The Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee has just released proposed revisions to the SPJ Code of Ethics, and SPJ needs your feedback! The goal: Respect and protect the world’s most recognized media ethics code as journalism grapples with AI, new types of news practitioners and the spread of mis/disinformation (across parties).
View the project report & visit the proposed Code revision website.
Code feedback will be accepted and considered until Sept. 14 in anticipation of a late-September SPJ Board of Directors vote and, pending the board’s approval, an online member vote Oct. 1-4.
Share suggestions with this online form; by registering for the last of three listening sessions — at 4 p.m. EDT Aug. 28; or by emailing ethics@spj.org.
The proposed revisions emphasize:
- the character and responsibilities of ethical journalists, including curiosity,
conscientiousness, compassion and humility; - verification, accuracy, accountability and transparency, regardless of the
technology used to produce journalism; - challenging misinformation, disinformation and demonstrably false information;
- recognizing how power and marginalization can affect the voices represented in
journalism; - making diligent efforts to reach people accused of wrongdoing, respecting the
presumption of innocence in criminal cases and reporting sensitively about
victims of sexual crimes; - relying on facts and good-faith arguments in news and opinion journalism;
- representing viewpoints journalists may find objectionable while avoiding the
uncritical amplification of hateful content; - avoiding fabricated content that could reasonably be mistaken for reality;
- identifying sources whenever possible, using anonymity and confidentiality judiciously, and providing audiences with information that helps them assess sources’ motives;
- examining how journalists’ personal values and experiences can influence their work.
SPJ President Chris R. Vaccaro‘s vision and support have been critical, along with the open-mindedness and candor of SPJ Vice President Nicole DeCriscio Bowe and the SPJ’s board’s good stewardship.
The need for strong guidelines for ethical, high-quality journalism is uniting the field. This year’s SPJ Ethics Committee members include Josh Hinkle, president of Investigative Reporters and Editors, Blaise Labbe, chair-elect of Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), NAHJ (National Association of Hispanic Journalists) secretary Jackie Padilla, and Sia Nyorkor, parliamentarian of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
Liz Skalka‘s Columbia Journalism Review feature can be found here. A news release is here & this article explains more about the nearly yearlong project.