Canon of Ethics for Student Journalists at Anderson High School Created March 9, 2009 Preamble Members of the Anderson High School X-Ray and Indian staffs believe that the duty of the student journalist is to seek the truth and provide a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious student journalists strive to serve the Anderson High School community with thoroughness and honesty since professional integrity is the cornerstone of a student journalist's credibility. Such an approach to news gathering and reporting also complements the Anderson Community School Corporation's attempt to build young men and women of character. The Canon of Ethics created by the Society of Professional Journalists was used as a model in creating the AHS Canon of Ethics for Student Journalists. Seek Truth and Report It Student journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Student journalists should: Take extreme care in reporting information. Be sure facts are accurate.Avoid deliberate distortion of the facts.Identify sources whenever possible with name grade.Make certain that headlines, news teases, promotional material, photos, and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancements for technical clarity are always permissible.Avoid staging news stories.Avoid undercover methods of gathering information.Never plagiarize.Tell the story of diversity.Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.Support the open exchange of views.Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresented fact or context.Distinguish news from advertising.Minimize Harm Ethical student journalists treat sources, subjects, and fellow students as human beings deserving of respect. Student journalists should: Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage.Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.Recognize that gathering or reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy.Show good taste.Act Independently Student journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the Anderson High School community's right to know. Student journalists should: Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.Avoid conflicts of interests, real or perceived.Be Accountable Student journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other. Student journalists should: Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others. |
