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Ethics Masterclass

Ethics Masterclass. Journalism Code Why do we need morality? Rights to privacy. Be fair Impartial Separate fact from opinion Accurate Maintain confidentiality of sources Uphold journalists’ responsibility to guard right to freedom of expression. Protect people’s right to privacy

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Ethics Masterclass

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  1. Ethics Masterclass Journalism Code Why do we need morality? Rights to privacy

  2. Be fair Impartial Separate fact from opinion Accurate Maintain confidentiality of sources Uphold journalists’ responsibility to guard right to freedom of expression Protect people’s right to privacy Respect and seek after truth Struggle against censorship Avoid discrimination Avoid conflicts of interest Journalism Code

  3. Ethics • What are ethics? “ethics is the science of morals, treatise on this, moral principles or rules of conduct” The Concise Oxford English Dictionary

  4. Why do we need morals? Would we need morals if no-one existed? • Religion • Society • Law • Natural attunement

  5. Why do journalists need ethics? A good journalist is someone “who gathers in a morally justifiable way, topical, truthful, factually-based information of interest to the reader or viewer and then publishes it in a timely and accurate manner to a mass audience”

  6. Truth and …. • Accuracy - Sources of information are not as accurate • Objectivity – consumers complain that journalists are not impartial • Impartiality – no journalist can present the whole picture • Balance – can we give equal space to both sides?

  7. Sensationalism • Stories become sensational when there is little information • Bulletins are extended to give further coverage and newspapers devote pages – 7/7 bombings, the 9/11 attacks and the death of Diana

  8. Privacy – who has a right? • Invasion of privacy is a journalistic ethical issue • Privacy is seen as a basic human need • Secrets and intimacy • No specific law on invasion of privacy • Public clearly identify different groups of people has having different levels of privacy.

  9. Death of Diana • Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed - would you chase them to get the photo?

  10. Morals • Photo used by Italian press of Princess Diana in the car

  11. Privacy – Whose life is it anyway? • The Countess of Wessex is having a baby - how far do you go to get the picture of the newborn?

  12. In public • Britney Spears tips you off she’s going to be the shopping mall with her children - you go to get the photo and then she gets angry

  13. Moral Behaviour • Moral behaviour • Gossip Positive Negative

  14. News as %

  15. Gossip as %

  16. Ethical Codes • Professionalism • Regulations Press Complaints Commission OfCom BBC Producer’s Guidelines • Media accountability Leveson Inquiry (phone hacking)

  17. Ethical Newsroom • Gut reaction - don’t trust it • Rule obedience • Reflection and reasoning

  18. Have they got news for us?

  19. Which is a fake?

  20. ‘The press is not only free, it is powerful. That power is ours. It is the proudest that man can enjoy. It was not granted by monarchs, it was not gained for us by aristocracies; but it sprang from the people, and, with an immortal instinct, it has always worked for the people.’ Benjamin Disraeli

  21. Is self-regulation failing the press and the public? • Leveson Inquiry • Media Standards Trust

  22. Gathering News Exercise • You are in the newsroom of BBC Radio Someshire – when you get news of a major accident. • Look at the following information and decide what action would be taken. Discuss in small groups.

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