Journalistic Code of Ethics - BullShuster

In the aftermath of the David Shuster’s remark about Chelsea Clinton, it is time to look at the Journalistic Code of Ethics. It is amazing that our MSM bashes the lawyers of this country on a regular basis. They are on the hit list of many politicians and the press, even though almost all of the politicians are lawyers themselves.

What did the Bar Association do when the prosecutor in the Duke rape case was accused of withholding evidence? What did it do when Bill Clinton lied before a grand jury? It disbarred both of them, living up to its rules. No one is exempt from this code. This is one organization that takes its pledge seriously.

The journalists have a code of conduct that is really a waste of paper. Without some type of reprimand or punishment from society, what is the point of having the group at all? What penalty will Shuster, Matthews or Judith Miller get for violating this code? Can anyone point out an instance when the Society of Professional Journalists has condemned any of the reporters or pundits?

There is more than sufficient evidence that they were lap dogs for the White House and George Bush in the run up to war in Iraq. When the prosecutor of the Duke case violated his code of ethics, he was disbarred. Yet the journalists, who covered the same case, condemned the young men of Duke and declared that they were guilty. Not one of them has been called out by their own profession.

Maybe we should look at the Journalistic Code of Ethics. Keep track of the journalists that have faithfully executed this code. The number will be very low.

Society of Professional Journalists

- Seek Truth and Report It. Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

- Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.

- Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

- Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.

- Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.

- Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

- Never distort the content of news photos or video Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.

- Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.

- Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story— Never plagiarize.

- Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.

- Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.

- Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

- Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.

- Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

- Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

It is very difficult to find many in this profession that live up to its policy. Self-criticism among colleagues seems to be out of the question. It is time to applaud the Bar Association and remind this "do nothing" Society of Professional Journalists that it is not enforcing its own ethics.