Ethics in the Media - How to Spot Fake News and Uphold Journalist Code of Ethics

 Ethics in the Media - 

How to Spot Fake News and Uphold Journalist Code of Ethics

Fake News has been studied to be a threat to our democracy due to its ability to spread misinformation that may incite fear and create polarization within our society. 

With 53% of U.S. Adults saying the news media has the most responsibility in reducing the amount of made-up news and information, it is important that those in the news media (i.e., reporters, journalists, news organizations, etc.) uphold the Journalist Code of Ethics to help reduce the spread of fake news and misinformation. 

The Journalist Code of Ethics as stated by the Society of Professional Journalists includes four principles: 

1. Seek Truth and Report It:
• Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting information.
2. Be Accountable and Transparent: 
• Ethical journalism means taking responsibility for one’s work and explaining one’s decisions to the public.
3. Minimize Harm:
• Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues, and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect.
4. Act Independently:
• The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public.

    There are other guidelines that journalists should uphold to avoid publishing "fake news." For instance, journalists should take responsibility for the accuracy of their work by verifying information before releasing it and use original sources whenever possible to avoid circular reporting, which can help spread fake news. Recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government. To maintain transparency, journalists should not deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information, and clearly label illustrations and re-enactments. Remember, a journalist's duty is to minimize harm avoid stereotyping, and it's important to recognize your role as a watchdog over public affairs and government.

    It is important that the public is aware of fake news and be knowledgeable on how to spot fake news in the media, just as important that journalists and news organizations don't publish inaccurate or un-credible reports added to the fake news online and in print. 

    This video from PBS Learning Media demonstrates the five ways to spot fake news. There are countless ways to spot fake news; such as consider the source, check the author, check the date, and remember to read beyond the headline and discover what's the whole story.

Consider the source -  Do research on the site/source by checking their mission statement, staff members or physical location to establish rather or not it is a legitimate news organization that can be trusted. What is their area of expertise and the type of news they report and how? For instance, The Onion is an American satirical digital media company and newspaper organization that publishes articles on international, national, and local news and their content is meant to be satirical, which is considered, rightfully so, fake news. 

Read beyond the headline - If a provocative headline drew your attention, read a little further before you decide to pass along the shocking information. Even in legitimate news stories, the headline doesn’t always tell the whole story. 

    While there seems to be a rise in fake news and with the internet as well as social media, fake news can be liked, shared, and retweeted at a rapid rate. As a result, fake news or misinformation won't go away, but both the public and journalists can eliminate the fear surrounding fake news by learning how to spot fabricated content online and in-print. So, it is important to look for the signs that a news report is not trustworthy. Along with the Internet, there have been changes in how news is distributed with immediate news delivery becoming the norm. As the pressure for immediate delivery increases, the tension between factual accuracy and "getting there first" in news reporting. As long as journalists uphold the code of ethical journalism, especially in regards to minimizing harm and remember to act independently to better protect the public, the tension between factual accuracy and "getting there first"  won't break. 

Below is a graphic detailing the seven types of Mis- and Disinformation that fake news may fall under or contained; such as satire or parody that does not intend to cause harm, but has potential to fool readers. 

    It's important to remember that all news stories contain some form of bias or lack of fairness that may be a result of the diversity of journalists' perspectives. It is on both the journalist to present issues fairly and comprehensively and the public also has a role in limiting the rise of fake news or misinformation. Consumers should read a news story with both sides in mind; the same way a journalist allows for diverse perspectives, commentary, and opposition to be highlighted in both the story and in their interactions with the public.