This document discusses key concepts in journalism ethics including libel, false light, the seven deadly sins of journalism, and journalistic ethics codes. It provides definitions for libel and false light violations. The seven deadly sins are deception, conflict of interest, bias, fabrication, theft, burning sources, and plagiarism. The document also quotes that a newspaper's core business is integrity and that readers must be able to trust the judgment, independence and values of the news. It references the Society of Professional Journalists' code of ethics.

1. Journalism Ethics
COM 13500 Introduction to
Journalism

2. Today’s Concepts
• Libel
• False Light
• Seven Deadly Sins
of Journalism
• Journalistic Ethics
• SPJ Code of Ethics

3. “A newspaper‟s core business is integrity.
News is not a product like a tire or a paper
towel. It is what we journalists say it is. The
reader has to believe. A newspaper‟s „brand‟
is trust – trust in its judgment, its
independence, its values. That‟s what
remains constant. The news changes every
day.”
-Richard Cohen, Columnist,
The Washington Post

4. Libel: Publication of a false statement that deliberately
or carelessly damages someone’s reputation
Harrower, p. 144

5. Invasions of Privacy: False Light
• “When you run a
story, a photo, a
headline, even a
photo caption that
portrays someone in
an inaccurate way –
as something he or
Caption: “Addicted to alcohol
she is not.” – and homeless…”
Harrower p. 146

6. Seven Deadly Sins
1. Deception: lying or
misrepresenting yourself to
obtain information.
of Journalism
2. Conflict of Interest: accepting
gifts or favors from sources or
promoting social and political
causes.
3. Bias: slanting a story by
manipulating facts to sway
readers’ opinions.
4. Fabrication: manufacturing
quotes or imaginary sources or
writing anything you know to
be untrue.
5. Theft: obtaining information
unlawfully or without a
source’s permission.
6. Burning a Source: deceiving or
betraying the confidence of
those who provide information
for a story.
7. Plagiarism: passing off
someone else’s words or ideas
as your own.
Inside Reporting, Harrower p. 150-151

7. Code of Ethics: The Society of Professional Journalists
Why do ethics matter to reporters and news outlets?
Inside Reporting, Harrower p. 153