Explore SPJ Ethics
– SPJ’s Code of Ethics
– Meet the Committee
– Quill: Stories About Journalism Ethics
– Journalism Ethics Book
– Related News and Articles
– Help and Expertise
– SPJ’s Code of Ethics
– Meet the Committee
– Quill: Stories About Journalism Ethics
– Journalism Ethics Book
– Related News and Articles
– Help and Expertise
SPJ's Professional Standards and Ethics Committee's purpose is to encourage the use of the Society's Code of Ethics, which promotes the highest professional standards for journalists of all disciplines. Public concerns are often answered by this committee. It also acts as a spotter for reporting trends in the nation, accumulating case studies of jobs well done under trying circumstances.
Visit SPJ's Ethics Central website for current news and events surrounding journalism ethics
SPJ Ethics Central
Reporting what’s happening, discussing what matters and exploring what’s next.
• Ethics and Diversity in the News
• In depth: SPJ’s Code of Ethics
Updates:
– Updating reporting on a hit-and-run as more information is released
– Minimizing harm for families of homicide victims
– False reporting on a child influencers death
– Answering audience questions with “transparency portal”
– Using official documents during an investigation
SPJ Toolbox: Ethics
More ethics coverage at SPJ Toolbox:
– Fact Checking
– Check Domain Names
– Fact-Checking COVID-19
New! Media Ethics: 5th Edition
Closely organized around SPJ's Code of Ethics, this updated edition uses real-life case studies to demonstrate how students and professionals in journalism and other communication disciplines identify and reason through ethical dilemmas.
Order now:
– Bookshop.org
– Amazon/Kindle
– IndieBound
– More
Help us spread #SPJTruth
– Ethics Blogs and Position Papers
– What is ethical journalism and why is it important?
– What do journalists do and who are they?
– Ethical journalism looks like this
– What can you do?
– Learn about secure places to leak information
– Buy the latest ethics textbook
– Host an ethics program, contact our experts and more
– #PressForEthics
– Read ethics case studies
What the Codes Say: Code provisions by subject
What follows are excerpts from codes of ethics that have been collected by the American Society of News Editors and SPJ from publicly-available sources online. These lists appear after each chapter in Journalism Ethics: A Casebook of Professional Conduct for News Media.
Related:
– Other Codes of Ethics
– Journalism Ethics: A Casebook of Professional Conduct for News Media
Ethics Committee Position Papers
This collection of position papers, produced by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee, is intended to clarify SPJ’s position on specific ethical themes that frequently arise in journalism, and also to provide better guidance for journalists, academics, students and the public when consulting the SPJ Code of Ethics.
The following papers are available for immediate reference, with more — on using anonymous sources, undercover reporting, dealing with victims of tragedy, handling diversity coverage, privacy and news media accountability — to release over the coming months:
Newly Added:
— Reporting on Grief, Tragedy and Victims
— Anonymous Sources
— Accountability
Also Available:
— Using the SPJ Code
— Plagiarism
— Checkbook Journalism
— Political Involvement
Ethics Case Studies
For journalism instructors and others interested in presenting ethical dilemmas for debate and discussion, SPJ has a useful resource. We've been collecting a number of case studies for use in workshops. The Ethics AdviceLine operated by the Chicago Headline Club and Loyola University also has provided a number of examples. There seems to be no shortage of ethical issues in journalism these days. Please feel free to use these examples in your classes, speeches, columns, workshops or other modes of communication.
— Index
— Using the ‘Holocaust’ Metaphor
— Aaargh! Pirates! (and the Press)
— Reigning on the Parade
— Controversy over a Concert
— Deep Throat, and His Motive
— When Sources Won’t Talk
— A Suspect “Confession”
— Who’s the “Predator”?
— The Media’s Foul Ball
— Publishing Drunk Drivers’ Photos
— Naming Victims of Sex Crimes
— A Self-Serving Leak
— The Times and Jayson Blair
— Cooperating with the Government
— Offensive Images
— The Sting
— A Media-Savvy Killer
— A Congressman’s Past
— Crafting a Policy
Ethics Help
Have a dilemma? Our experts are standing by. Get your questions answered here.
— Frequently Asked Questions
— Ethics Hotline Information