Ethics in Journalism

by Ron Smith

Overview

The reputation of journalists is continually being questioned. Nearly every public opinion poll shows that people have lost respect for journalists and lost faith in the news media. In this fully updated and expanded 6th edition of Ethics in Journalism, author Ron F. Smith provides a highly readable introduction to journalism ethics, and offers solutions for the many ethical dilemmas facing journalists today.

• Utilizes dozens of new case studies, mostly taken from everyday experiences of reporters at both large and smaller newspapers and TV stations
• Explores the practical ethical issues involved in developing sources, coming to terms with objectivity, and bringing compassion to the pressures of journalism
• Considers the impact of blogs and the internet on traditional values of journalism
• Compares journalistic practices across different free societies

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405159340
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	01/29/2008
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	380
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ron F. Smith is a professor of journalism at the University of Central Florida, Orlando. He teaches editing, newspaper design, online journalism, and mass media ethics. Professor Smith has worked for newspapers in Indiana, Ohio, and Florida including stints as a police and court reporter, sports copy editor, wire editor, and news editor.

Table of Contents

Preface.

Part I: Principles and Guidelines.

1. The Search for Principles.

2. The Study of Ethics.

Part II: Telling the Truth.

3. Truth and objectivity.

4. Errors.

5. Transparency.

6. Faking the News.

Part III: Reporting the News.

7. Working with sources.

8. The Government Watch.

9. The shady world of unnamed sources.

10. Deception.

Part IV: Compassion and the Journalist.

11. Compassion, privacy and ordinary citizens.

12. Privacy for Political Leaders.

13. Compassion and Photographers.

Part V: Conflicts of Interest.

14. Journalists and Their Communities.

15. Freebies and Financial Concerns.

16. The Business of Journalism.

Cases to Discuss.

Index