Just because you can,

should you?
Journalism Ethics &
Censorship
What are ethics?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethics
What are morals?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morals
 Are ethics like morals?
Morals Ethics
Principles or habits with respect to right
or wrong conduct. While morals also
prescribe dos and don'ts, morality is
ultimately a personal compass of right
and wrong.
Subjective, inexact, and passionate
Based on how you were raised
A lawyer believes that murder is morally
wrong and indefensible.
A journalist believes it is okay to fly on a
millionaire’s private jet to the BVIs to
write a story about the owner’s new
company.
https://www.diffen.com/difference/Ethics_vs_Morals
The rules of conduct recognized in
respect to a particular class of human
actions or a particular group or culture.
Objective, clear-cut, and impartial
Based on a defined set of rules and
guidelines
The same lawyer works as a defense
attorney and must defend a murderer
because she swore an oath that someone
is innocent until proven guilty.
The SPJ Code of Ethics states that
journalists must refuse gifts, favors,
fees, and free travel.
 SPJ Code of Ethics

⚫ Seek the truth

and report it
⚫ Minimize harm
⚫ Act
independently
⚫ Be accountable
and transparent
 Making Ethical
Journalistic Choices
 How do we apply ethics to
our work?
“The art of ethical decision making is as much
about the way we make decisions as it is about
what we decide … [ethics and ethical codes]
should be built to evolve alongside the needs of
the organization and the public it serves.”
-- NPR’s ethics handbook
 Ethical rationales

⚫ Utilitarian
Philosophy
⚪ “Greatest good
for the greatest
number.”
⚪ We must ask,
“Which decision
will benefit the
greatest number
of people?”
 Ethical rationales

⚫ The Golden Mean

⚪ When faced with two
extremes, finding a
compromise somewhere
in the middle.
⚪ We must ask, “What are
my options and what
would be a fair
compromise between
these options?”
Ethical rationales

⚫ Do No Harm
⚪ If a story may
potentially harm
someone innocent or
a source, we hold it
until that harm can
be mitigated.
⚪ We must ask, “Who
can be harmed by
this? Can we handle
being held
responsible for that
harm?”
Ethical rationales

⚫ The Public Interest

⚪ Infamously
complicated, because
“the public’s interest”
is hard to define.
⚪ This principle allows
reporting upon the
lives of public figures
because they can
affect people’s lives
with their decisions
and activities.
From the Abstract
To the Concrete
Example
Is there a rationale for running a story?

• Utilitarian Philosophy
• The Golden Mean
• Do No Harm
• The Public Interest
Example
Is there a rationale for running a story?

• Utilitarian Philosophy
• The Golden Mean
• Do No Harm
• The Public Interest
Example

Fox
News,
June
18,
2022
 What is the rationale for running
this story?

• Utilitarian Philosophy
• The Golden Mean
• Do No Harm
• The Public Interest
Example

Washington Post, May 15, 2017

 What is the rationale for running
this story?

• Utilitarian
Philosophy
• The Golden Mean
• Do No Harm
• The Public
Interest
What is the rationale for running
this story?

WSBTV.
com,
January
12, 2022
 What is the rationale
Case Study for running
this story?

• Utilitarian
Philosophy
• The Golden
Mean
• Do No Harm
• The Public
Interest
 Warning:

Graphic Image
Example

Richard Drew, Associated Press, 9/11/01

What would be the rationale for running
this photo?
• Utilitarian
Philosophy
• The Golden
Mean
• Do No Harm
• The Public
Interest "My job is to record history, and I record
history every day."
- Richard Drew
Censorship of
the press
 Censorship of the Press

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment

of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.”

-1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, 1789

 Censorship of the press

⚫ Government censorship of the press is illegal.

⚫ Self-censorship is prevalent both professionally and in
scholastic journalism.
⚫ High schools may be subject to administrative censorship
for “legitimate pedagogical concerns” (Hazelwood School
District vs. Kuhlmeier, 1988).
 High school censorship

Can your
publication be
censored?
Self-censorship

⚫ Ethical concerns
⚫ Corporate concerns
⚫ Relationship concerns
 Self-censorship:
what do you do?

⚫ Student reporters discover a popular young teacher was

arrested for a public drunkness and fleeing an officer
while on a college trip.
⚫ Teacher entered guilty plea and paid the mandatory fine.
⚫ Teacher has been at school for three years, and has been
a named Teacher of the Year by peers and Favorite
Teacher by students.
 Self-censorship:
what do you do?
⚫ Student reporters review district policy records, which
show school administrators have not properly conducted
safety drills on campus.
⚫ The policy indicates students report to the football
stadium during safety drills, whereas they have reported to
the front lawn.
⚫ The relatively new principal requests you to not report on
the issue because he inherited an old safety manual and
will be instituting proper protocols for the new school
year.
 Self-censorship:
what do you do?

⚫ Student reporters learn that the star softball pitcher – who

had a concussion in the previous game – has not been
cleared by a doctor to play in the upcoming playoff game.
⚫ HSA rules state a player must be cleared by a medical
official, but rarely enforces the rule.
⚫ The player, her parents and mutual friends plead with you
to not run the story.
⚫ The team has not been in the playoffs since 2002.
 The Student Press
Law Center
⚫ The SPLC is your friend!
⚪ It is an organization that advocates for
students’ rights to Free Speech.
⚫ You can email them at pubfellow@splc.org with your
request.
⚫ QUICK SPLC TIPS!
⚪ If your information is backed up and accurate and newsworthy,
you can legally print the names of minors
⚪ Public officials do not have the right to ban in-school
distribution of student publications
 Other resources

The following websites not only give advice on how to conduct when placed in
a questionable situation as a journalist, but they also give scenarios that can
help you to understand what precaution one may take before writing a story.
www.schooljournalism.org
www.studentpress.org
www.rcfp.org

Connect with your state university’s or local college’s journalism department.

In my experience, professors are glad to offer their wisdom for consultations
and guest speaking.

For any additional question you may have, refer to your staff’s
stylebook/manual.
 Self-censorship:
what do you do?

⚫ Student reporters discover a teacher has previously been

incarcerated for involuntary maritime manslaughter.
⚫ Teacher did a mandatory sentence of eight years in prison
after a boating accident during spring break his senior
year in high school.
⚫ Teacher has been at school for seven years, and has been a
named Teacher of the Year by peers and Favorite Teacher
by students.