Mark your calendar for the evening of Monday, April 21!
The DC SPJ Pro Chapter is teaming up with the National Press Club to observe SPJ’s National Ethics Week with a special program, “The Blogging Balancing Act.”
The program will be held at the National Press Club.
Admission is free.
This program is being helped by a ethics special grant from SPJ.
Increasingly, journalists are being asked to contribute to some kind of blog for their news operations. In some cases, they write about issues completely unrelated to the people and topics they cover. But many write specifically about the topics and people they cover every day. And, in some cases, they take on the role of advocate and critic.
To many, that poses a very real ethical dilemma.
Journalists are supposed to be “dispassionate” in the way they cover their stories.
If, by writing on the blogs, reporter indicate their personal feelings about the story–or their personal interpretation of events–it seems to cross the line between reporter and commentator. Their “independence” could easily be compromised.
How, too, do reporters say no when a news organization says blogging is to be a part of their regular duties?
What are the implications?
And, taking it one step further, suppose a reporter has a page on a social network like myspace.com or, perhaps, facebook.com where personal political and social views or pictures are posted.
How appropriate is that…especially if the info could leave the journalist’s independence open to question?
You’re invited to join in the discussion on these and other related topics.
SPJ and the National Press Club are now in the process of finalizing panelists for the program.
Be watching for more details and your E-vite to this event!
Remember, National Ethics week runs from April 21-27.
For more information check out the SPJ web site.
