Understanding Journalism Ethics in a Changing World

By Elizabeth Elliott 

One of the biggest international stories of 2011 concerned the unethical practices of the News of the World, a British publication owned by media bigwig Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.  Widespread investigations into claims of phone hacking and bribery caused the paper to shut down on July 10, ending a print circulation that reached close to three million people.  The fallout from these revelations has caused public distrust towards the media, as well as personal distress to the individuals whose privacy was invaded.

As print newspapers continue to be downsized, competition and high pressure have fueled a culture of journalistic ruthlessness.  The advent of online journalism has also allowed news to reach the public faster, sometimes at the expense of writer responsibility.  It’s not hard to imagine that articles with errors or false information can be posted quickly without any fact-checking.

For example, it would be unethical of me to hack into President Riggs’ cell phone.  Or to publish an article saying that the money used to pay for the new chairs in the Junction was obtained by selling adjunct professors’ kidneys on the black market.  The correct way to do it would be to interview Janet directly, have her admit the story herself, and in the process solidify my reputation as Gettysburg’s most intrepid young reporter.

Nevertheless, I don’t think the faults of the media today are much worse than what’s always been going on since good ol’ Johannes “Steve” Gutenberg invented the printing press.  Articles and ads have been maudlin and manipulative for centuries.   To see what I mean, go on the America’s Historical Newspapers database (a wonderful research tool provided by Musselman Library) and click on any random publication from any random date.  Here’s a bit I found in the January 2, 1843 issue of the Ohio Statesman.  “Doctor Brandreth’s Vegetable Universal Pill” seems to provide amazing healing powers that surpass even Servo’s own Country Jumbo Sausage Link.

But how does the Gettysburg Forum fit into all this? We are the independent, online publication of a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania.  It’s hardly a British tabloid newspaper, but our responsibilities to our community are the same.  We’re so lucky that this campus has multiple ways (in print, online, and on television) to expose the truth and celebrate the accomplishments of good people.  The News of the World scandal reminds us Forumites that ethics and integrity should always come first in journalism.