Journalism Today

Chapter 2: Meeting Ethical and Legal Reponsibilities

Overview

Public confidence in the news media has diminished. Many people today consider journalists to be arrogant, insensitive, biased, and intrusive. Media conglomerates are criticized as wielding excessive power. Some of the criticism of the news media is well deserved. At the same time, journalists often bear the brunt of the anger and frustration that are aroused by the turbulent events of society.

Journalists in a free society are charged with several important functions. The press, for example, plays a political function as the watchdog of government. To serve the best interests of society, responsible journalists must follow ethical standards. Accuracy and objectivity are perhaps the two most important ethical principles that journalists should try to follow.

Libel is damaging false statements about an individual or an institution that appear in writing or are spoken from a written text. Libel cases are usually considered a civil action. Libel laws are complex and changeable, and they vary from state to state. Good reporting is the best defense against libel charges. The student press is not exempt from libel law. There are other limits placed on scholastic journalism, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1983 Hazelwood decision.