The Ethical Journalist (eBook)

Gene Foreman spent more than half a century in journalism - 41 years as a reporter and editor and nine years as a teacher in the College of Communications at Pennsylvania State University, USA. He climaxed his newsroom career with 25 years as managing editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, a period in which Inquirer staff members won 18 Pulitzer Prizes. Retiring in 1998, he joined the Penn State faculty. As the inaugural Larry and Ellen Foster Professor, he taught courses in journalism ethics and news editing. Since retiring from full-time teaching in 2006, he has continued as a visiting professor at Penn State. He coaches writing students and directs the Foster-Foreman Conference of Distinguished Writers, which has attracted more than 40 Pulitzer winners. In 2003, Foreman received two awards for excellence in teaching in the College of Communications, the Deans' Award and the Alumni Society Award. In 2013, the Alumni Society gave him its first Douglas A. Anderson Contributor Award in recognition of his work on behalf of the College and its students. In retirement, Foreman has also served distinguished visiting professorships at the University of Arkansas and Washington and Lee University. He was president of the Associated Press Managing Editors in 1990 and board member of the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1992-95.

Foreword: Journalism Genes xvii

Preface xix

Acknowledgments xxi

Part I: A Foundation for Making Ethical Decisions 1

1 Why Ethics Matters in Journalism 3

2 Ethics, the Bedrock of a Society 15

3 The News Media's Role in Society 23

4 For Journalists, a Clash of Moral Duties 39

5 The Public and the Media: Love and Hate 58

6 Applying Four Classic Theories of Ethics 78

7 Using a Code of Ethics as a Decision Tool 89

8 Making Moral Decisions You Can Defend 116

Part II: Exploring Themes of Ethics Issues in Journalism 131

9 Stolen Words, Invented Facts ... or Worse 133

10 Conflicts of Interest: Appearances Count 151

11 The Business of Producing Journalism 174

12 Getting the Story Right and Being Fair 194

13 Dealing with Sources of Information 223

14 Making News Decisions about Privacy 241

15 Making News Decisions about Taste 268

16 Deception, a Controversial Reporting Tool 284

17 Covering a Diverse, Multicultural Society 306

18 Ethics Issues Specific to Digital Journalism 329

19 Ethics Issues Specific to Visual Journalism 349

20 Some Thoughts to Take with You 374

Glossary 377

Index 382

"Gene Foreman seamlessly mixes theory, applied rules and powerful case studies in ways that are both relevant and easily understandable. And the new edition smartly incorporates ethical dilemmas facing journalists in the digital age."
Christopher Callahan, Dean and Professor, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University

"Gene Foreman is a revered American editor who has long been a standard-bearer for ethics in journalism. In this book he uses both practical and philosophical approaches to relate time-tested core values to the digital age. I can't think of anyone better suited to help contemporary journalists and students of the profession set their compasses as they navigate a torrent of change."
Diane McFarlin, Dean, College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida

Praise for the first edition

"The Ethical Journalist is a powerful and accessible teaching tool for
both teacher and student. Beyond its practical application in the
classroom, the fundamental value of the case studies and website is the
critical conversations it will generate to influence an entire career."

Arlene Morgan, Assistant Dean for External Affairs,Temple University School of Media and Communication



"The book is superb - the definitive work on journalism ethics and practices. It should be a basic text in every school of journalism."
Gene Roberts, former executive editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, former managing editor of The New York Times, former professor, University of Maryland

"Gene Foreman practiced and championed high ethical standards in newsrooms for decades. He's now written a clear, compelling text on journalism ethics. It's practical, principled and powerful."

Robert M. Steele, Director of The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics, DePauw University

"At a time when the Internet has turned journalism inside out and blown up long-held traditions, the need for media ethics is even more critical. This is the book to help guide students and the rest of us through the revolution."
Alicia C. Shepard, former NPR Ombudsman