Shaping public understanding carries a heavy responsibility, which is why journalists must adhere to ethical practices. It means ensuring the information they present is truthful and accurate and that their coverage of a story is balanced and fair.

At its core, journalism exists to serve the public good. To achieve this, journalists need to operate with independence and avoid situations that might create conflicts of interest. Ethical journalists act as a megaphone for the unheard and hold powerful figures accountable by posing challenging questions. Hence, journalists must function as unbiased voices, free from influence. It means avoiding any actions, formal or informal, that could be seen as favoring specific interests, be they political, corporate, or cultural.

How Can Journalists Be Ethical?

• Transparency is key. Journalists should disclose any potential conflicts of interest to their editors or directly to the audience. This could include political affiliations, financial ties, or any personal details that might compromise their neutrality.
• Meticulous research and fact-checking are paramount before any piece goes public. Original sources, like interviews with key figures or consultations with official records, should be prioritized whenever possible. This strengthens the credibility of the report, regardless of the angle the journalist is exploring.
• Finally, complete transparency is crucial. Journalists, or the media outlets they work for, must take ownership of their work. Any errors in reporting should be acknowledged swiftly and corrections made promptly.
• Ethical journalists must maintain a strong code of ethics. This includes refusing gifts, paid appearances, or special treatment that could be perceived as swaying their reporting. Additionally, they should avoid political activities that might cast doubt on their neutrality.
• The power of the press comes with a significant responsibility: to minimize harm. While some stories may inherently contain sensitive information, journalists must be mindful of the potential impact their words and visuals can have on individuals and communities. What they publish or broadcast may be hurtful, and they should be aware of the impact of our words and images on the lives of others.
• Finally, journalists should strike a balance between the public’s right to know and the potential for causing undue distress or jeopardizing safety.

Building trust with readers hinges on identifying sources whenever possible. In today’s age of information, readers are rightfully skeptical of anonymity. Journalists who attribute information to named sources establish credibility and allow readers to assess the information’s weight. This becomes even more critical when dealing with serious issues, powerful figures, or major stories. Journalists have a responsibility to rely on trustworthy information and reputable interviewees to ensure the accuracy and fairness of their reporting.

These are some ideals to which journalism must adhere. But with heavy influence upon the media outlets as well as sources, people can be seen straying further and further away from such a code of conduct. They are often more concerned about the ratings, subscriptions and clout that their primary responsibility is often overlooked. Serving the public and staying true to the ethics of journalism is the foremost duty of a press representative which must not be jeopardized. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Johannes Kriek, in his book “First Battle: Inside the Mainstream Media’s War on Trump’s Presidency”, presents a heavy critique of the press today, specifically in the U.S. and expounds upon multiple incidents of the breach of ethical journalism during the 2020 Presidential elections. However, the author still believes there to be some hope of preventing this from happening in the future, but this can only be done if the public is made aware of the media propaganda, which is what he has intended by writing this eye-opening critique of the political landscape.

Learn how to prevent falling victim to the propaganda. Purchase First Battle: Inside the Mainstream Media’s War on Trump’s Presidency by Johannes Kriek today!