Code of ethics in media


The code of ethics in media was created by a suggestion from the 1947 Hutchins Commission. They suggested that newspapers, broadcasters and journalists had started to become more responsible for journalism and thought they should be held accountable.

Original Guidelines

The guidelines were set up around two important ideas. The first guideline is that "whoever enjoys a special measure of freedom, like a professional journalist, has an obligation to society to use their freedoms and powers responsibly." This guideline is useful so that people in power are able to be held liable in case their actions are not professional. People that have high media attention should not abuse the power. The second guideline that was established is "society's welfare is paramount, more important than individual careers or even individual rights." Again, holding people responsible for their actions and stating that society is more important due to the vast number of people that could be affected by poor behavior.
The Hutchins Commission added another five guidelines specifically for the press.
  1. "Present meaningful news, accurate and separated from opinion".
  2. "Serve as a forum for the exchange of comment and criticism and to expand access to diverse points of view."
  3. "Project "a representative picture of the constituent groups in society" by avoiding stereotypes by including minority groups."
  4. "Clarify the goals and values of society; implicit was an appeal to avoid pandering to the lowest common denominator."
  5. "Give broad coverage of what was known about society".
All of these guidelines are important because the press is needed to maintain a neutral viewpoint, providing the basic facts and allowing for readers to come up with their own opinions from the news that they report.
These guidelines provide the frame work and inspiration for the Fourth Estate's and the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.

Fourth Estate: Journalism Code of Practice

The Fourth Estate offers a clear and detailed Code of Practice for anyone seeking to create ethical, principled journalism, regardless of their background, employment status, or means of delivery. This code is equally relevant for professional journalists and for those outside the profession who are seeking to report honestly and fairly on the events and issues relevant to their community.

Accuracy

Accuracy, moreso than exclusivity or timeliness, is the overriding value of journalism.
Independence from state control, business interests, market forces, or any other vested interest or outside pressure is a hallmark of dispassionate, critical, and reliable journalism. It bolsters legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the public.
Impartiality means not being prejudiced towards or against any particular ideology, idea, or preconception. Impartiality requires fairness and balance that follows the weight of evidence: it allows the journalist to make sense of events through dispassionate analysis of all relevant facts and perspectives.
Integrity in journalism ensures that people and organizations uphold the values of journalism, always strive to do the right thing in all situations, even to their personal or organizational detriment, and put their obligations to the public first.
Journalists must always remember that they are dealing with human lives. The potential for public good must sufficiently outweigh the potential for harm that may come from the activity of journalism.
Engagement with the public ensures that journalism remains open, accessible, collaborative, and participatory while keeping the journalist accountable to the highest standards of accuracy, independence, impartiality, and integrity.
Accountability is essential to the ethical practice of journalism and the maintenance of the public trust. Being accountable for news-gathering practices and reporting means making firm commitments and taking responsibility for your journalism and the journalism of your peers.

Society of Professional Journalists: Code of Ethics

The Society of Professional Journalists created a code of ethics that are in effect today. The main mantra of the code is "Seek truth and Report it!" The code also states that:
"Journalists should be honest, fair, and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting information. Journalists should: "
Minimize Harm
"Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects, and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect. Journalists should: "
Act Independently
"Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. Journalists should: "
Be Accountable
"Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers, and each other. Journalists should: "
All of these guidelines are for the betterment of society and regulation of media.