html5-img
1 / 31

The Joys and Oys of Ethics the 2008 edition

The Joys and Oys of Ethics the 2008 edition. Lois Boynton – UNC-Chapel Hill 2008 Midcareer Copy Editors’ Conference July 14, 2008. Dealing with Dilemmas - Sissela Bok. Consult your conscience How do you feel about the action? Intent Seek expert advice

yuri
Download Presentation

The Joys and Oys of Ethics the 2008 edition

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Joys and Oys of Ethicsthe 2008 edition Lois Boynton – UNC-Chapel Hill 2008 Midcareer Copy Editors’ Conference July 14, 2008

  2. Dealing with Dilemmas - Sissela Bok • Consult your conscience • How do you feel about the action? • Intent • Seek expert advice • Other means that don’t raise ethical issues? • Conduct public discussion as feasible • How will others respond to the proposed act? Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  3. Plagiarism…still! • Blatant – oy! • ‘Four paragraphs taken almost word for word from Wikipedia’ (Diana D'Abruzzo) – oy2! • Editors’ inaction – not enough proof – ouch! • Lack of values or sloppy? Or maybe both? • PS: we hammer the point home with UNC students! Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  4. When does sloppy attribution become plagiarism? • ‘In rewriting a press release, honest journalists can disagree about how to credit the company and how much rewriting is enough.’ • ‘*** Wait. How do "honest journalists" appear in the same sentence as "rewriting a press release"? Last I checked, "rewriting a press release" was not "journalism." ***’ • ‘We all know the price of plagiarism: You lose your job; your offense is publicized in Romenesko, the sex-offender registry of journalism ethics ...; your career may be over.’ http://www.testycopyeditors.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7112&highlight=ethics Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  5. The public you • Should copy editors be bound by the same rules as reporters for political activity outside the workplace? Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  6. Political participation survey: Should news organizations allow journalists to make political contributions? No way. It hurts their credibility if journalists are giving money to candidates.  Certainly. It's no one's business what citizens do on their own time.  Only if the journalists disclose the donations to their readers, viewers or listeners. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19313708/ Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  7. MSNBC.com Live Vote says… • No way. It hurts their credibility if journalists are giving money to candidates = 34% • Certainly. It's no one's business what citizens do on their own time = 30% • Only if the journalists disclose the donations to their readers, viewers or listeners = 37% • *20,988 votes (7/1/08). • Disclaimer: “not a scientific survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding.” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19313708/ Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  8. The list: Journalists who wrote political checks • ‘The following 143 journalists made campaign contributions from 2004 through the first quarter of 2007, according to Federal Election Commission records studied by MSNBC.com’ - Bill Dedman, investigative reporter for MSNBC, wrote story July 15, 2007 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/ Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  9. Who gives a dime… • ‘I was scolded. I made the point that I worked only in features, and I never edited any stories that have to do the election. I was told not to do it again. I wouldn't do it again. But at the time my job was focused on the doings of Britney Spears.’ • (D) Detroit Free Press, Susan Hall-Balduf, copy editor,$300 to John Kerry in July 2004. Now editing news copy, she gave when she was in features. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Balduf Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  10. Consequences… • (D) Richmond Times-Dispatch, Pam Mastropaolo, copy editor, $1,650 to the Democratic Party of Virginia in February 2007, and $1,165 in February 2006. • Mastropaolo didn't reply to messages. Nor did the managing editor, Peggy Bellows. • Update, July 11: According to Style Weekly in Richmond, Mastropaolo and political reporter Michael Hardy were suspended for one month without pay for violating the paper's ethics guidelines. The union is contesting the suspension. