University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-10
4 journalism Code

: In the publication of newspapers
the chief branch of the profession Ol
] journalism, an ethical code is as ap
plicable as in any other profession
E The basis for such code is, of course
!, mainly the responsibility of the editor
to himself, TO other members OF ms
e profession, and TO the public, the read
ers of his paper. Considering journal
ism from these standpoints, there are
certain general principles which may
be called the journalists ethical code
First among these principles may be
placed the one dealing with the re-
. spOnsibility OF the editor for the truth
fulne.S of the matter which goes jltO
: his paper. II can be said that as 4
principle the editor is as morally re-
sponsiblo for the truth of the adver
tising he publishes as he is for the
truth of the news. This responsibility
is not decreased by the fact that the
former is paid for and the latter not
Moral consistency is the basis of this
principle, which has little if any con
nection with legal responsibility.
The news columns of paper should
be free 10 the public for the discas-
sion of all public questions so Tar as
the physical possibilities and impor-
Itance OF the matter under discussion
/ will admit Tho MI - oil nI
ment on all such matter published is
of course reserved. since all such dis
cussiOn may be treated as other news
or source Of editorial comment This
principle is based on the policy that
truth is the ultimate aim of the news
paper. and absolute fairness is the
means by which such end may be
reached. This principle applies to
class publications only in a restricted
measure.
Furthermore, the editor is not bound
to reveal the source of his inforEIa-
tion without the permission OF the
one from whom the news is obtained
the editor should feel himself bound |
not to reveal the indentity of his infur-
nant whether he has made an express |
agreement or not AS principle tins |
should apply TO every article of news |
published.
In an interview the representative |
of 4 newspaper should make known |
his indentity 10 the one interviewed. |
The reporter is responsible for the
truth ofstatement, though such inier-
view need not be quoted exactly; but
the information obtained should be
carefully presented 20 that the Whole
truth appears. Ordinarily. the person
al knowledge that one has that ones
permit the reporter the privilege of
auditor is reporter is sufficient To
permit the reporter the privilege OF
quotation of meaning only. If the one
interviewed is TO be quoted as Il spc-
cialist upon special topic, if the i'll
terview is formal" then the quota
ton should be as nearly verbatim as
POSSIBLE. If any doubt arises as to the
eXactness Of question, upon request,
the matter should be presented To the
person interviewed for his approval
before publication.
A. a principle the representative OF
n newspaper should accept no cour-
tesies which he has any reason to be-
lieve are offered to him with a view
Of influencing his treatment of a news
article. Since i'm most cases cigars,
drinks, tickets. etc, are given with
this in view, the general principle
should be an absolute refusal to ac-
cept any such cOurtesies. The rc-
ation of the newspaper man to the
public makes acceptanceS of such
sratuities as insuppOrtable principle.
The rule of the newspaper should
De that none of its articles should be
signed. The impersOnal nature of the
as a public organ is the ba-
lis of this principle. The rule is g"Ii- !
,ral and hence is open only to the III
requent exceptions of placing the sig
nature to articles in the nature of COM
or to articles which the
'aper has obtained from prominent
writer's at the expense of some ef-
Ort.
The public should be informed as
ften as possible. regularly if practic-
BILE, by publication, of the names OF
he owners of the paper or of those
tho have its directOrship, as to whom
may look for the responsibility of
he publication.
A writer for a newspaper, partic-
larly an editorial writer. should not
rite for pay that which he does not
believe; but mere pre-
Idice certainly would not be sufficient
easOn for avoiding task. The wri-
er shOuld follow the dictates of his
Dnscionce regardless of the cOnsequ- I
pcpc IN himself In datarminipo tho