The news producer is part of the newsroom’s line of defense against ethical slips. Do you want your newscast to be a showcase for less-than-impeccable journalistic ethics?
Here are some things to think about:
Does your station post the SPJ or RTNDA Code of Ethics in newsroom or distribute it to employees? Or, does the station have its own guide to ethical matters?
If you took a stand against a story or a practice that you found to be ethically questionable, would your managers listen to you?
Are you empowered to make tough ethical calls on the fly, without prior approval from a manager? Are your coworkers?
If a reporter or photographer balked at a story on ethical grounds, would you hear them out, or tell them to get the story and forget the rest?
When it comes to covering certain stories, does your newsroom get any interference from sales or other station departments?
