In 1896, New York Times publisher Adolph Ochs said the paper he had just purchased would “give the news impartially, without fear or favor, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved.” Today’s Times has a clear statement about political involvement, though some might argue that it doesn’t always follow its own advice. Its guidance includes more rules about how staff should participate in public life.
Sources:
- https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/19/opinion/without-fear-or-favor.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/editorial-standards/ethicaljournalism.html#participationInPublicLife
National Public Radio’s ethics handbook, like the SPJ Code, stresses that a journalist’s first obligation is to the public interest. NPR vows: “Under no circumstances do we skew our reports for personal gain, to help NPR’s bottom line or to please those who fund us. Decisions about what we cover and how we do our work are made by our journalists, not by those who provide NPR with financial support.”
Source: https://www.npr.org/about-npr/688405012/independence#conflictsofinterest
►The SPJ Code does not specifically mention sports reporting, but concerns about fandom and free food in the press box remain. Educator Nicole Kraft wrote that sports journalists have “the great responsibility to check fandom at the stadium door.” Also of concern is how journalists deal with coverage of sports in the context of sports betting, as some leagues and broadcasting networks have established relationships with sportsbook companies.
Sources:
- https://nicolekraft.com/2018/04/15/sports-media-ethics-getting-tougher-and-tougher-to-teach/
- https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/11/can-reporters-make-bets-on-sports-they-cover-we-asked-a-dozen-newsrooms/
►An institute that researches and treats Alzheimer’s Disease offered reporters $100 to cover an hour-long briefing by its principal scientist. The president of the Association of Health Care Journalists responded with a statement denouncing the offer: “The $100 puts reporters on the health system’s payroll and pretty much converts attending journalists into paid publicists.” The institute attempted to explain the public relations faux pas by saying the offer was intended for “mommy bloggers.”
Source: https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2014/10/journalist-offered-money-to-cover-alzheimers-briefing/