ETHICS OF PHOTOJOURNALISM

ETHICS OF PHOTOJOURNALISM

ETHICS  THAT  JOURNALISTS  SHOULD  ADHERE  TO  WHEN  TAKING  PHOTOGRAPHS   IN  A  SCENE  OF  AN  ACCIDENTS.

1: Information on the ground is obtained as soon as possible. This means that we try and get information from an available Person at the scene.

2: Once a crew is available to provide information, they should start the process and realize it immediately.

3: Verifying information is extremely important to Journalist at the scene. They should obtain information from various sources to ensure factual is realized as possible.

4: Journalists should report there earlier as possible to take information.

5: Journalists should do the paramedics at the scene ie share their ideas of what happened to a central Media or Communications Persons.

6: Journalists should do any personal receive Media. They should be able to gather much information among themselves at such scene.

7: Journalists should share the news that they have gathered there to as communications Persons.

8: Journalists should not share Vehicles registration Number involved in an accident with the People they got at the scene but allowed to remove that registration number, paint the face of a person involved in an accident before taking photos.

9: Journalists should make a greater attempt to make or take Photos about the accident and not the victims.

10: It is important for Journalists at the scene to keep the focus on the safety and well-being of the Persons involved in the accident {Patients}.

11: Journalists at the scene should not report bad statements and also fake images at that scene.

12: Journalists should create sanitization to those who had not involved in that accident and those involved mannerly.

13: Journalists should treat the victims with a lot of respect and their Family Members. All private of the victims should not be revealed.

Accuracy and standards for factual reporting

• Reporters are expected to be as accurate as possible given the time allotted to story preparation and the space available, and to seek reliable sources.
• Events with a single eyewitness are reported with attribution. Events with two or more independent eyewitnesses may be reported as fact. Controversial facts are reported with attribution.
• Independent fact-checking by another employee of the publisher is desirable
• Corrections are published when errors are discovered
• Defendants at trial are treated only as having "allegedly" committed crimes, until conviction, when their crimes are generally reported as fact (unless, that is, there is serious controversy about wrongful conviction).
• Opinion surveys and statistical information deserve special treatment to communicate in precise terms any conclusions, to contextualize the results, and to specify accuracy, including estimated error and methodological criticism or flaws.

Seek Truth and   Report It

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

• — Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
  — Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
  — Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
  — Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
  — Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
  — Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
  — Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
  — Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
  — never plagiarize.
  — tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
  — Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
  — Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
  — Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
  — Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
  — distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
  — Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
  — Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

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Minimize Harm

Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

• — Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
  — Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
  — Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
  — Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
  — Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
  — Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
  — Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
  — Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.

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Act of  Independently

Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.

Journalists should:

• —Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
  — Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
  — Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
  — Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
  — Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
  — Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
  — Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.

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Be Accountable

Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

Journalists should:

• — Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
  — Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
  — Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
  — Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
  — Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

For above support and reference from the authors book which are; oxford Butterworht - Huinemann 1995

Bemont Wadsmorth/Thormas learning 2001 Journalism College