Ethics in Journalism

Ethics are easy to talk about and even proposed but in practice, all ethics are subject to interpretation. It is difficult to believe anyone who says that they are without bias as it was when Clarence Thomas, during questioning on his beliefs over critical Judaical issues during hearings preceding his appointment to the Supreme Court, claiming to have never considered the pros and cons of the government's involvement in regulating abortion.

To live and breathe is to develop bias. (Air is nice, carbon dioxide in bad.) For me, as an older white woman, walking down a darken street at night, when approached, my bias kicks in. (Nicely dressed older white man, good; young, strong black man, threatening) But, as a teacher in the classroom, it is critical to separate out my bias from my responsibilities which is what all journalists are called upon to do when reporting. They must leave their human self at the door and come in new, so to speak.

When instructing my senior English class on persuasive writing, (editorials), I allowed the students to write on the subject of their choice. One student chose to write about why gay marriage was an abomination before God and an undermining of our culture. Another student chose to write on the right of all people to equality of civil rights including the right to chose one's partner. I help each with developing their ideas and thoughtful support to their work.

The following day I heard the two students outside my door in an argument. The subject of their disagreement was not the subject of their writing but of my personal point of view. Each student believed that I supported their position. Both believed this because of how I had helped them develop their own ideas in the best possible manner.

That is what teaching is about. In many ways, that is the art of a great newspaper. Not transmitting an individual bias but allowing each person to come to a clarity of reason that is in accord with their own values based on reasoned information. That is a good day.