Week 9 Ethics Assignment

http://www.spj.org/ethics_code.asp

Can I find an example of any of the Society for Professional Journalists Ethics Code being violated? Let me count the ways....


Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.

Staged news events? How about during Hurricane Katrina coverage last fall, there was a reporter covering the aftermath of the flooding. She was sitting in a boat, floating on the flood waters. Your heart would go out to anyone caught in such a flood. Just as she finished her report on network tv, you see two men walk past her wearing waders. The water was only about two feet deep, but you sure wouldn't have known that if those men hadn't walked by, because she staged the picture so that she appeared to be in floodwaters that were deep enough for her to have to be in a boat.


Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.

This one is a "two-fer", one example that covers violating two principles of the code, both in the same story. Does the name Dan Rather (anchor of CBS Evening News) ring a bell here? His relentless pursuit of a "gotcha" story about President Bush on the already old news (and discredited old news at that) about Mr. Bush's supposedly scandalous service with the National Guard is an outstanding example of Dan Rather not only not holding himself to the same high standards he expected from others by running with a story with questionable sources, but then, when it was obvious to virtually the entire viewing public that he had wittingly or unwittingly been hoodwinked, not admitting his mistake promptly.


Never distort the content of news photos or video.Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.


Do you remember seeing this photo of Condaleeza Rice a couple months ago? It was NOT labelled as retouched when it was originally published. ( the bottom picture is the unretouched version) After an outcry about how it made Ms. Rice appear "demonic", they did admit it was retouched, but supposedly only for improvement. I wonder how many people would consider it an improvement to look demonic in a photo?