Reporters' Resources, Ethics Codes and Laws

This resource chapter begins with several codes of ethics of professional organizations that are useful for media. Print, broadcast, public relations and photojournalism ethics are included. Although each speaks to the relevant group within the field, they all carry the same message of reporting the truth, revering accuracy, balancing the message and working for the public benefit. Next is a listing of relevant laws, which govern media and special groups.

Additionally, a listing of professional organizations is included so the writer preparing a story about a special interest group can contact these groups and seek further understanding of the group's cultural beliefs and sensitivity to certain words and phrases. A number of the groups have ...