Ethics in Op-Eds/Columns

The SPJ Code of Ethics The Society of Professional Journalists bases its ethics code on four principles: • Seek the truth and report It. • Minimize harm. • Act independently. • Be accountable.

Opinion writing = journalism Even though opinion writing looks different from news or feature writing, and its purpose is to persuade more than just to inform, it must adhere to the same ethical considerations.

Seek the truth and report It • Research your topic as thoroughly as you would a news story. • Be aware of biases sources may have. • Do not exaggerate or leave out part of the story to make your point.

Minimize harm • Consider the effects your story may have. Who will it affect? How? • Avoid using stereotypes or making assumptions, and be aware of your own biases. • Respect privacy the same way you would in a news story.

Act independently • Be aware of conflicts of interest. • Don’t let pressure from friends, teachers or groups determine what you write about (or what you are afraid to write about).

Be accountable • Have staff members, editors and adviser read your work — and consider their feedback. • Seek out people with differing opinions to read your work before it is published. • If there are problems after publication, look for ways to resolve the situation and set policies to avoid them in the future.

Ethics and Reviews Opinion Writing

Conflict of interest Readers value unbiased journalistic reporting. They also want the opinion writer’s real opinion, not one biased by outside interests.

Choosing what to review When newspapers are considering possible story topics, they should think with their readers in mind — what information is most useful to them? When businesses offer free samples, or friends pressure writers to review their work, the publication may give a biased review — or readers may perceive it that way.

Honest opinions Often it is easy to publish honest reviews noting the flaws in work by famous professionals. It can be harder to point out a friend’s singing is off key or even a local restaurant has poor service, because you are writing about real people you know.

Advertisers Journalism values the separation of the advertising decisions from the rest of the newspaper. Just because a business advertises with the publication doesn’t mean the newspaper should avoid newsworthy coverage that may put the business in a bad light or give that business more positive attention.

Conflict of interest Student newspapers need to do everything possible to avoid conflicts of interest with advertisers. Editors should not allow a student who sold an ad to a business write a review of them. Advertisers should not affect coverage. Sometimes balancing the news and the business sides of newspaper can be tough. What is best for the audience?

Other options Because an A&E section includes both opinion and feature writing, it may easier (and more fair) to write an unbiased feature focusing on the experience of being in a school production or what it’s like behind the scenes at a local business. The writer can give the facts and let the readers form their own opinions.