Inamori
International Center for
Ethics and Excellence

1) Journalism is a profession. Most professions have purposes and ethical guidelines. What would you say is the purpose of journalism? What ethical guidelines does the profession have?

2) Can you give an example of an ethical dilemma in journalism that you have faced or someone you know has faced?

3) How is a trusting relationship best developed between a journalist and a person who provides information?

4) The journalistic tradition in the U.S. is based on the concept of an open society, an informed populace, and “the need to know.” What are the boundaries of “the need to know?” When does the need to know become “voyeurism,” “gossip,” and “invasion of privacy?”

5) How does a journalist decide what material to use or not use? How much to tell? When to tell it?

6) How does a journalist deal with information that was obtained unethically?

7) How does a journalist deal with “collateral damage” to other people (spouse, children, other innocents) who may be associated with the source or the person being reported?

8) If journalism is the first draft of history (attributed to former Washington Post editor, Phil Graham), are blogs the first draft of journalism (per comment on a September 1, 2002 radio station blog)? What is the appropriate use of blogs by journalists?