Ethics of Journalism

By Michael Flax

Society of Professional Journalists

• The _______ of __________ ____________ is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to _____________________________________________________and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

Preamble-1

• ______________________is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy.

• ____________________________is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues.

Preamble-2

• __________________________________________________________________________strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty.

• ____________________is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility.

#1Seek Truth and Report It

• Journalists should be ______, ____ and __________ in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

#2Minimize Harm

• Ethical journalists treat __________, _________ and _____________ as human beings deserving of respect.

#3Act Independently

• Journalists should be ______________________________________________ to any interest other than the public's right to know.

#4Be Accountable

• Journalists are accountable to their _______, _________, _________ and _______________.

Terms to Know

Defamation

• A false statement that injures someone's ___________ and exposes him/her to ___________________, __________, ________, or ____________

Slander

• An untruthful oral (spoken) statement about a person that ___________________________________________________________________ in the community.

• A type of defamation

• Because Slander is a tort (____________________), the injured person can bring a lawsuit against the person who made the false statement.

Defamation

Slander

• In the United States certain facts must be established for someone to be found guilty of slander.

Slander- for a case• Assuming there is ______ that

the defendant uttered the alleged statement, the statement must be _________ ________________________________________________________________________.

• Slander must also _______ ________ the party or entity, and the intent must be __________.

2 types of compensation

• General damages– ______________________while

• Special damages– ______________________

• Specific special damages might be required before general damages can be awarded

Slander

• Some types of slander are considered “___________ __” and are automatically awarded _________ damages without proof of special damages

Slanderous per se- must

• Declare the plaintiff unfit to perform his or her job adequately.

• Alleged criminal behavior on the part of the plaintiff.

Slanderous per se- must

• Claim the plaintiff has an unsavory disease.

• Make immoral sexual claims, especially about the virtue of a female plaintiff.

A _________ in a slander case has many potential

points in his favor.

• A slander case may be dismissed if the injurious statements were stated as ________________________

• If they are deemed “______________________________________"

Defendant (cont)

• If they do not actually ______________ to the plaintiff's reputation

• If the statements were _____.

Plaintiff

• The plaintiff in a slander case must prove that the defendant acted __________ or with ________ in order to win a case.

Work Cited• http://www.nolo.com/definition.cfm/term/85BAB

88B-0660-4AB6-A2F5C32E716A6D52• http://www.nolo.com/definition.cfm/term/E0563

767-C3CE-42B0-90107F29AF588A6C• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-slander.htm• http://www.criminal-law-lawyer-source.com/ter

ms/slander.html• http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2745790/• http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp