Nelly Bassily | March 11, 2013
Journalists and other members of the media often encounter ethical dilemmas when reporting on stories in their communities. For example: Do individuals in public service lose their right to a private life? Do the ends of reporting justify the means used to get the information? At what point do you lose your independence as a journalist?
These are important questions for any newsroom, and the reason why the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) created the manual: Journalism Ethics: A Global Debate.
This manual shares stories from journalists working in the field around the world in order to provide a practical framework for making ethical decisions on a deadline. Journalists and media managers are encouraged to think and talk about ethical issues in the workplace, in order to develop ethical standards that fit their needs and circumstances.
The manual begins by establishing a framework for dealing with ethical dilemmas in the workplace, then considers specific case studies. Each case study offers a glimpse into how members of the media dealt with ethical reporting issues and what lessons they learned. Case study topics include freedom and responsibility, accuracy and fairness, and maintaining independence in journalism. After each case study, the manual asks you to consider what you would do differently if you were in that situation.
Find a copy of the manual by visiting:
http://www.icfj.org/resources/journalism-ethics-global-debate-0