Prompt #2- Journalists Ethics

The code of ethics for journalism are ones that should be followed in order to attract the most viewers and also to keep credibility for yourself. Society of Professional Journalists states what these codes of ethics are. I relate to these ethics very much, more than I thought I would. For example:

1. "Take responsibility for the accuracy of your work." I agree with this very much because I try to be responsible for everything I do.
2. "Be cautious when making promises, but keep the promises they make." This, too, I try to follow because I must, as a person and professional, stay true to everything I say.
3. "Never plagiarize. Always attribute." Say what you think and not what others do is something I stick by.

I don't really think people know these ethics. I think they know the common ethics like "don't lie," "speak the truth," and "don't plagiarize." I don't believe they know, according to the website, that journalists have to "avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived" as well as "consider the long-term implications of the extended reach and permanence of publication."

People, in my opinion, don't believe we follow all these ethics that has been told. I believe they think journalists work to just tell a story and don't follow all of the other guidelines they must. There are a lot of "rules" journalists must live by and people hardly believe that they do so. I don't think they know journalists must "show compassion for those who may be affected by news coverage." For example, when it comes to broadcasting the Black Lives Matter movement, people probably think they tell the story to make the victim sound bad, but the journalist has to address the topic with the news they received while also incorporating the emotions they have on the situation. 

These ethics can help me work harder to get to the professional level I want to be at. I can work as hard as I can to follow these rules and be a good journalist as well as try and keep the truth this job requires. 

By Tony Black