Download Loyalties and Conflicts of Interest - Mass Media Ethics | COMM 310 and more Quizzes Communication in PDF only on Docsity! 2/15/2009 1 Loyalties and conflicts of interest Loyalty to the family of man − respect people − be honest and truthful − strive to improve and protect our community Loyalty to ourselves and our families − feel good about what actions we choose − protect and nurture our loved ones − seek economic gain − seek respect from others Loyalty to our profession − fulfill our mission, whether it’s to provide entertainment or information − be honest and truthful − treat our sources and audiences fairly − avoid the abuse of power and position − gain the respect of our peers Loyalty to our employer − protect your employer’s resources − protect your employer’s reputation (credibility) − promote compassionate and humane professional relationships − foster policies that build you community − promote the right for all to be heard Loyalty to the media’s role in our society − openly identify who your client is in both PR and advertising − avoid false claims about your product or client 2/15/2009 2 In journalism: − seek the truth and report it − foster open discussion and debate − explain our actions when questions ariseabout our methods − comfort the afflicted − afflict the comfortable Conflicts of Interest Checklist Because of the enormous responsibility journalists have to the public, they must be aware of any situations that create a real or perceived conflict of interest. Individual journalists must weigh their obligations against the impact of: involvement in particular activities affiliation with causes or organizations acceptance of favors or preferential treatment financial investments outside employment friendships Newspapers and broadcasters play a dual role in a community, as journalists and as corporate citizens. While these roles are not mutually exclusive, media leaders must guard with vigilance their organizations' stewardship role in society. Th t l th t th i i bli tiey mus a so ensure a e r pr mary o ga on to the public is not eroded by other legitimate goals, such as: a quest for economic gain the interest of being a good corporate citizen the concern for their own employees the desire to be competitive in the marketplace In the end, individual journalists might do well to ask themselves: Am I being independent? Could my action harm my integrity or my organization's integrity? Is the mere appearance of a conflict enough to diminish my credibility? Am I willing to publicly disclose any potential conflicts?
