Unit 3. Code of ethics and ethical principles

Lead-in:

Ø Paraphrase the quotations. Which do you agree with? Why? Why not? Use the table below to discuss in pairs.

“In law a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.”

“Ethics, as has been well said, are the finest fruits of humanity, but they are not its roots...”

“There is a hole in the moral ozone and it is getting bigger.”

“If you saw a man drowning and you could save him or photograph the event... what kind of film would you use?”

“Being a reporter is as much a diagnosis as a job description.”

Express opinions	Asking for opinion	Agreeing	Disagreeing
In my opinion...; I believe...; To my mind...; To me...	What do you think of...?; What’s your opinion of...?; How do you feel about...?; Don’t you agree...?	I partly agree...; That’s true...; I couldn’t agree more...; I quite understand what you mean by...	I don’t feel...; I see what you mean, but...; Perhaps you’re right, but on the other hand...; I can’t bear/can’t stand...

Ø As you know the press is free. But with rights come responsibilities. For journalists, the most basic responsibility in a free society is to report the news accurately and fairly: to practice ethical journalism. What associations do you have when you hear “ethical journalism”? Try to formulate your own definition of the term “ethics”.

Ø Compare your definition with one which is stated by independent journalists.

“Ethics is a system of principles that guides action. While the law establishes what you can and cannot do in a given situation, ethics tells you what you should do. It is based on values – personal, professional, social, and moral – and springs from reasoning. Ethical decision-making simply means applying these values in your daily work.”

Ø Ethical lapses do occur in journalism. Can you prove it by your own instances? Who suffers when journalists behave unethically?

I. The society of Professional Journalists articulated the Code of ethics. Consult Appendix1. What are the key reasons of the code adoption?

II. Can you name some basic qualities which help separate the good writers from the con artists?

For example: Be honest with your readers and transparent about your work. If people wonder for a moment about your honesty or your motives, you've lost credibility with them. Don’t let them do that. Answer those questions even before readers ask. And most important is to never utilize your power of press for personal gains or simply annoying someone.

1. Skim the extract and check your answers.

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