{"id":315,"date":"2023-10-20T08:58:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T08:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalangadi.com\/?p=315"},"modified":"2023-10-21T06:31:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-21T06:31:52","slug":"the-legal-and-ethical-issues-journalists-face-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalangadi.com\/the-legal-and-ethical-issues-journalists-face-today\/","title":{"rendered":"The legal and ethical issues journalists face today"},"content":{"rendered":"
Journalists face various legal and ethical issues among all the other challenges and even dangers that can go along with the job.<\/p>\n
If you are considering a career in journalism, it is essential to understand the laws and rules you will be expected to abide by throughout the course of your career. Over the years, there may be more rules and ethical standards added. If you work directly for a media outlet, these rules and ethics may be more apparent than if you are an independent journalist.<\/p>\n
Some media outlets may have their own code of ethics that you must abide by in addition to the industry standards. This is why it is a major decision for journalists to decide who they are employed by and whom they choose to sell their freelance work to.<\/p>\n
Here are a few of the common legal issues<\/a> journalists face:<\/p>\n As a journalist, you will be doing lots of research on any topic you are covering. There is always background information to add to an article. Finding photographs and charts to enhance your article typically means using the work of others.<\/p>\n Collaborations are great, but credit and permission must always be considered. You may find a photo that you would love to use but cannot because the owner will not permit you. Using any photo without permission is considered using intellectual property without the rights. The intellectual property owner has the right to ask you to remove the photo and may even have grounds for a lawsuit if the photo caused them or their family emotional strife or put them in any danger.<\/p>\n Copyrighted work may allow for some use without permission, but it will vary based on the work and how much you want to use. A good example is the copyright on a book. There is often a message on the copyright page that says what others are allowed to use without permission and instructions for contacting the publisher to request permission for other sharing rights.<\/p>\n If you are doing a major article or review that is beneficial to the other party, it is often easy to get official permission to use bigger quotes and passages from a written work.<\/p>\n Journalists must remember the importance of asking permission before using anything that is not their own intellectual property. Whereas a person or entity may give permission when asked beforehand, they may be less forthcoming if their property is used without their permission and they discover it later. In this case, it is likely they will demand you remove everything they have a legal right to.<\/p>\n There is a big difference between public and private information. If something is public knowledge, then journalists can talk freely about the topic in any article or interview. Journalists can go to places like courthouses and public event centers. Sidewalks and other areas are more examples of where you can gather public information. This is why you see so many reporters gathered in these areas on your local news when there is something major happening.<\/p>\n Entering a privately owned area such as someone\u2019s home or their surrounding property without permission can quickly lead to law enforcement becoming involved and a trespassing charge for the journalist.<\/p>\n While it is not a good idea to just knock on someone\u2019s door, a journalist can do so, but if they are asked to leave, they must do so immediately or they are considered to be trespassing.<\/p>\n If someone refuses to be interviewed or give you information, you must respect their decision. Continuing to pester someone to talk to you can be considered harassment or even stalking in more extreme instances.<\/p>\n If you want to make it in the world of journalism, you must make sure that you do not make slanderous or untrue statements just to suit your agenda. This means making good decisions on what to include when others provide information. Publishing statements without any proof to back them up that cause harm to the reputation of others may lead to incredibly damaging lawsuits.<\/p>\n One recent high-profile defamation lawsuit is the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case. This trial captured a lot of public interest and was covered by a lot of journalists. After an expensive and lengthy case, Heard was found to be liable for defamation and asked to pay millions of dollars in restitution. While this is a case between two individual celebrities, it could have easily been a case between an individual and a media outlet.<\/p>\n CNN was forced to pay out an undisclosed amount of money when they were sued for defamation by a group of Kentucky high school students after they were inaccurately portrayed. The students had a solid case built on facts such as losing scholarships and acceptance to some colleges.<\/p>\n Sometimes access to a great source for a story is based on the journalist promising to not reveal the source in any story, report or even in the courtroom. Protecting a source can have very wide-reaching consequences for the journalist.<\/p>\n There have been cases where journalists have been summoned by the judicial system and demanded to give up the source of their information since it pertains to a serious case. In this instance, the journalist faces a very significant ethical dilemma. While keeping their promise may seem like the ethical thing to do from a journalistic point of view, by doing so they may be helping a criminal. In extreme cases, journalists have even been threatened with legal charges such as obstruction of justice.<\/p>\nJournalists must always acknowledge copyright and intellectual property.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Privacy must be respected<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Slander and defamation <\/strong><\/h2>\n
The ethical dilemmas of journalism<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Protecting your sources may be noble but there are consequences<\/strong><\/h3>\n