SPJ Code of Ethics

SPJ Code of Ethics
Name	Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
Formation	1926 (as Sigma Delta Chi)
Type	Professional ethics code
Headquarters	Indianapolis

Contents

SPJ Code of Ethics

The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics is a widely cited professional ethics guideline developed by the Society of Professional Journalists to guide journalists working for outlets such as the New York Times, BBC, The Washington Post, CNN, and Al Jazeera. It sits alongside other influential texts like the Hippocratic Oath, the Canons of Journalism (American Press Association), the Fairness Doctrine debates, and institutional standards used at universities such as Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, and University of Missouri School of Journalism. The code has been referenced in disputes involving figures and organizations including Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Katharine Graham, Ben Bradlee, and publications like Time (magazine), The Guardian, and Der Spiegel.

History and Development

The code traces roots to the founding of Sigma Delta Chi in 1909 and the reconstitution as the Society of Professional Journalists in 1988, reflecting shifts after landmark moments such as the Watergate scandal, the Pentagon Papers, the Nixon administration, and the rise of digital platforms like AOL and Google. Revision efforts often responded to controversies involving outlets such as Newsweek, National Enquirer, and broadcasters including NBC News, CBS News, and ABC News, and to legal decisions like New York Times Co. v. Sullivan and debates around the Freedom of Information Act. Major updates occurred amid debates triggered by events connected to 9/11, the Iraq War, and whistleblowers like Chelsea Manning, intersecting with advocacy from groups such as the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and standards debates in institutions like the Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The code emphasizes principles often evoked alongside protections like the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and standards followed by organizations such as the Associated Press, the Reuters, and the Financial Times. Core tenets call for seeking truth and reporting it, minimizing harm, acting independently, and being accountable and transparent — concepts debated in relation to figures including Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Martha Gellhorn, Edward R. Murrow, and outlets from The Wall Street Journal to BuzzFeed. The text guides handling of anonymous sources as in reporting by Woodward and Bernstein on the Watergate scandal, treatment of sensitive material in coverage of events like the Oklahoma City bombing and the Boston Marathon bombing, and conflicts of interest exemplified in episodes involving publishers such as Rupert Murdoch and newspapers like News of the World.

Editors and reporters at newsrooms such as Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, and online platforms like HuffPost and Vice Media apply the code when deciding on publication of leaks tied to Wikileaks, handling images shown by Getty Images and AP Photos, or balancing privacy concerns involving public figures such as Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Angela Merkel. Legal interpretations reference rulings from courts including the United States Supreme Court and institutions like the International Court of Justice when cross-border reporting implicates treaties such as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Newsrooms adapt the code for social media use on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, and for multimedia collaborations with organizations such as ProPublica and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Critics, including academics at Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale Law School, and commentators at The Atlantic and New Yorker, argue the code can be vague or inconsistently enforced, producing disputes akin to controversies surrounding Jayson Blair at The New York Times and ethical failures at News of the World. Debates involve tensions between transparency and national security highlighted by cases like the Pentagon Papers and leaks by Edward Snowden, and tensions over perceived bias raised during coverage of events such as the Iraq War and the 2016 United States presidential election. Advocacy groups like Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting and Media Matters for America have contested applications of the code, while conservative commentators at Fox News and publications such as National Review have challenged its perceived editorial norms.

The code has influenced professional standards at institutions including Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Poynter Institute, and accreditation bodies tied to schools like Columbia University and Syracuse University Newhouse School. News organizations from legacy outlets such as The Economist and Los Angeles Times to digital-native platforms like Vox Media and Slate reference similar principles in their ethics policies. Internationally, frameworks at organizations including the BBC Trust, Canadian Association of Journalists, Australian Press Council, and European Broadcasting Union reflect parallel norms, and intergovernmental debates at bodies like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization have cited such professional standards.

High-profile episodes illustrate tensions in applying the code: the publication of the Pentagon Papers by The New York Times and The Washington Post; Wikileaks releases involving Julian Assange; reporting on Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden; fabrications by Jayson Blair and Janet Cooke; phone-hacking by News of the World affecting figures such as Princess Diana; and investigative collaborations like the Panama Papers and the Paradise Papers coordinated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Other incidents include coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing by local and national outlets, the handling of sexual assault allegations involving public figures such as Harvey Weinstein during the rise of the #MeToo movement, and ethical debates during the Arab Spring reporting involving networks like Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya.

Category:Journalism ethics