Speedy but Ethical

We no longer live in a world in which we have the patience to wait for news. Our culture demands speed. While technology gives us so many tools to create and publish, it also opens the door to new ethical challenges.

Reinventing the Code of Ethics?

There are many code of ethics that exist globally, guiding journalists of all types to help them act responsibly. Many of these principles were developed before the emergence of technology. But in our current culture, are they still relevant? Stephan Ward masterfully says "Media ethics needs to be rethought and reinvented for the media of today, not of yesteryear."

Technology gives journalism a global reach. Though some ethical standards appear out of date, there are standards that have held up to the test of time. Aidan White evaluates ethics across many organizations and explains the five core principles:

1. Accuracy
2. Independence
3. Impartial
4. Humanity
5. Accountability

The speed at which we communicate should not give way to ethics. For example, an image for a news piece needs to consider the humanity of the content, then be accountable by giving credit to the photographer. There are also many sides to a story, sometimes more than two. Though speed is important, accuracy and impartiality are crucial to cover all sides.

Without these five principles, the evolution of journalism would not exist. However, technology will continue to challenge these principles. Journalism's greatest challenge? Evolving ethics alongside the technology.