Republished with permission from the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists

Media Ethics and Credibility Town Hall
by Jean Ash, Vice President and communications coordinator, ETSPJ

Dozens of members of the public attended the SPJ Media Ethics and Credibility Town Hall April 30, 2009 at the Howard Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy in Knoxville.

The East Tennessee Chapter is honored to have been one of ten chapters across the country selected to hold the town hall during Ethics Week. Moderator Richard Griffiths of CNN led the session by asking the panel of news managers and a nationally-known blogger some pointed questions involving various ethical scenarios. Panelists included Bill Shory, news director at WBIR-TV, Jack McElroy, editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel, Michael Grider of VolunteerTV.com and Glenn Reynolds, a UT law professor who also writes Instapundit.com.

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The ethics scenarios asked the journalists and online writers what they would do upon getting Twitter tips about a reported airplane crash and an assertion that the former Microsoft chief had severe thumb injuries from using a Blackberry. Panelists noted that Twitter, a social networking tool virtually unknown a year ago, is now being used by most news organizations as a source of tips to be checked out as well as a notification system to build brand loyalty among viewers/readers.

The most spirited response by the panel as well as audience questions and comments came concerning comments left by the public on online news Web sites. Some felt there should be no “prior restraint” by the media managers, that damaging comments should be removed as soon as noticed, and that the media are moving more into a role of “discussion manager.” Others felt comments should be screened and more effort by the media should go to their traditional products than to assume everyone is using the internet and social networking tools.

Panelists and audience alike seemed to agree that “citizen journalists” can be every bit as credible and reliable as journalists with a “capital J,” but that until one’s track record is proven it’s risky to rely on their reports without further verification. Reynolds told a story about a tip he received but did not use because he didn’t know the authenticity of the tipster. A week later the story was front page news in the New York Times. It was noted that there are no tests or criteria for someone to work as a “journalist” and that the line between news reporting and opinion/analysis has been fading.

Another point that came up is that bloggers or citizen journalists are not likely to replace the traditional media’s role as watchdog with deep pockets who can spend a week to pursue involved stories, although Reynolds pointed out that if bloggers are “obsessive” or consider a certain beat their “hobby,” they can do deeper digging than many traditional media outlets in the current economy.

SPJ’s large and diverse membership consistently identifies ethics as one of the organization’s most important missions. The SPJ Code of Ethics, first adopted in 1926, is an industry standard. One element of the code is to “invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.” Copies of the SPJ Ethics code were distributed to the audience and a framed copy presented to Griffiths at the end of the evening. Many thanks to ETSPJ president Mia Rhodarmer and program chair Michael Grider for making the arrangements and also to VP Elenora Edwards for bringing a wide variety of refreshments for the attendees. (A copy of the Code of Ethics may be found Here.)