At its September meeting, the SPJ DC board got a briefing from Kevin Z. Smith, past SPJ president, past chairman of 2014 Code revision committee, and 1996 Code revision committee participant, took time to explain the process the revision committee went through and why the SPJ thought it was time for the Code to be updated.
The changes are an attempt to address the changing media environment, Smith said.
“We wanted to make sure that if you are going to engage in journalism that whether you’re a social media influencer or you’re working for the Washington Post, that these are the principles that we aspire to, and these are the things that make journalists ethical, credible, trustworthy.”
Smith added that because the SPJ did away with a delegate-voting system, all members will be able to vote on the changes.
Ballots will be sent out Oct. 1 to all SPJ members.
The SPJ has a full page set aside for discussion about the changes.
Below is Smith’s discussion with the board.