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Case Studies: Accuracy and Fairness
Case Studies
Accuracy and Fairness
Journalists’ first duty is to seek truth and report it completely and fairly. This is a
rigorous journalistic standard: the journalist must decide honestly and ethically
whether the facts he or she has gathered amount to a fair and accurate picture of
reality or, to the contrary, will mislead, distort and perhaps unfairly malign those
about whom he or she reports.
These are sometimes the toughest judgments journalists must make. The values
of accuracy and fairness define the precise intersection where journalistic ethics
meets the professional standards that guide a reporter’s day-to-day work. The
range of issues includes judging the reliability of sources, confirming facts, use of
deceptive methods, and decisions on deadline.
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