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Ethics in Journalism

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Ethics in Journalism
James Menephee
Com/450
October 21, 2012
Professor Nicole Kragt
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Ethics in Journalism
In 1909, a fraternity at DePauw University called Sigma Delta Chi was formed for students that had extensive interests in the field of Journalism. Later this group became The Society of Professional Journalists (SBJ). Over time, especially with the growth of technology and expanding outlets of news, such as radio and television the SBJ felt that it was important to develop a code of ethics for journalists. Obviously this was enforceable by law, but it served as a guide of ethical behavior and almost all journalists and their organizations have adopted some or all of the guidelines. In addition to its preamble, the guidelines are made up of four distinct ethics responsibilities.
The first ethical responsibility of journalism, according to the SPJ is to "search for the truth and report it." This speaks to the core of every journalist. This guideline goes on to specify methods and practical examples of how this is done. For example, while revealing the truth is the primary goal, that is not enough; the manner in which this information is obtained is just as important. It can't be obtained through illegal means, and if an "uncover method "is used, this can only be done if the this is the only way to reveal the truth. It also includes guides on how images are presented to the public. Like words, images should be used to present the truth, not distort it to manipulate the viewer or reader. Also, sources should be corroborated with two or more other sources to ensure accuracy (Christians et al, 2012).
The second journalistic responsibility is to "minimize harm". Never should a story be used to intentionally hurt an individual, group, or organization. This guideline includes direction on protect children, grieving individuals, and the accused when

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