Journalistic Values
Journalists must be committed to the Code of Ethics and work with integrity. This is important, as acting in the best interests of society secures the publics’ trust. Journalists must also have the capacity to be empathetic towards both their subjects and audience. When a journalist is in tune with the emotions of their subject, the journalism produced is often compelling. Finally, journalists require a strong sense of curiosity and the desire to learn. They must be willing to delve into the realm of their subject and find interesting qualities in simple topics. It is also important that journalists are eager to discover new formats and skills in order to better their work.
Relevance to digital journalism
Abiding by the Code of Ethics is integral in the digital realm, as opportunities may arise where a journalist can extract harmful information. Journalists must be able to weigh up whether revealing such information is in the best interests of society in relation to the Code. In addition, journalists are being constantly exposed to new digital tools which have the capacity to better their work. They must be open to learning new skills and venturing outside their comfort zone for a long term gain in order to better the material they produce.
Example
The New York Times’ story on President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign in the Philippines is a confronting read, with the images even more so. Despite this, journalist Daniel Berehulak remained ethical throughout the piece, giving warnings as the reader scrolls through the interactive article. Preceding a particularly shocking section, a box states ‘Many of the following images depict graphic violence’. The reader is then able to make an informed decision about whether or not to read on. Berehulak’s empathy shines through as he uses emotive adjectives such as ‘desperate’, ‘grisly’ and ‘brutal’ to depict the impact drugs are having on those in the Philippines. These words are loaded with feeling and makes the reader feel pained about the problem.
Berehuglak’s article can be accessed here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/07/world/asia/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-drugs-killings.html
