Maintaining public trust in the practice of journalism should be a priority for all who are privileged to have a position in a newsroom. It is the foundation of the relationship between newsrooms and the public they serve. Doing so requires journalists to maintain objectivity, ethics, and fairness in reporting, which have become guideposts for formally trained journalists. Objectivity requires reporters to write and report the news without including their personal positions on topics. Reporters should also be transparent in their reporting and not intentionally or unintentionally deceive news consumers.
To avoid errors in reporting, many newsrooms expect multiple sources for stories to ensure accuracy (Barnas, 2013). Carelessness in reporting can lead to litigation. Papper (2015) wrote, “Journalism is neither rocket science nor brain surgery, but everyone needs to remember that people’s lives, livelihoods and reputations are at stake in virtually every story.”
The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has established a code of ethics for journalists that is designed to guide them toward ethical decision making. It includes recommendations for journalist such as prioritizing truth and accurate reporting, editorial independence, minimizing harm, and accepting accountability for the consequences of their role in society (“RTDNA Code of Ethics,” 2015). The Associated Press’ standards calls for journalist to avoid behaviors that create a conflict of interest regarding a journalist’s ability to report fairly; they also call for journalists to not misidentify or misrepresent themselves as they pursue a story (The Associated Press Stylebook, 2011).
