Ethical Journalism
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Objective
I can apply the SPJ Code of Ethics to analyze ethical dilemmas that journalists might face.
Part 1 of 3
Warm-up video
Unknown Channel · 5:00
We don't generate video — this one is by Unknown Channel on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.
Part 2 of 3
Practice
7 questions
Define "ethics" in the context of yearbook journalism. How does it guide your decisions differently from school rules?
The SPJ Code of Ethics includes seeking truth, minimizing harm, acting independently, and being accountable. Which of these do you think is most important for a yearbook journalist at a private Christian school, and why?
Part 3 of 3
Exit ticket
Quick comprehension check
“A student journalist is offered free tickets to a concert by a band they are planning to review. How should the journalist respond, considering the SPJ Code of Ethics? Explain your reasoning. a) Accept the tickets but write an unbiased review. b) Accept the tickets and write a positive review. c) Politely decline the tickets to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. d) Accept the tickets and not disclose it in the review. A journalist discovers that a school administrator has been misusing funds, but publishing the story could negatively impact the school's reputation and potentially harm the administrator's career. How should the journalist proceed, considering the SPJ Code of Ethics? Explain your reasoning. a) Suppress the story to protect the school's reputation and the administrator's career. b) Publish the story immediately without further investigation. c) Thoroughly investigate the allegations, gather evidence, and report the story accurately and fairly, considering the potential harm. d) Inform the administrator and allow them to correct the misuse of funds without public disclosure. A journalist is interviewing a student about a sensitive topic. The student becomes visibly distressed during the interview. What steps should the journalist take, considering the SPJ Code of Ethics? Explain your reasoning. a) Continue the interview regardless of the student's distress to get the full story. b) Stop the interview, offer support, and allow the student to decide whether to continue. c) Change the topic to something less sensitive and continue the interview. d) Finish the interview as quickly as possible to minimize the student's discomfort.”
Sample answer included in the free materials
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