But to set the stage and provide a context for our discussion, in class Monday I want us to listen to a 1997 broadcast by Irish journalist Fergal Keane. At the time he was a foreign correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corp., and he was in Hong Kong for the ceremonies that marked the former British colony's incorporation into the Republic of China. But Keane's broadcast wasn't about that, it was about the recent birth of his son Daniel ... and, as he explained it later, he spoke "not just about becoming a father, but also about my own past, about loss and the failure of dreams, about the pain of different children I had met along the roads of war, about my father and how alcohol had taken him from me."
It was called "Letter to Daniel" and it became a BBC classic. We'll listen to it in class. You can read along if you wish.
Several years later, Keane told how he wrote the piece and what it meant to him, and his listeners:
Before class time Wednesday, I will post a blogging question in which I link to a fact situation -- something for you to read -- and ask you to comment on it in terms of the ethical issues it addresses.There was one draft of the letter. No re-writing. And after the piece was done I went back to my paternity leave.
And then the letters started to arrive. By the sack load. From a mother whose only son had died on a military exercise in Canada; from a man writing by the light of an oil lamp in a tent in Antartica, missing his family back in Britain; and many, many letters from those who had struggled with alcohol or seen loved ones die from it.***
Some of my friends worried that I would be identified with "Letter To Daniel" for the rest of my life; they felt for me when a critic attacked me for writing so personal a piece.
And I replied that nothing anybody says about it - good, bad or indifferent - matters a damn in the long run.
When I read the Letter now, and I remember that morning with the baby asleep in my lap, I see a young father about to start out on the greatest adventure of his life. He doesn't know that yet, of course.
But that child will be the making of him, the saving of him.
So, to get ready, we need to be familiar with ...
1. The Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists:
... and ...Preamble
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. ...
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect. ...
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. ...
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other. ...
2. The Code of Ethics of the Public Relations Society of America
... principles and guidelines built on core values. Fundamental values like advocacy, honesty, loyalty, professional development and objectivity structure ethical practice and interaction with clients and the public.Fergal Keane probably would not be a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, which is an American organization. But the values of American and British reporters are quite similar. Which principles in the SPJ Code of Ethics would apply to his Letter to Daniel? Please post your answers as comments to this blog.
Translating values into principles of ethical practice, the Code advises professionals to:
- Protect and advance the free flow of accurate and truthful information.
- Foster informed decision making through open communication.
- Protect confidential and private information.
- Promote healthy and fair competition among professionals.
- Avoid conflicts of interest.
- Work to strengthen the public’s trust in the profession.
8 comments:
In a comparision to code of ethics in the Letter to Daniel I feel as if truth is spoken. He speaks on his experiences through reporting and his journies. The truth behind what he has seen is remarkable. I kind of feel that in a way he broke the ethic code of privacy. Telling the life story of seeing the dead woman and her children and also about the little girls past and loss of her family. They are third world countries though so does this pertain to the code of ethics?
Daniels letter related to minimize harm of SPJ Code of ethics I think it follwed it to the tee. When he started to talk about all the things he encountered with childern in different countries, he explianed how he felt and how the way he felt made him act accordingly. it follows the first code of ethics when he reports the truth.
Some of the codes of ethics such as telling the whole truth, not falsifying any information are in the letter. He devoted his life to seeking truth and reporting it. He gave vivid details so everyone new the real truth. As well, he cited his sources whenever possible. Also he demonstrated "acting independently" by doing this for a long time and just for others.
He reported accuratley and truthfuly about his experiences. i think he also worked to gain the trust of the readers.
The code of Ethics has many good aspects to it and this newsreporter I feel has hit it hard with the article he wrote, he went to these places so he could see what was really happening at this time and in these places. He has showed what many wouldnt have in writing this, How many people would have actually written this ?? and showed it, he is showing peoples lives although it can be painful to read it is also the truth.
The SPJ Code of Ethics is used by thousands of journalists. It doesn't matter what place or platform, and is widely used in newsrooms and classrooms as a guide for ethical behavior. Ethical decision making. Seek truth and report about it. Daniel spoke the truth. He talks about what has done and all of his lifetime experiences. He has seen many crazy things.
It seems as though each part of the code applies to his Letter to Daniel and I elive he adhered to the proper conduct. This letter is what he claims to be the truth. He is respectful to his subjects and he does not give full names.
@Kris10
There's a couple of points in the Code that might apply to reporting on 3rd World countries: "- 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." Not sure how they fit here, but I think you treat people the same everywhere. We'll say more about privacy in December. It's a tough issue.
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