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Journalism Ethics: The Global Debate What’s the Kantian going to say? ‘No.’ The Kantian basically is going to say, ‘If you do this, what you’re saying is that you want everybody in the world to do what you’re just about to do.’ And there goes the whole sense of civility, the whole sense of politeness, the whole sense of caring, the whole idea of lining up in queues and taking your place and being orderly in a society. All of society turns into a kind of a glorified soccer brawl if you head down this direction. The Kantian says, ‘No way.’ The utilitarian says, ‘Of course.’” Another term, commonly used in Latin American ethics courses, to describe Kant’s approach is deontological ethics, that is, ethics based not on consequences but on deon, the Greek word meaning “duty.” The Golden Rule, or Reversibility The principle that you should “do to others as you would have them do to you” is at the center of all major religions. “It is probably the ethical principle that more people have used more frequently in the history of the world than any other,” Kidder said. It comes down to putting yourself in another’s place, reversing one’s role. The Golden Rule is often referred to as a “care-based” approach. The most difficult aspect of the carebased approach is defining who is the “other,” in whose place should you put yourself. Most ethical dilemmas involve multiple actors. Putting yourself in others’ shoes often involves seeing the problem from several perspectives. Once you have explored these various perspectives, you can decide which action constitutes what Dr. Kidder calls “the highest sense of caring.” In the newsroom, ethical problems typically produce an impasse between those who say, “Be realistic, we have a deadline and readers to serve,” and those who say, “Darn it, there is a principle at stake here.” It is at that impasse where the real ethical work begins. To use an earlier example, the golden rule approach would require one to consider both the feelings of the family and the interests of society before publishing a story with the tragic details of the relative’s death. More than simply a cost-benefit analysis, this approach would weigh the human value of each perspective. Even if all of society reaps entertainment benefits from publishing the story, the golden rule ethicist would argue that care for the emotional impact to the victim’s family would preclude publishing. Only if publishing entailed important social benefits to the community—and one could imagine oneself as a member of the victim’s family and still appreciate the value of publishing— would a golden rule ethicist then favor publishing the story. The three ethical approaches do not constitute a “little black box,” into which you can put your dilemmas, turn the crank and have a solution pop out. Ethical decision making, Kidder says, International Center for Journalists
Journalism Ethics involves complex thinking, and it is almost always hard work. In the newsroom, ethical problems typically produce an impasse between those who say, “Be realistic, we have a deadline and readers to serve,” and those who say, “Darn it, there is a principle at stake here.” It is at that impasse where the real ethical work begins. 15
Page 1 and 2: Journalism Ethics The Global Debate
Page 3 and 4: Contents 5 Introduction 11 A Global
Page 5 and 6: Introduction Introduction Journalis
Page 7 and 8: Introduction constitutional governm
Page 9 and 10: Introduction
Page 11 and 12: Journalism Ethics Journalism Ethics
Page 13: Journalism Ethics the fewest prejud
Page 17 and 18: Newsroom Decision Making Newsroom D
Page 19 and 20: Newsroom Decision Making Together,
Page 21 and 22: Newsroom Decision Making The stakeh
Page 23 and 24: Newsroom Decision Making
Page 25 and 26: Case Studies: Freedom and Responsib
Page 49 and 50: Case Studies: Accuracy and Fairness
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Case Studies:: Independence 4. Shou
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Final Notes While ethical discussio
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Appendices • Avoid misleading ree
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Appendices 85
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Appendices Appendix C Ethics Resour
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