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Mastropaolo Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  11. Perceptions • (D) Lexington Herald-Leader, Brian Throckmorton, copy desk chief, $250 to John Kerry in June 2004. His staff edits local news articles, selects wire stories and writes headlines. • ‘The thing that we try to avoid is the appearance of partiality….And for me that means bumper stickers and yard signs and things that might lead the public to easily but falsely suspect that there's a problem with our impartiality. But something as private as a donation which they might have to work to find out....’ • ‘the fact of a political donation doesn't imply lack of impartiality or bad news judgment to begin with, and one person making a donation doesn't imply that there's a bias throughout the newsroom.’ • Then Throckmorton said, "I'm not comfortable being included in the story. Do not publish my name." • Update, June 27: The Republican Party of Kentucky called on the newspaper to fire Throckmorton. ‘We have no plans to fire Brian,’ editor Linda Austin said in an article in the Herald-Leader. ‘He violated no existing policy. However, we are reviewing our policy regarding newsroom employees and political contributions.’ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Throckmorton Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  12. Doesn’t affect what I do… • "It doesn't affect anything that I do personally. Not that sports doesn't have political issues. It does.” - NH Union Leader sports copy editor David Johnson,$500 to James Craig, the state House Democratic leader and candidate for Congress, in March 2006. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Johnson Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  13. Balance rights and responsibilities… • (D) Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel, Fran Adler, copy editor, $250 in August 2006 to Dr. Tom Hayhurst, Fort Wayne city councilman and Democrat who lost the congressional race in 2006 for the 3rd Congressional District. • ‘We are people and citizens, and we have the right to support candidates in our own ways. • ‘I was asked to distribute flyers at a 4-H fair, but my editors thought something that visible was inappropriate. But I was allowed to make a contribution. I'm a citizen, and I'm going to have my opinions regardless. I think I can be absolutely objective about him and his opponents ….’ • ‘We don't mind contributions as such, but we have to tell our staff they can't openly participate in a campaign, handing out flyers…. There are probably things we may not know about in terms of participation that might make us nervous if we did know about them.’ - Editor Kerry Hubartt http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Adler Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  14. Does experience matter? • (D) Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel, Faith Van Gilder, copy editor, $500 in October 2006 to Dr. Tom Hayhurst, Fort Wayne city councilman and Democrat who lost the congressional race in 2006 for the 3rd Congressional District. • ‘I'm sure one of our main objectives is to be very neutral when we're writing a headline, when we're editing copy. We would never put our personal opinions in a cutline. When you're a professional journalist, you separate what you believe from your job. I've been in the business for 25 years. Maybe someone who is younger has struggled more with that. I'm able to keep the two separate.’ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Gilder Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  15. Now that I think about it … • (D) Martha's Vineyard, Mass., Times, Whit Griswold, copy editor, $650 to MoveOn.org, which got out the vote against President Bush, in September 2004, $1,500 more in October 2004, $500 in September 2006, and $1,000 in November 2006; and $500 to Joseph Courtney, Democratic House candidate in Connecticut, in September 2006. • Griswold said he now believes that he shouldn't donate to candidates. • ‘Your question's a good one. I never even thought of it. I'm not a reporter. I don't think of myself as setting policy — I don't. But I have a little influence as a copy editor. I can see, if the world was perfect, I shouldn't do it. My boss doesn't want us to run for office.’ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Griswold Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  16. What the policies say • "We have a conflict of interest policy. We haven't banned it outright for the entire newsroom. Our policy says that people should avoid doing any partisan politics on their own, avoid any politics. It's especially emphasized for people who do political coverage.” - MN Star Tribune managing editor Scott Gillespiehttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Haugen • "I don't believe they have a policy on that. I've never heard one way or another.” - David Johnson, sports copy editor for NH Union Leader.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Johnson

