Posted 9:37 AM by Gene

And since ST. WARREN'S RAG must mention it:

Preamble

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.

Seek Truth and Report It

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible. [This clause has since been repealed by "Fake, But Accurate."]
— 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. [This clause has since been repealed by Woodstein and The Paper of Re-CORD.]
— 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. [This clause has since been repealed by local TV news shows.]
— Never distort the content of news photos or video. [This clause has since been repealed by Reuters.] 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. [This clause has since been repealed by NBC Dateline.]
— 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. [This clause has since been repealed by Jayson Blair.]
— 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. [This clause has been repealed by LOONEY-RIGHT BIGOTED NAZI CONSERVATIVES, REPUBLICANS AND CHRISTIANS.]
— 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. [This clause has since been repealed by THE LORD GOD PINCH.]
— Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. [This clause has since been repealed by Dan Rather.] Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context. [This clause has since been repealed by The Paper of Re-CORD and The Washington Post.]
— Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two. [This clause has since been repealed by Al Neuharth.]
— Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection. [This clause does not apply to the news industry, or any industry related thereto.]

Minimize Harm
[This clause has since been repealed by Bill Keller.]

Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

— Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
— Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
— Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance. [This clause has since been repealed by Ben Bradlee, with additional repealing by Howell Raines.]
— Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
— Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. [This clause has since been repealed by celebrity news gatherers.]
— Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
— Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
— Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.

Act Independently
[This clause was repealed when it was discovered reporters emit as much methane as cows.]

Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. [This clause has since been repealed by SYNERGY.]

Journalists should:

— Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. [This clause has since been repealed by every show-biz reporter in America.]
— Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
— Disclose unavoidable conflicts. [This clause has since been repealed by Howie Hairshirt and Roger Ebert.]
— Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. [This clause is not applicable when Democrats are in power.]
— Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage. [This clause has since been repealed by REALTORS®.]
— Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news. [This clause has since been repealed by People Magazine.]

Be Accountable

Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other. [This clause has since been repealed by Byron Calame.]

Journalists should:

— Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
— Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
— Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
— Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
— Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of
writers, editors and other news professionals. The present version of
the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months
of study and debate among the Society's members.

Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the
American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi
wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996.

Never a day goes by that news hacks prove they can do without a code of ethics.