Key Documents: Section II. Codes of Ethics/Newsroom Policies and Standards - General Broadcast Organizations

Introduction

The landscape of free electronic media has expanded over the years to embrace radio and television networks, local commercial television and radio stations, public broadcasting entities, web radio, and other audio/video news formats online. Despite the proliferation of delivery methods, quality news coverage remains a prime component of the mission for each of these areas of communications. In all instances, electronic news outlets are perceived to operate as de facto trustees of the people with an obligation to scrupulously service the information needs of every sector of the American public.

Four prominent broadcast organizations have formally weighed in on a range of ethical issues electronic journalism must address. Two of these groups, the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) and National Public Radio (NPR) News, scrutinize in-depth the way stories should get reported either on-air or online. They often comment on the same kind of reporting concerns that worry print journalists—truth, honesty, fairness, independence, accountability, and balance. But, in addition, the documents offered by these organizations pick up on production and presentation concerns unique to the electronic world that directly impact the integrity of news coverage.

RTNDA, with an eye on radio and television news, warns against manipulating sounds or images—including reenactments—in a misleading fashion. The organization's Code of Ethics frowns as well on the use of covert newsgathering tools, like hidden cameras or microphones, unless essential to securing an important story. However, even when the reporter must rely on these surreptitious devices, the public has to be let in on the secret when the piece airs. RTNDA also finds fault with radio or television broadcasting private transmissions of others without permission.

The NPR News Code of Ethics and Practices recognizes the significance of relying on firsthand news gathering and confirmation of facts as opposed to material from other sources. It emphasizes that no material from another source should be reported verbatim or in-depth without attribution. The code also prohibits sources from dictating how a topic gets covered or what other voices or ideas will be heard. In addition, hosts or interviewers must make it clear when interviews start or end, archival audio must be identified as such for a new piece, and the names of sexual assault victims do not make it on-air unless the victim first goes public with his or her identity.

The International Association of Broadcast Monitors (IABM) understands that the broadcast media, unlike print, offers the public no permanent record of ongoing reporting. IABM also acknowledges that the on-air stories tend to allow for much more limited access to material for subjects featured in these reports. The subjects essentially have no way of knowing about the on-air reports or how to gauge the impact of such stories on their reputations. Monitors therefore must attempt to ensure that broadcasters fulfill their obligation to correctly disseminate public information, while granting news subjects their right to know how they were treated.

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