Sports Journalism

Ethical Issues

Morgan Toal
28 February 2022
SLA 400 75
Actual Code of Ethics
1. The newspaper pays its staffer’s way for travel, accommodations, food and drink.
2. Editors and reporters should avoid taking part in outside activities or employment that might create conflict of
interest or even appearance of a conflict.
3. Writers and writers’ groups should adhere to APME and APSE standards: No deals, discounts or gifts except those
of insignificant value or those available to the public.
4. A newspaper should not accept free tickets, although press credentials needed for coverage and coordination are
acceptable.
5. A newspaper should carefully consider the implications of voting for all awards and all-star teams and decide if
such voting creates a conflict of interest.
6. A newspaper’s own ethical guidelines should be followed, and editors and reporters should be aware of standards
acceptable for use of unnamed sources and verification of information obtained other than from primary news
source
7. Assignments should be made on merit, without regard for race or gender.
Ethical Issue in Sports Journalism

❖ Lack of people working in women’s sports

❖ “Slow progress continues for women in US sports media” (US Sports)
➢ “... women account for less than one in five among Associated Press Sports Editors
(APSE) newsroom members, which represents sports departments in some of the
nation’s largest newsrooms”.
How will this Impact my Future?

❖ If things continue to stay the same…

➢ Scared that I will not have a true future in this vocation
➢ Hard to get a job or stay at that job
❖ If things change…
➢ Women in journalism will become more popular
➢ Less jobs but greater opportunities
Catholic Social Teaching

❖ Rights and Responsibilities

➢ “human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if
human rights are protected and responsibilities are met”
❖ Proverbs 31: 8-9
➢ “open your mouth to speak on behalf of those in need”
 Articles

“Facing the Challenges of 2021:

Women’s Sports Journalists
Worldwide Speak Out”

“Panel Highlights Challenges

for Women Journalists as Report
Shows Rise in Threats”
Articles

“43 Years After

Melissa Ludtke,
Female Sports
Journalists Face the
Same Treatment”
ROLE PLAY
OPPOSING ROLE PLAY
❖ Be the change
➢ Assignments SHOULD be made on merit,
without regard of race or gender.
❖ Speak out for those who need it, even if you
don't.
What I learned

❖ I have a voice.
❖ I have the right to speak out for myself and others.
➢ Speaking out can be difficult.
Resource Page
“Associated Press Sports Editors: Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) Ethics Guidelines.” Accountable Journalism,
https://accountablejournalism.org/ethics-codes/associated-press-sports-editors-apse-ethics-guidelines.

Blatt, Jessica. “Panel Highlights Challenges for Women Journalists as Report Shows Rise in Threats.” VOA, Panel Highlights Challenges for Women
Journalists as Report Shows Rise in Threats, 2 June 2021, https://www.voanews.com/a/press-freedom_panel-highlights-challenges-women-journalists-
report-shows-rise-threats/6206530.html.

Friday, Lucas Aykroyd |. “Women's Sports Journalists Worldwide Speak Out.” Global Sport Matters, 9 Apr. 2021,
https://globalsportmatters.com/business/2021/04/09/womens-sports-journalists-worldwide-speak-out-stereotypes-opportunities/.

Friday, Paola Boivin |. “43 Years after Melissa Ludtke, Female Sports Journalists Face the Same Treatment.” Global Sport Matters, 12 Mar. 2021,
https://globalsportmatters.com/culture/2021/03/12/43-years-after-melissa-ludtke-female-sports-journalists-face-the-same-treatment/.

“Slow Progress Continues for Women in US Sports Media.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 5 Feb. 2022,
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/feb/05/slow-progress-continues-for-women-in-us-sports-media.