Chapter objectives

After reading this chapter, you should have an understanding of basic ethical issues and some knowledge of how to resolve ethical dilemmas. In particular, the chapter should help you with the following:

• Identifying individuals and groups who have a professional or public stake in journalism ethics

• Observing and understanding some of the ethical traditions of thought that might assist the working journalist with ethical decision-making

• Understanding professional standards in the context of the media practitioner’s present and future work environment

• Understanding the pressures that impact on ethical decision-making in a social and news context

This chapter is an introduction to dealing with ethical issues. Every day in every journalism class, and certainly every day in the newsroom, you will be confronted with decisions that require some degree of thinking about media ethics. Some are simple and straightforward; others may embroil you in hours, days or even weeks of discussion. Some may seem irresolvable. It can never hurt to invest some time reading a comprehensive book about journalism ethics.