Personal Code of Ethics

1.      Truth and credibility:

-“Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.”

 I must remember that a journalists’ first priority is to the truth, but they must also keep the public's best interest in mind. In class we called it "functional truth," which is required to help a community to do just that, function.

-“ Seek Truth and Report It.  Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.” –SPJ Code of Ethics

-So truth... isn't it about time? Shouldn't we as journalists try our hardest to always tell the truth.. the whole truth and nothing but the truth? The answer is yes.

-“Journalism is just piecing together facts,” which means that we as journalists need to find all the facts to create the whole picture.  This quote reminds me of a jigsaw puzzle, where all the pieces have to be found in order to create a good outcome.

2.      Public Service, giving a voice to the voiceless:

-“Where does discipline end? Where does cruelty begin? Somewhere between these, thousands of children inhabit a voiceless hell. “ Francois Mauriac

I took a Global issues class in college and learned just how many are left without a voice.  So many children and women and men are left to endure painful experiences without the hope of being heard.  This however, does not only happen in foreign countries, but in our very same communities.  A journalist can serve its public and bring that voice to the silent ones.

-“I am the voice of the voiceless:
Through me, the dumb shall speak;
Till the deaf world’s ear be made to hear
The cry of the wordless weak.” –Part of Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s poem

It’s time to help those in need.  Lift up the hands that hang down!

3.      Watchdog

-“Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.”

This goes along with the last point, but it’s one of my favorite parts of journalism.  We are paid to help protect those around us.  Without the media, people could get away with a lot of corruption.  Journalism is just an added degree of checks and balances. 

4.      Influence for good

-          Help others to take action, to make a difference.  Raise the banner or title of liberty!  Captain Moroni raised his banner and called together his people to rally for the cause of good.  The media is to provide a way and a means for people to also take action and make a difference.  Journalists have a great power to do good and influence others for good.  They can help those around them to see truth.

5.      Responsibility:

-Journalist must be accountable for their actions.  Checking the facts and sources allows real journalism to take place.  This also couples with influence for good because of this quote.

-“With great power comes great responsibility” – Stan Lee

-Help those help themselves, by taking the responsibility seriously.  Know that with the power that we have, we can make a great change, but it takes effort.  Journalism of verification requires checking and double checking your sources, quotes, facts, information, everything.  That is the ideal... don't report it just for the sake of reporting.

6.      Independent:

-“Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.”

-You are not in PR! (yet)  So don’t do anything that might show favor. In journalism, you are independent from all outside forces and influences.   We need to be able to report on what is necessary without feeling like we need to walk on eggshells so that people won't stop advertising with us. I understand and know that money makes the world go round, but money shouldn't have the power to cover-up corruption or facts.  It's important that we have people willing to stand up for things that are right just because it's the right thing to do.

7.      Teacher/Light bearer:

-“Give light and people will find their own way.”- Scripps

Public journalism leads to involvement and educates the community. Now is the time for journalist to do just that... to help the people!

-“In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work.  It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.”  ~Jacques Barzun

I think to think that journalists have this same effect.  Journalists can help people learn the truth and make decisions for themselves. In the end, if the journalists do their job, the community will be better off and learn make sound choices based on the facts provided, much like a teacher.

-“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”  ~Henry Brooks Adams
-“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.”  ~Author Unknown

All are good quotes to just simply put journalist in the place of teacher.  You as well can have this effect on others and make a difference in the world.

8.      Don’t compromise standards (Steadfast and immoveable, always abounding in good works)

-Stay true to who you are.  In a world of shifting values, it is important that you stand strong in what you believe and know to be true.  Don’t ever compromise who you really are just to get ahead or to have the better story.  Keep your head on your shoulders and stay close to your values.

-“The word “steadfast” is used to suggest fixed in position, solid and firm, unshaken and resolute (Oxford English Dictionary Online, 2nd ed. [1989], “Steadfast”). The word “immovable” is used to indicate that a person or thing is unalterable, firmly secured, and not subject to change. It also signifies the quality of being unyielding and incapable of being diverted from one’s purpose (Oxford English Dictionary Online, “Immovable”). Thus, a person who is steadfast and immovable is solid, firm, resolute, firmly secured, and incapable of being diverted from a primary purpose or mission.” –Elder Bednar

Journalism and faith

We believe.... From a young age we learn the articles of faith. These small declarations become and make up a lot of what we believe in the LDS church.  As our testimonies grow, the doctrines and teachings of the church become something much more than just beliefs, but they become who we are.

I remember in high school talking to my friends about my standards.  They didn't understand that I was who I was, because of my beliefs.  I think as reporters it's hard to get away from that, because our beliefs become who we are.  It's just as much a part of us as the color of our skin or where we come from.  It becomes a part of world view.  As discussed in class, it's pretty much impossible to remain objective.  I will most likely always have my LDS view and spin on the stories I report (whether I know it or not.)  It just happens. I like soft news and things that are happy.  Stories that draw families closer and leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling are what I would most like to tell.  Of course that isn't purely because of my beliefs, but it does play a large part in how I would report it and what I would report. I think for me, it would be extremely hard to report on something about the church in an objective way.  My beliefs are just too deep, as well as my loyalties.Testimony-of-the-Book-of-Mormon

The question was asked, "Why do you believe reporters often have difficulties reporting about religion and faith?"  Why?  Because a lot of times you don't understand what other religions believe, how deep the culture runs or why they are the way they are. Religion is a tricky subject because it's something people feel very passionately about, because it is so much apart of who they are. When people don't understand why we are doing something, then they put it in their point of view.  Make sense?  Since I don't know exactly what Buddhist believe, then it would make it hard for me to write about them accurately.  I liked what was said in class and in the books that we should let them define themselves. The whole proposition 8 thing was a good example of others not know how to report about Mormons. A quick google search of "prop 8 mormon" brings up these results. Mormons seemed to have been targeted and pick out compared to all others protesting and supporting prop 8.  There was even an anti-mormon documentary created called 8: The Mormon Proposition.

I think it's safe to say that when people don't understand, they can't report the facts, because they don't know them! Best option, find out as much as you can about a religion you are going to report on, then come with an open mind and allow them to define who they are.