Society of Professional Journalists
Code of Ethics
Preamble: Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe
that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation
of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by
seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events
and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties
strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional
integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members
of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this
code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting
and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
• Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise
care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
• Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the
opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
• Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to
as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
• Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity.
Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information.
Keep promises.
• Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material,
photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent.
They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
• Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement
for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo
illustrations.
• Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment
is necessary to tell a story, label it.
• Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering
information except when traditional open methods will not yield information
vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part
of the story
• Never plagiarize.
• Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience
boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
• Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values
on others.
• Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity,
geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social
status.
• Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
• Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources
of information can be equally valid.
• Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and
commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
• Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur
the lines between the two.
• Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business
is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human
beings deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news
coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced
sources or subjects.
• Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs
of those affected by tragedy or grief.
• Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause
harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
• Recognize that private people have a greater right to control
information about themselves than do public officials and others who
seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can
justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
• Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
• Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of
sex crimes.
• Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal
filing of charges.
• Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the
public’s right to be informed.
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than
the public's right to know.
Journalists should:
• Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
• Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise
integrity or damage credibility.
• Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment,
and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office
and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic
integrity.
• Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
• Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
• Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and
resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
• Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money;
avoid bidding for news.
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and
each other.
Journalists should:
• Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the
public over journalistic conduct.
• Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
• Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
• Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of writers,
editors and other news professionals. The present version of the code
was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months of study
and debate among the Society's members.
Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American
Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote
its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996. Ethics Resources;
Ethics Code; Ethics News; Ethics Hotline; SPJ Ethics Listserv; Other
Ethics Sources; SPJ Ethics Committee; Ethics Week
