Week Nine: Is it legal? Is it ethical? Is it in the public interest? Or is the public just interested?

This week’s seminars focused on the potential legal and ethical implications for journalists. Many hairy hypothetical scenarios were concocted and we were asked, as budding journalists, what we do?

While journalists are bound by the internal codes of the organisation they work for and the Australian Journalists Association code of ethics, it was suggested that a journalist’s guiding principal should be the public interest. But, as we’ve learnt in previous seminars, is the question what’s in the public interest, or what’s the public interested in? According to Pearson (2001, p. 212) the public interest is, in this case served in two ways: “in the judicial process being publicised and in it being allowed to operate unhindered.” It’s imperative that a journalist does two things: separates fact from opinion and strives for accuracy in their reporting.

(Image sourced from: http://weblogs.jomc.unc.edu/talkingbiznews/?p=4463)

We also concluded that what’s ethical and what’s legal are sometimes two different things. For example, while it’s legal for a journalist to accept gifts off someone they’re reporting on, or reviewing, it may not always be ethical. Therefore journalists must combine a solid knowledge of the legal frameworks they operate within and those most applicable to them (defamation, contempt and freedom of information), with personal morality.

This point is especially relevant considering the modern media landscape. With globalised media, journalists must be aware that while something may not be against the law in the state or country it’s originally published it, it may be illegal in other countries. As so many news articles are published online, this poses serious implications for journalists.

Since the beginning of semester we’ve looked at the changing face of journalism and this week was no exception. While journalists don’t have separate rights from ‘everyday’ citizens, they have responsibilities in their work (Pearson, 2001, p. 212). Only when journalists accept a transparent and accountable work mode, that’s acknowledged internationally, can the evolving role of the journalist be truly recognised (Breit, 2001, p. 229).

References:

Australian News Commentary. (2010). Australian journalists code of ethics. Retrieved 23 September. 2010, from http://www.australian-news.com.au/codethics.htm

Talking Biz news. (2008). Business journalism ethics questions << Talking Biz News. Retrieved 23 September, 2010, from http://weblogs.jomc.unc.edu/talkingbiznews/?p=4463

Tapsall, S. & Varley, C. (2001). Journalism: Theory in Practice. South Melbourne: Oxford.