles at all times, I will incite positive, meaningful change in the world.