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Click on image to go to Author website. "THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT." Eccl. 9:11

Sunday 19 April 2015

Journalism & Points Of Ethics By Whistleblowers Against Fraud

By Bob Oliver


It doesn't matter of a journalist works in television, print, or digital media. As anyone in Whistleblowers Against Fraud can tell you, there are clear codes of ethics which must not only be recognized but abided by as well. What do these ethics entail, though? What, exactly, are the rules which these men and women must follow over the course of time? If you want to go into detail about this particular venture, here are a few points to consider.

One of the biggest points of journalism ethics, according to companies like Whistleblowers Against Fraud, is accuracy. Let's say that you are reporting on a development in the government; you're not going to want to speak badly of someone in power, seeing as how this can come across as libel. Accuracy, as you can very well imagine, matters in the realm of reporting. The more accuracy there is, as you can very well imagine, the less of a concern whistleblowers will have.

Ethics in journalism must also account for sensitivity. This is especially true when you consider that certain reports may cover the death of celebrities and other prominent figures in the mainstream. Journalists may request interviews, or even photographs, but there is a sense of tact to consider as well. As a journalist, if you prove to be sensitive and not intrude on trying times for friends and family members, you'll be that much more effective when adhering to ethics.

What if you report on a story, only to find that certain parts were incorrect? You have to be able to admit your wrongdoing, in addition to correct the story in question. Believe it or not, there are quite a few journalists who fail to do this, since they have the belief that correcting themselves will be detrimental to their pride. I would argue, though, that offering retractions or edits will only help to make these individuals that much better at their craft.

Ethics in journalism matter, which goes without saying. Without them, it's easy to imagine that truthful stories will not be as prominent, regardless of the type of interests being discussed. If you see that continuous corrupt reporting is being carried out, it's your duty as a whistleblower to take care of such things. When this is done, it's easy to see that ethics are much more important than those on the outside might have given them credit for.




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