It is difficult to choose the most important, significant ethical lessons that I have learned from this course, due to the immense amount of helpful information presented. After much consideration and reflection, I feel that the two ethical lessons that may be most impactful in my future career are the importance of truth telling vs. fabrication, and truth telling vs. minimizing harm regarding issues of taste.
When I first learned what fabrication entailed, making things up and passing them off as genuine I felt that it sounded so blatantly wrong that it must be extremely uncommon, something that I would never consider as an option (Foreman, 2016). If this is the case, though, then why have so many famous, highly regarded journalists risked their reputations and careers by using this tactic? Foreman states that fabricators typically do so due to pressure to meet high expectations, either their bosses or their own (2016). Each fabricator saws a large chunk out of journalism’s credibility, thus effecting everyone in the profession (Jones Patterson & Urbanski, 2006). This was a great ethical lesson for me, as I learned the typical excuses given by people who break their duty to be truthful and accurate, as well as potential repercussions that come from lapses of this nature.
As stated above, telling the truth is exceptionally important. The second valuable ethical lesson that I learned this semester was how to handle situations where telling the truth could potentially offend people due to being distasteful or offensive. What is interesting to me about this topic is the lack of industry consensus regarding situations involving profanity, nudity, vulgarity and graphic violence. In addition, I would previously have thought that there were laws in place to determine these decisions when in fact, these ethical dilemmas are placed solely in the hands of newsroom leaders daily. Foreman (2016) notes a two-step process to guide thoughtful decision making, one being “to recognize words or images that are likely to offend a significant number of the audience,” and two being to “assess the news value of the content” (p. 271). By reading case studies and learning from the past mistakes of professional journalists, I am more confident in my ethical decision making skills upon entering the job market.
The case study that impressed me this semester most was that of Jack Kelley, USA Today journalist who in 2004 was caught for plagiarism and fabrication regarding the details of a bombing in Jerusalem (Foreman, 2016). Following being questioned for the veracity of several statements, Kelley arranged for a Russian translator to impersonate a Serbian Translator to verify one of his accounts. This highlights the spiral of lies fabrication can lead a typically honest journalist down. Kelley used a photo of a Cuban hotel worker to authenticate a story he fabricated about a woman who died fleeting Cuba by boat. The woman in the photo was located, and even more ethical lapses committed by Kelley were identified. He was forced to resign, an example of the consequences that can follow from making a morally wrong choice as a professional. This case is significantly impressive to me due to the extent Kelley went to for a good story and the blatant lack of respect for the truth and his audience that his actions represent. High profile events could be completely made up, thus tarnishing the credibility of the news organization and diminishing trust in the profession as a whole.
I think that taking this class is essential for not only every student considering a career in journalism but all individuals, as each and every person will face at least one of the ethical dilemmas presented in this class. Following this course, I feel better equipped to handle such situations. I have already begun to reflect more heavily upon choices that I am faced with on a daily basis and try to do my best to ensure that my decision is the most ethically sound possible. I absolutely believe that I will look back on the cases and suggestions discussed in this course throughout my future career.
Throughout this semester, many aspects of this course have truly interested me, so much so that I have shared information that I’ve learned with my family and friends. It is not often that I find myself getting lost in a textbook, but with this class that was the case. I appreciated the many opportunities to attend lectures by successful professionals in our field. I am now more aware than ever of the integral role news organizations play in society and the immense need for trustworthy professionals in our current age. I feel inspired to be the change I wish to see, spreading truthful information and creating informed citizens in this ever-changing, technology driven world.
Works Cited
Foreman, G. (2016). The ethical journalist: Making responsible decisions in the digital age. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell
Jones Patterson, M., & Urbanski, S. (2006). What Jayson Blair and Janet Cooke Say about the Press and the Erosion of Public Trust1. Journalism Studies, 7(6), 828–850. Retrieved from http://ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/loginurl=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=23093617&site=ehost-live&scope=site