"The basic codes and canons commonly appear in statements by professional journalism associations and individual print, broadcast, and online news organizations."
Understanding the ethical and legal considerations involved in digital journalism, including issues related to accuracy, privacy, libel, and copyright. This includes awareness of industry codes of ethics and legal frameworks in different countries.
First Amendment: The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects free speech, freedom of the press, and expression, making it a critical topic in digital journalism.
Privacy: The increased digital footprint has made privacy one of the major ethical concerns in digital journalism, including issues like invasion of privacy, profiling, and data breaches.
Copyright and Intellectual Property: The internet's ease of accessing and sharing content raises concerns such as copyright infringement, fair use, and intellectual property theft that digital journalists must be aware of.
Media Bias: The debate on media bias continues in digital journalism; it is essential to maintain journalistic integrity, honesty and impartiality and avoid the spread of propaganda and one-sided opinions.
Fake News: The rise of fake news is problematic in digital journalism; it is important for journalists to fact-check their stories and verify their sources to establish credibility.
Online Harassment and Cyberbullying: Digital journalism is not immune to online harassment and cyberbullying; ethical considerations on this include identifying sources and setting social media policies.
Digital Literacy: The ability to understand online sources and evaluate the credibility of information is crucial in digital journalism, as it helps to avoid errors and fraudulent content.
Regulations and Laws: Digital journalism is governed by specific regulations and laws. It is essential for digital journalists to know what is legal and to act with accountability while navigating these regulations and laws.
Diversity: Ensuring representation and inclusivity are ethical considerations in digital journalism. It includes covering diverse groups, stories, and issues effectively.
Conflict of Interest: Digital journalists must avoid conflicts of interest, such as when working with sources, and maintain journalistic independence and impartiality.
Ethics of Reporting on Tragedies: Journalists must consider the ethical implications of using images and information when reporting on tragedies.
Sensationalism: Digital journalism faces the risk of sensationalism where the purpose of the story is overshadowed by the shock value. Ethical considerations on this subject require maintaining journalistic integrity, honesty, and factual accuracy.
Transparency: The ethical considerations of transparency in digital journalism include acknowledging sources in stories, correcting errors, and being open to criticism.
Accountability: Digital journalism must be accountable to their audiences by verifying sources, acknowledging errors, and taking responsibility for the content.
Responsibility in Content Creation and Distribution: Digital journalism requires the development of responsible content and its effective dissemination, which includes accuracy, objectivity and fairness.
Journalism Ethics and Academic Research: It is imperative that digital journalism practices maintain high standards of journalism ethics and academic research to provide awareness and education to the audience.
Privacy and Data Protection: Digital journalists must ensure they obtain and store private information in a legal way that respects the privacy of individuals.
Copyright and Ownership: Digital reporters need to respect copyright laws while sharing intellectual property, working with materials owned by others, or developing their own content.
Libel and Slander: Legal responsibility for any false or malicious accusations that ruin the reputation of a person or community.
Journalistic and Professional Ethics: This involves accuracy, honesty, and transparency in creating and sharing information.
Social Media Ethics: Guidelines for ethical behavior on social media platforms.
Fake News: The spread of misleading or deceptive information is a key ethical issue in digital journalism.
Conflict of Interest: The digital media industry must avoid potential conflicts of interest to maintain credibility and impartiality.
Sensationalism: Digital reports must maintain appropriate levels of sensitivity and professionalism.
Manipulation of Public Opinion: Digital media should provide accurate reporting and avoid using manipulative techniques to influence public opinion.
Source Protection: Protection of sources is critical in digital journalism, and reporters need to understand how to protect whistleblowers and confidential sources while upholding their ethical obligations.
"There are around 400 codes covering journalistic work around the world."
"The principles of truthfulness, accuracy and fact-based communications, independence, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, respect for others and public accountability."
"Like many broader ethical systems, the ethics of journalism include the principle of 'limitation of harm'."
"The withholding of certain details from reports, such as the names of minor children, crime victims' names, or information not materially related to the news report where the release of such information might, for example, harm someone's reputation or put them at undue risk."
"There has also been discussion and debate within the journalism community regarding appropriate reporting of suicide and mental health, particularly with regard to verbiage."
"Some journalistic codes of ethics, notably some European codes, also include a concern with discriminatory references in news based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities."
"The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe approved (in 1993) Resolution 1003 on the Ethics of Journalism."
"The principles of truthfulness, accuracy and fact-based communications, independence, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, respect for others, and public accountability."
"These apply to the gathering, editing and dissemination of newsworthy information to the public."
"The principles of truthfulness, accuracy and fact-based communications."
"The principles of... independence, objectivity, impartiality, fairness..."
"The principles of... respect for others and public accountability."
"This may involve enhanced respect for vulnerable groups and the withholding of certain details from reports."
"Like many broader ethical systems, the ethics of journalism include the principle of 'limitation of harm'."
"Some journalistic codes of ethics... include a concern with discriminatory references in news based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities."
"The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe approved (in 1993) Resolution 1003 on the Ethics of Journalism, which recommends that journalists respect the presumption of innocence, in particular in cases that are still sub judice."
"...where the release of such information might, for example, harm someone's reputation or put them at undue risk."
"There has also been discussion and debate within the journalism community regarding appropriate reporting of suicide and mental health, particularly with regard to verbiage."
"Professional journalism associations and individual print, broadcast, and online news organizations."