Journalism's Forgotten Code

Carolyn
Apr 10, 2021
6 min read

Updated: Apr 11, 2021

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I used to be a journalist. I didn’t plan it that way. After college and graduate school, I thought I was headed for advertising, but my efforts to find a place in the fast and furious ad world didn’t pan out. I finally landed a job as News Director at a capital city radio station. The learning curve was rather steep, but my Grandpa had been a TV news anchorman back in the day, so I figured the news was in my blood. Besides, I was young and foolish enough to think I could do anything I put my mind to. And I succeeded. Our station developed a strong morning drive news presence, and during my tenure, we won numerous state and regional news awards. I also spent a year as president of the local professional journalists’ organization. For me and my fellow journalists, the concept of professional ethics was near and dear to our hearts. We felt a responsibility to the truth, to objectivity, and to the public.

That’s the backstory. I know from personal experience that professional journalists, whether in print or broadcasting, used to have – and still have, believe it or not – a very specific code of ethics. Why? Because writers and broadcasters of information hold positions of public trust. My newsman grandfather always spoke rather solemnly of the public trust, and of the importance of conveying stories clearly and accurately.

Today our country is divided in so many ways, and I would assert that much of the harm done is a direct result of the failure of news organizations and other media outlets to follow basic ethical and professional practices. The responsibility falls on us as well, though. As consumers of information, we should be responsible to sift what we read and hear, to determine its truthfulness and value for ourselves, so we can decide how to act. Our failure to use discernment in consuming media – including social media – is causing us and our nation a lot of heartache. First, because we’re not keeping the media accountable for the lies they tell, and second, because our silence allows the divisive lies to continue, increasing their power.

Back to journalism fundamentals. In 1973, the national convention of The Society of Professional Journalists laid out its Code of Ethics, which began with the assertion that “the duty of journalists is to serve the truth”, and goes on to outline the main tenets of journalism: “We believe the agencies of mass communication are carriers of public discussion and information, acting on their Constitutional mandate and freedom to learn and report the facts.

We believe in public enlightenment as the forerunner of justice, and in our Constitutional role to seek the truth as part of the public’s right to know the truth.

We believe those responsibilities carry obligations that require journalists to perform with intelligence, objectivity, accuracy, and fairness.”

The 1973 journalists’ Code of Ethics included news media’s responsibility to inform the public, while making sure that there is a clear distinction between opinion and fact. Other journalism values included Freedom of the Press, Accuracy and Objectivity, and Fair Play, which respects the dignity and privacy of sources and people they cover. They also promise to correct errors promptly, and encourage the public to voice its grievances against the media.

I’m sure you can pinpoint ways in which the reporters and broadcasters of today have broken faith with their code and with the public.

The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics was updated in 1996, and contains much of the same information, although it’s much more, shall we say, “socially conscious”. In other words, more space is taken up ensuring that reporters honor the feelings of people they cover, in addition to their privacy. Reporters should have “compassion” for their subjects. Stereotyping by age, race, or gender is discouraged. Efforts should also be made to “give voice to the voiceless.” These adjustments to the journalists’ code highlight even more dramatically the ethical shortcomings of many news reporters today. How often have you seen reporters acting rudely, disrespectfully, or insensitively towards someone, because they obviously disagree with him or her? That behavior is a direct violation of the revised code of ethics, which also says, “Deliberate distortion is never permissible”. Hm. And get this: Journalists are supposed to “be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable”. Not just the ones you dislike, boys and girls. Finally, journalists are supposed to “be accountable”- to us. Their readers and listeners and watchers. Do you get the feeling that TV, radio, and Internet journalists are working for the public good these days? Or that they care about reporting truth? Covering all sides of an issue? Too often not.

We – the public – don’t have time or resources to ferret out all the facts, so we do depend on reporters and broadcasters to do it for us. Unfortunately, most of us fail to hold our reporters accountable for the quality or truthfulness of their stories. We may assume that anything that’s printed, or broadcast, or on the internet must be true. Of course, that’s baloney. Always has been. It has never been safe to assume the accuracy of what you read and hear. But now, it seems the stakes are rather higher, because the people’s lack of willingness to hold reporters’ feet to the fire is resulting in the spread of lies that endanger our freedoms and undermine our republic.

Now, we have to admit that in this information overload culture, many, if not most of those who report are not trained journalists, and most probably don’t even know there’s such a thing as a professional code of ethics. Too bad many of them don’t seem to have a personal code of ethics, either. How many of our Internet “news” writers are sitting in the basement of their parents’ home writing for clicks on some blog or special interest Web site? Frankly, even the high-profile news people are letting us down these days. Well, this is where you come in. You and your sharp intellect. Can you figure out who is the real thing and who isn’t? Can you take the time to follow up on a story, find the reliable outlets, check the facts?

You and I aren’t the only ones asking, “What’s happening to journalism?” The question has been top of mind for liberals and conservatives alike since Donald Trump was elected in 2016, when it was the Democrats who were questioning election results. Given the universal cry for media fairness, here is an excellent piece of advice from journalism professor Paul Glader, quoted in Forbes Magazine in 2017:

“I would urge citizens to subscribe to their local newspapers as well. This action helps these organizations employ journalists who attend city hall meetings, school board meetings and police precincts to report on how your tax-dollars are being spent, how your constitutional rights are being safeguarded, and to serve as watch dogs on how well your elected officials are serving you.”

It is really about the money. Big media outlets are paid for by big (mostly liberal) corporations, so these companies control the narrative. Most of us have no influence there, except to stop consuming what they're selling. But if we support our local radio stations and newspapers, we can demand ethical journalism in our own backyards. It's a place to start, anyway.

So don’t get alarmed or depressed because you read something on Twitter or saw it on CBS or Fox. Don't believe everything the media hands you. Assume that most reporters today - or their bosses - have an agenda, but rejoice when you find one that doesn't. Get a second opinion. Find outlets that you believe are reliable. Support your local media and hold them accountable. And take it all with a grain of salt. It seems that everyone nowadays has an axe to grind. Real journalists shouldn’t. At least, their grinding axes shouldn’t show up in their news reporting.

Ultimately, if it’s truth you’re looking for, the world’s version is a shadow at best. Real, life-giving truth is always found in God’s Word. In fact, there is no code of ethics in our country – or code of law, for that matter – that doesn’t have its basis in the Bible. So when you’re baffled by the sound and fury, find a quiet place and see what God has to say about things that matter.

Here is a godly code of ethics from Psalm 15 (NIV):

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

2 The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3 whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.