Gene Foreman - The Ethical Journalist

THIRD EDITION

GENE FOREMAN | DANIEL R. BIDDLE

EMILIE LOUNSBERRY | RICHARD G. JONES

WEBSITE FOR INSTRUCTORS: www.wiley.com/go/foreman/theethicaljournalist3e

AUTHORS’ ONLINE FORUM: theethicaljournalist.com

This third edition first published 2022

© 2022 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Edition History

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1e. 2009, 2e. 2015)

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The right of Gene Foreman, Daniel R. Biddle, Emilie Lounsberry, Richard G. Jones to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with law.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Foreman, Gene, author. | Biddle, Daniel R., author. | Lounsberry, Emilie, 1954- author. | Jones, Richard G. (Richard Gordon), 1971- author.

Title: The ethical journalist : making responsible decisions in the digital age / Gene Foreman, Daniel R. Biddle, Emilie Lounsberry, Richard G. Jones.

Description: Third edition. | Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021021054 (print) | LCCN 2021021055 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119777472 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119777496 (epdf) | ISBN 9781119777489 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Journalistic ethics. | Reporters and reporting. | Journalistic ethics--Case studies. | Reporters and reporting--Case studies.

Classification: LCC PN4756 .F67 2022 (print) | LCC PN4756 (ebook) | DDC 174/.907--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021054

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021055

Cover image: © People Images/Getty Images

Cover design: Bill Marsh

Set in 10/12pt and ITC New BaskervilleStd by Integra Software Services Pvt. Ltd, Pondicherry, India

For Gene Roberts, who built The Philadelphia Inquirer on a foundation of ethics and excellence.

1 Cover

2 Title page The Ethical Journalist Making Responsible Decisions in the Digital Age THIRD EDITION GENE FOREMAN | DANIEL R. BIDDLE EMILIE LOUNSBERRY | RICHARD G. JONES WEBSITE FOR INSTRUCTORS: www.wiley.com/go/foreman/theethicaljournalist3e AUTHORS’ ONLINE FORUM: theethicaljournalist.com

3 Copyright

4 Dedication

5 Detailed Contents

6 Foreword

7 Preface

8 About the Coauthors

9 Acknowledgments

10 Part I: A Foundation for Making Ethical Decisions 1 Why Ethics Matters in Journalism 2 Ethics: The Bedrock of a Society 3 The News Media’s Role in Society 4 For Journalists, a Clash of Moral Duties 5 The Public and the Media: Love and Hate 6 How the ‘Trump Effect’ Challenged Journalism 7 Applying Four Classic Theories of Ethics 8 Using a Code of Ethics as a Decision Tool 9 Making Moral Decisions You Can Defend

11 Part II: Putting Journalism Ethics to Work 10 Getting the Facts Right and Being Fair 11 Showing Empathy for People in the News 12 Avoiding Conflicts: Appearances Count 13 Lifting the Curtain on How Journalism Is Done 14 Navigating Social Media’s Uneven Terrain 15 Covering a Diverse, Multicultural Society 16 Dealing With Sources of Information 17 Making News Decisions About Privacy 18 Making Decisions About Offensive Content 19 Deception: A Risky, Controversial Tool 20 Ethics Issues in Visual and Audio Journalism 21 Stolen Words and Invented Facts 22 The Business of Producing Journalism

12 Thoughts to Take With You

13 Glossary

14 Index

15 End User License Agreement

1 Chapter 1Lovelle Svart faces the camera during...Journalists in the United States would be...

2 Chapter 2This “Rock of Truth” inscription...

3 Chapter 3Covering the terrorist attacks of September...

4 Chapter 4After taking this picture of a fugitive...Wendy Ruderman (left) and Barbara Laker...

5 Chapter 5Flood and fire struck...

6 Chapter 6Donald...

7 Chapter 7Lawyers for The New...

8 Chapter 8Journalists, like these in...

9 Chapter 10West Virginia residents...Representative Gabrielle...A glimpse of the historic...A candelight vigil at Sago...Richard Jewell, the security...Manti Te’o, the linebacker...

10 Chapter 11Steven Hendricks Jr., 20, comforting...A mother’s anguish is evident...

11 Chapter 12The choice between President Barack...

12 Chapter 13In The Washington Post’s ...

13 Chapter 14Investigators looked for clues...A photo that Alexis Johnson...Alexis Johnson

14 Chapter 15Most news organizations...

15 Chapter 16Reality Winner, who translated...Len JenoffLaura Foreman and Henry...

16 Chapter 17Richard Simmons

17 Chapter 18Tony Auth, Pulitzer Prize-winning...Fig.18.2 Pennsylvania Treasurer...Fig.18.3 Pistol in the mouth.

18 Chapter 19Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld...

19 Chapter 20Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld...

20 Chapter 20Photojournalists at the 2000...A man falls from the World...Pushed onto the subway track...

21 Chapter 22Pressman Keith Jones (left)...The Staples Center in Los...