  17. Another policy… • ‘We just rewrote our ethics policy for the newsroom about two years ago. I looked at it, and it said you can't run for political office. It doesn't mention donations or wearing a political button or putting a political bumper sticker on your car.’ - Faith Van Gilder, copy editor, Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Gilder • ‘(Lexington) Herald-Leader newsroom employees are not allowed to actively or publicly participate in politics. Our policies strongly discourage, but do not prohibit, this type of donation.’ - Managing editor Tom Eblenhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113455/#Throckmorton

  18. Should journalists blog? • ‘Blogging helps you better understand your audience. The hallmark of any blog is the ability for readers to post comments to what you write. By having this regular conversation with readers, you learn what hits and what misses.‘For newspapers that are rapidly becoming irrelevant to a growing number of people, this is a huge issue. If you write post after post that garners no response, then it ought to be telling you something. ‘In print, we’ve been able to kid ourselves for decades that every reader is savoring every word of our prose. Online, it’s painfully clear what readers do and don’t care about.” Chris Cobler, publisher of greeleytrib.com The Editor’s Weblog – World Editors Forum http://www.editorsweblog.org/news/2007/02/should_all_journalists_blog.php Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  19. Should professional journalists blog privately? US online analyst Simon Owens says… • ‘Chez Pazienza, a former producer for CNN, was fired from his job in February (2008) because he wrote for Huffington Post and other high-profile blogs. His superiors cited a CNN policy that any outside writing required prior approval. • ‘In April, Michael Tunison was fired from the Washington Post after he revealed that he wrote for the sports blog Kissing Suzy Kolber. His bosses told him that he had brought “discredit to the paper” through his blogging.’ http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=688 Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  20. Survey to editors and publishers of 250 newspapers (5 for each state) • Question: Would you allow your staff writers, without prior approval, to blog during their free time after work as long as they don’t write about the beats they cover for your newspaper? • Of the 250 surveyed, 39 responded. • Twenty-two — 56% — said they wouldn’t mind if writers blogged on non-beat issues without obtaining permission. • The remaining 17 — 44% — either required disclosure of the blog, issued caveats over what subjects couldn’t be covered, or had outright bans on having personal blogs at all Simon Owens’ survey – reported at http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=688 Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  21. Should journalists blog their notes? • ‘The question came up at a BW staff meeting yesterday. Some of my colleagues had seen that I’d posted notes of a couple of interviews, and they were concerned. After all, journalists battle in courts to protect their notebooks and shield their sources. If we publish notes occasionally, does that establish a weakening precedent? …. • ‘So here’s the deal. When we get access to execs and public figures who are looking to get their message out, we’ll feature them on the blog, when appropriate, and occasionally blog the notes. But when we’re actively reporting a story, we’ll keep our notes to ourselves. With time, this policy could change. But for now, I think it’s a good place to draw the line. Your thoughts?’ - Posted by Stephen Baker,6/17/05 http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/blogspotting/archives/2005/06/should_journali.html Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  22. Journalists and Facebook • Andrea James: ‘If we are to report on the world we live in, then we have to fully live in it.’ • Finding sources? • Dakarai Aarons: ‘We don't become highly insensitive in approaching potential sources.’ • Evaluating, cross-checking source credibility • Yvonne DiVita: ‘It doesn't mean everyone is honest and authentic -- but it shouldn't be hard to discover the fakes’ • Self identification? • ‘Friending’ sources? Poynter Online, Pat Waters - http://poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=127211 Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  23. Los Angeles graffiti • Publish? • Can’t doctor photo, deny reality – LAT reader rep • YouTube link of criminal act? http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/309904458_04adf46ed2.jpg?v=0 Andy Bechtel – The Editor’s Desk, http://editdesk.blogspot.com/2008/05/digital-graffiti.html Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  24. Hundreds married on historic day LA Times 6/18/08 p. A1 TOGETHER: Tori and Kate Kuykendall, who have been together for five years, inaugurate their new marriage with a kiss as they hold their 5-month-old daughter, Zadie.

  25. Ethics of Telecommuting • From The NY Times' Ethicist column: ‘Q. I telecommute full time for my job as a copy editor for a large business Web site. I plan to spend a month in the Caribbean. Is it ethical to do this without running it by my supervisor? My online presence will remain the same; only my physical location will change.’ http://www.testycopyeditors.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9590&highlight=ethics Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  26. ID the shooter? • AP reports on school shooting: The shooter was identified by an official close to the investigation as Asa H. Coon. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because Coon's family was being notified. **How unethical of them. This could be on the Web and TV before the dead kid's family knows.... http://www.testycopyeditors.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8606&highlight=ethics Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  27. Pardon our puns? • San Antonio editor prohibits use of puns in headlines "I am prepared to take disciplinary action against our most senior headline writers and editors if my order is not respected. I do not want to be the editor of a newspaper where we limit the creative use of language ... I want even less to be the editor of a newspaper riddled with puns." -- Robert Rivard http://www.testycopyeditors.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6536&highlight=ethics Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  28. Quoting minors? • Post subject: Ethics of quoting a 10-year-old in a local newspaper (9/21/05) • Quote: "(Chhouk Rin) is sick at home. My mother is not at home. She went to Phnom Penh to buy medicine for him and herself," said Chhouk Ra, who is around 10 years old, by telephone from Phnom Voar. Chhouk Rin is a former Khmer Rouge commander who was recently found guilty of killing three backpackers in 1994. He's been hiding in the jungle for the past few months. So, he's an bad man who's been evading justice. But are there any ethical limits on calling up and interviewing a 10-year-old when no one else (at least healthy enough to talk) is at home? http://www.testycopyeditors.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5368&highlight=ethics Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  29. Auto-Correct feature gone awry • ‘Homosexual eases into 100 final at Olympic trials.’ • Per American Family Association’s OneNewsNow: ‘Tyson Homosexual easily won his semifinal for the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials and seemed to save something for the final later Sunday.’ http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/16044.html Lois Boynton, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Journalism & Mass Communication 2008

  30. Thanks!! • Questions? • Remarks? • Edits?

More Related